The Walk
The supper is concluded, the prediction made and now the walk to Gethsemane. Listen to one theologian and his presentation of the garden experience. “The human race started in a garden. Jesus suffered His agony in a garden. He was crucified near a garden and buried in a garden. Paradise is a garden.”
The garden was the beginning of man’s decline and now the garden is the end of the Lamb’s walk to Calvary to take away the garden’s original sin.
Read Mark 14:32-42.
- How would you describe Mark’s term of “deeply distressed?”
- After returning the third time, He said, “Enough!” “The hour has come.” Go to Luke 22:43 to see His source of strength.
Gethsemane: A garden located close to the Mt. of Olive and near Jerusalem. It is a place that was likely frequented by Jesus and his disciples. The word means oil press. Gethsemane is supposedly the location of some of the oldest olive trees known to man and science. If frequented by Jesus, it is also likely that Judas knew where to lead his captors to find him on that very night.
Jesus’ walk now is not of His own will but that of his captors. His walk will lead him to various inquisitions and mock trials that would lead him to his eventual guilty verdict with the most heinous death sentence that of crucifixion. The first stop is before the Sanhedrin.
Sanhedrin: was an assembly of twenty-three to seventy-one men appointed in every city. Moses and the Israelites were commanded by God to establish courts of judges who were given full authority over the people of Israel, who were commanded by God to obey every word the judges instructed and every law they established. The word means “sitting together.” The Sanhedrin was either the “Lesser” group of 23 or the “Great” group of 71. The Great Sanhedrin was led by Nasi (prince of president) thus 70 + 1.
Read Mark 14:53-65
His visit with the Sanhedrin:
- The trial was an obvious sham so what was their claim?
- If God commanded the Sanhedrin and its function, then why did it fail? Explain your answer.
Questions for the Day
- Jesus’ walk was pre-ordained from the beginning. Our walk commenced when we come to the knowledge of the truth in baptism and received the Holy Spirit at baptism. How can Jesus’ walk help you in your everyday walk?
- The earth was created in perfection including the Garden of Eden. The garden’s presence throughout times culminates in our Lord’s final resting place. Describe our Lord’s walk to seal your final garden.