After the Tender Sacrament was Made

After the tender sacrament was made
Jesus raised His eyes Heavenward and prayed
"Father the hour is come
to glorify Thy Son
that, also, I might glorify Thee
I pray for them which Thou hast given me"

Then with the faithful apostles by His side
They crossed the Kidron Valley's divide
Climbed up the slope of Mt. Olivet
Onto Gethsemane (meaning olive press)

Here, gnarled trees to this day survive
As even in drought they give fruit and thrive
Providing much needed oil there to sooth
Unto this garden... the group did move

Jesus said, "All ye shall be offended because of me this night"
"For it is written...I the shepherd will smite"
Soon the sheep of the flock would be scattered abroad
They being the sheep... and He the Shepherd of God

Peter attempted to assure the Lord of his faithful devotion
His willingness to stand by the Master, he promised with emotion
Jesus said, "Before the cock crows...ye shall deny me three times"
With these heavy words... He then took Peter, James, and John into the night

Jesus became sorrowful and heavily weighed down
He asked "tarry ye here and watch with me," ...they sat upon the ground
For this was the night he would prove unfailing love for all of man
Eternally healing, like unto olives pressed... His blood ran

And this was the hour He was born and lived for
To feel the pains of every kind, age of time, and more
He left the three...perhaps there to witness what He'd say?
He, but a stones cast of a hundred feet away

"Oh, Father if it be possible let this cup pass," he prayed
Fallen upon His face as pain was increasingly laid
"Nevertheless, not as I will...
But as Thou wilt"

"My soul troubled and what shall I say Father?"
At this point...did the apostles shake hearing what He spoke, yonder?
..."Save me from this hour, but for this cause came I unto this hour"
Was this when an angel was sent with comforting strength to empower?

Finite minds cannot comprehend... how He withstood such misery
With naught to compare...His ransom is a mystery

The atoning Savior went to the three and found them sleeping
Too weak for but one night's watch...theirs for keeping
"Simon, sleepest thou? Could thou not watch one hour"
"Watch ye and pray lest ye enter into temptation," He said with power

A second time He distanced himself and prayed
"Father if this cup may not pass away..."
Then... accepted the bitter cup...
That the atonement might be made

Glory be to God that Jesus submitted that lone night
That we, weak in body, might be restored unto Light
Soon came His betrayal. A dawn of test awaited
Would He remain pure and forgiving though mocked, flogged, and hated?

Though a wooden cross and death were looming
His love for us and the Father was all consuming
As then would come the beautiful morning of the Lord's resurrection
When, for all, peace that surpasses understanding came through perfection

thoughts from
Son of Man
Susan Easton Black