The Cup and the Cross
As Jesus enters the Garden of Gethsemane, the reality of the cross presses upon Him with overwhelming weight. Mark describes Him as “greatly distressed and troubled,” language that conveys deep anguish and emotional turmoil. For the first time in eternity, the Son of God stands on the threshold of bearing the sin of the world and the judgment of God against it.
Jesus: Man of Sorrows
Late on Thursday night of Passion Week, Jesus leads His disciples across the Kidron Valley to a familiar place of prayer on the Mount of Olives: the Garden of Gethsemane. The name Gethsemane comes from the Hebrew gat shemanim, meaning “olive press.” It was a place where olives were crushed to produce oil. The symbolism is striking, because in this garden the soul of the Savior is about to be pressed under the crushing weight of what lies ahead.