An invitation to the garden.
- Christine DiGiacomo
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
podcast: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1f2e658f/an-invitation-to-the-garden-easter-2026
One day turns into the next of the days before Jesus goes to the Cross. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights, he walks out of Jerusalem to return to Bethany, to the home of his dear friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus - the closest thing he has to the sanctuary of 'home'. Again, something about that moves my heart--hmmm, my Jesus needing to feel safe before, uh... Thursday. Sacred Thursday.
Ah, Gethsemane. The first time I walked into the Garden of Gethsemane, I figured it was a one and only visit. Turns out, God graciously had many other visits in mind. There is no place like it all the world - the gnarled tree trunks of ancient olive trees, and everywhere you look the thought that Jesus loved this garden. Jesus came here to pray. Indeed, when he was near Jerusalem, Jesus retreated to the Garden of Gethsemane.
We might think of Gethsemane as the beginning of the end, as the suffering in the garden concludes in the crucifixion of Jesus.
Ohhh, come with me to that Thursday night. Imagine with me that you are one of the disciples, and are just finishing the Passover meal... what a night it has been. Intimate. Intense. Unsettling. A sense of urgency in the air.
Judas has left the table, and as you look from face to face, all of you are wondering what could have gone wrong with Judas. And then with a stiffened resolve, Jesus stands to leave the Upper Room, walking down the stairs out into the night and across the short distance of the Kidron Valley to the Mt. of Olives. All eleven of you follow him, certain you know where he is going; and indeed, Jesus stops near the bottom of the mount in the familiar garden.
He looks at you and the other disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." Jesus takes along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and suddenly seems sorrowful and troubled. He turns to look at you, "I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me." Going a little farther, he falls facedown and you hear him pray, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
You have never seen this Jesus before.
What has come over him? He is visibly shaken to his core.
Only one word aptly describes his state: agony.
Even so, it has been a long day, and you have just had four cups of wine with the Passover meal - it is late, and you just can't stay awake. 'Jesus comes back to you and the others and all are sleeping. He asks Peter, "Couldn't you stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray, so that you won't enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Again, a second time, he turns around to step away and pray, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." He comes back again, only to find all of you asleep again!
Once more, he steps away to pray a third time, saying the same thing once more - 'isn't there another way, Father?! Then he comes back to all of you and says, "Are you still sleeping and resting? See, the time is near. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up; let's go. See, my betrayer is near." Matthew 26.36-46, adapted to first person, except for Jesus' quotes.
Oh, Jesus ... what are you experiencing, what are you seeing?
It is not just the horror of the crucifixion that awaits Jesus, but he is seeing now that even as he cries out to him, even as he pleads with him . . . his Father remains silent.
And further, he knows the moment will soon come when God the Father turns his back on him as all of our sins are upon him--Jesus is recognizing the agony of total separation from God.
It is true, the horror of the cross began in the Garden, in Gethsemane, which in Hebrew means "olive press." Jesus was being sorely pressed - he seemed afraid and he was totally alone. And it causes me to ask myself - how could anyone think that God would let Jesus go through this torture if there was another way?
And if 'being a good person' is enough to get to heaven, then why in the world would Jesus, the Son of God, equal in all ways with the Father, endure such agony?
Now today . . . what are we to take from that Garden, where our Lord prayed, crying out to the Father?
Today I see that at the time of his greatest trial, it was natural for Jesus to pray and seek his Father’s will. Jesus stands as our example - may we also turn to our Father in prayer. . . seek to know his will, and then do it.
Find a little time this week to get alone with your Father, outside if possible - in a garden, a park or at the beach. Or sit down by a moving river and pray, thinking of Jesus' great love and sacrifice for you. Bask in his love. Thank him for his good gifts to you. These – gifts from the garden.
Come to the Garden.
Christine
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