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Meditation 2: Go to dark Gethsemane
In this meditation we will use the words of the Moravian hymn-writer and
radical journalist, James Montgomery (1771-1854), Go to dark Gethsemane.
Montgomery, who was educated at the Moravian School at Fulneck near Pudsey
(which was often pointed out to me as child), also wrote Angels from the realms of
glory, Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire, Hail to the Lord’s anointed, Lift up your heads ye
gates of brass and For ever with the Lord, along with some 400 other hymns.
The first stanza:
Go to dark Gethsemane, ye that feel the tempter’s power,
your Redeemer’s conflict see, watch with him one bitter hour;
turn not from his griefs away: learn of Jesus how to pray.
J Montgomery
Lord, we follow you to the olive grove, to the place called Gethsemane. It is a
place where we have often gathered. We have known good times here and
strong fellowship. It is a place where we have spoken together and communed
with God.
But tonight it is different. There is a sense of foreboding in the air. You are
clearly worried about something that we do not wholly understand. You want to
pray - all you ask of us is that we watch with you.
You go on ahead. You throw yourself prostrate on the ground. You pray
earnestly. What are the words you say? “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup
pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” Did we hear right? Was
that what you said? What is this ‘cup’ that you do not want to hold? Why does
your heavenly Father want you to drink from it?
But you pray too long. I cannot stay awake.
Follow to the judgement-hall - view the Lord of Life arraigned;
O the wormwood and the gall! O the pangs his soul sustained!
Shun no suffering, shame or loss: learn of him to bear the cross.
What’s that? You complain! How do you expect us to stay awake? It’s been a
long day and we’ve just had supper. You want us to pray as well as keep vigil?
Pray that we may not be brought into the time of trial? Come to think of it, that
was in that prayer you taught us, wasn’t it? “Lead us not into temptation: do not
bring us to the test!” Of course the flesh is weak - however willing the spirit.
You go and pray again. Whatever it is, it’s really bothering you. “My Father, if
this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” What kind of prayer is
that? What father will put his child through something so uncongenial to them?
It sounds like cruelty - blackmail. It shouldn’t be allowed!
But, Master, my eyelids are heavy. Through the haze of half-sleep, we hear you
pray those same words over and over again.
What is he asking of you? What does he demand that you do? Help us to
understand so that we can support you!
But, wait a minute: that’s a joke, isn’t it? Us supporting you? No, you must
support us - you are our Way; you are our Truth; you are our Life - how can we
possibly be able to support you? How can we live without you?
I know we’ve let you down. I know we’ve been a disappointment to you. I
know we haven’t understood - well, to be honest, we still don’t understand.
Which makes it all the more difficult - all the more incomprehensible what God
is asking of you and you are asking of us.
So yes, we are still sleeping. We are still taking our rest. Guilty as charged! And
yes, we’re sure the hour is upon us - but what hour? We still do not fully
understand. Help us, Lord, to understand what is going on. Whatever crisis this
is, help us not to let you down!
“Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son
of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my
betrayer is at hand.”
Calvary’s mournful mountain climb; there adoring at his feet,
mark that miracle of time: God’s own sacrifice complete;
‘It is finished!’ hear him cry: learn of Jesus Christ to die.
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