At Gethsemane
This is a Repost
Today is Good Friday. Jesus, the Nazarene, who robbed no one, cheated no one, who loved all, healed the sick and performed only acts of kindness, when accused guilty and became the victim of gross savagery, didn’t utter a word in self defense, but surrendered to His Father’s will and shed even the last drop of blood. The entire world is literally passing through days of anxiety, pain and uncertainty. This is the time to look up to the cross and plead for His mercy. We know that after the Crucifixion and death, there is a victorious resurrection. Let this hope govern us in these days when wickedness is raging in the world and thousands suffer from cruelty and disease.
At Gethsemane-
An unusual heaviness hung in the air.
The wind didn’t stir,
no single leaf fluttered.
The dead weight of engulfing darkness pressed on.
It was a fateful night, horrible and stark !
As a monument of misery, walked Jesus
weary and distraught as never before,
with staggering steps to the Mount of Olives,
to the Garden of Gethsemane
For him it was the d a r k e s t hour of the soul.
He needed to be comforted by his Father.
Oppressed by anguish, pinned down
by the weight of the world’s sin,
He g r o a n e d and m o a n e d.....
He wanted his disciples to keep vigil and pray.
To his great annoyance, he saw them sleeping.
Failed repeatedly by disciples,
callously deserted by followers
He knew he had to drink the cup of pain all alone.
He saw the demoniac hordes of hell surround him
He bowed down to touch the ground in prayer
His soggy eyes were lifted to Heaven again and again
At that fierce hour, sweat pouted out as drops of blood!
On the edge of a battle, he knew he can’t escape,
He prayed in all earnest, his soul writhing in agony
‘If it be possible, let this cup pass from me
But not as I will, but thou wilt’
The f a t a l hour came for him to bear the cross.
On his way to Calvary, many followed him,
not to share his pain or lessen his burden
but to enjoy this spectacle of disgrace and contempt
While the whole of his body sagged on three nails,
and his flesh, cut and peeled at every point
He didn’t scream in agony, but remained calm
and a prayer escaped his parted lips
“Father forgive them, for they don’t know
what they are doing”
Is there any other on Earth
who suffered the worst type of betrayal
and the excruciating pain of crucifixion
with such forgiveness and in such grace!
Copyright ©
Valsa George
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