Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane: "Thy Will Be Done"
Location of the Garden of Gethsemane: A slope on the 'Mountain of Olives' which is found across the Kidron Valley from Jerusalem.
(The picture above on the left is an artistic depiction of this scene in the bible by the renaissance Italian artist, Giovanni Bellini. Another artistic depiction of this scene by the famous composer Beethoven can be found at the bottom of this page).
... On the evening before his crucifixion, Jesus prayed to his father in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus knew that he had been sent to Earth for a divine purpose and was ready to accept his fate and was committed to his promise. However, on this fateful evening, Jesus felt utter despair and darkness in knowing the dark future that awaited him shortly. Many describe this scene in the bible as "Agony in the Garden".
~ The following quote illustrates this deep sense of hopelessness and despair: "Abba, father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me". - Mark 14:36) In this quote, the "cup" that Jesus refers to is symbolic to Jesus's awareness of his approaching death. "My spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak". This quote depicts the fact that while the divine nature and "spiritual soul" of Jesus was ready to serve god's will on the evening before his crucifixion, the human, earthly bound, physical aspect of Jesus deeply desired exemption by God from the torturous fate that awaited him. is important to note however, that while this event in the bible illustrates Jesus's innate "humanness", it should not be interpreted in a manner that would portray Jesus as "cowardly" or "weak". Such an interpretation would be incorrect and misguided. This is due to the fact that if Jesus chose to do so, he could have run away from his approaching fate. God divinely appointed Jesus as his son, and it was god's will that Jesus would be sacrificed, however the crux of christian theology is found in the fact that it was of complete free choice and inner commitment that Jesus himself decided to follow through with the will of God. Therefore, jesus should be understood and referred to as the opposite of cowardly or "selfish". In reality, Jesus is divinely selfless, altruistic, and self sacrificial.
"My spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak". This quote depicts the fact that while the divine nature and "spiritual soul" of Jesus was ready to serve god's will on the evening before his crucifixion, the human, earthly bound, physical aspect of Jesus deeply desired exemption by God from the torturous fate that awaited him.
The following Beethoven masterpiece, "Christ on the mount of Olives', is an artistic depiction of the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane in the form of an Oratorio.
Location of the Garden of Gethsemane: A slope on the 'Mountain of Olives' which is found across the Kidron Valley from Jerusalem.
(The picture above on the left is an artistic depiction of this scene in the bible by the renaissance Italian artist, Giovanni Bellini. Another artistic depiction of this scene by the famous composer Beethoven can be found at the bottom of this page).
... On the evening before his crucifixion, Jesus prayed to his father in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus knew that he had been sent to Earth for a divine purpose and was ready to accept his fate and was committed to his promise. However, on this fateful evening, Jesus felt utter despair and darkness in knowing the dark future that awaited him shortly. Many describe this scene in the bible as "Agony in the Garden".
~ The following quote illustrates this deep sense of hopelessness and despair: "Abba, father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me". - Mark 14:36) In this quote, the "cup" that Jesus refers to is symbolic to Jesus's awareness of his approaching death. "My spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak". This quote depicts the fact that while the divine nature and "spiritual soul" of Jesus was ready to serve god's will on the evening before his crucifixion, the human, earthly bound, physical aspect of Jesus deeply desired exemption by God from the torturous fate that awaited him. is important to note however, that while this event in the bible illustrates Jesus's innate "humanness", it should not be interpreted in a manner that would portray Jesus as "cowardly" or "weak". Such an interpretation would be incorrect and misguided. This is due to the fact that if Jesus chose to do so, he could have run away from his approaching fate. God divinely appointed Jesus as his son, and it was god's will that Jesus would be sacrificed, however the crux of christian theology is found in the fact that it was of complete free choice and inner commitment that Jesus himself decided to follow through with the will of God. Therefore, jesus should be understood and referred to as the opposite of cowardly or "selfish". In reality, Jesus is divinely selfless, altruistic, and self sacrificial.
"My spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak". This quote depicts the fact that while the divine nature and "spiritual soul" of Jesus was ready to serve god's will on the evening before his crucifixion, the human, earthly bound, physical aspect of Jesus deeply desired exemption by God from the torturous fate that awaited him.
The following Beethoven masterpiece, "Christ on the mount of Olives', is an artistic depiction of the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane in the form of an Oratorio.