Episode 3, “In the Garden”
Today, we will answer the question, “Why did Jesus pray in the Garden of Gethsemane and not somewhere else before he was arrested?”
Hello and welcome to Episode 3, in our new series “Empowered Through Christ, Our Living Hope.” My name is Stephanie Wright. Thank you for joining us today. It’s time to go “In the Garden.”
Why did Jesus spend his final hours in prayer in the garden? In this case, in the Garden of Gethsemane? This was not the only place Jesus had prayed before. He prayed in the mountains all night (Luke 6:12); he prayed in public (John 11:41-42, John 12:27-30); he prayed before Lazarus was raised from the dead (John 11:41‑45); and he prayed at many other times and places. So, why the garden?
There are many theories, I am sure, as to why Jesus prayed in the garden the night he was arrested before his eventual crucifixion. Well, I would like to propose that Jesus prayed in the garden so he could defeat the devil in the garden. Remember, Adam and Eve failed the test when they were tempted by the devil in the Garden of Eden to eat of the fruit of the tree of good and evil. They were strictly forbidden to eat from that tree but they did it anyway in direct disobedience to God’s command. (Genesis 2:16‑17, Genesis 3).
The Garden of Eden was actually Round 1 of “in the garden,” and mankind lost that round but they did not ultimately lose the battle because Round 2, was in the Garden of Gethsemane. We know that Jesus won Round 2, in the garden battle against the devil.
Let’s review. After the devil succeeded in getting Adam and Eve to disobey God, God prophesied to the devil that his head would be crushed by the seed of a woman. Genesis 3:15. So, staying with our focus in the garden, in this instance, the devil’s head was crushed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Is it irony or is it providence that the woman’s seed avenged Eve’s being deceived by the devil? Some call it irony of God’s providence. Thus, in the Garden of Gethsemane the process of God’s prophesy commences. Jesus prevailed in that Round Two, by praying three times. His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (This is a rare, medical phenomena known as hematohidrosis.) Jesus submitted to God’s will and defeated Satan’s attempt in the garden to hinder Him from going to the cross to die for all mankind. Luke 22:42‑44.
So, you see, it had to be in a garden that Jesus prayed because that is where it all began -in a garden with Round 1, and as we shall see, that is where it will end, Round 3, in a garden. Just for a little lighthearted humor, this battle was not won in Madison Square Garden. What battle? Stay with me.
We know that ultimately, Jesus went to the cross, was crucified, died and was buried but ahhh – Sunday was coming. And we know that before Jesus died, he said, “It is finished.” The redemption of man, victory over sin, sickness, and death was now accomplished. But there was still one more round in the last garden.
This time it was a Sunday morning and Mary along with Mary the Mother of James and Salome came to anoint Jesus’ body. They could not do this earlier because Jesus died just before the Sabbath began and there was no time to anoint his body. Nevertheless, when they arrived, the body was gone, an angel was in the tomb and announced that Jesus was risen. This is in the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 16. In the Gospel of John, Chapter 20, Mary turned after looking in the tomb and saw a man whom she thought was a gardener. So, here we are in the garden again – the garden tomb or as I shall refer to it the Resurrection Garden. Then, Mary realizes that it is Jesus after he reveals himself to her. Can you even imagine how she felt? Can you imagine how we are going to feel when we see Jesus, face‑to‑face or see our loved ones again? But, let’s get back in the garden.
Jesus, meeting Mary in the garden was Round Three and it was the knockout. Jesus is risen from the grave and it was in the garden that he first revealed himself to a woman, named Mary. This woman, Mary, would be the first to spread the good news of His resurrection. She would be the first witness to crush the devil’s head with the news that Jesus is risen and mankind had been redeemed. Mary shared Jesus’ victory in crushing Satan’s head for she was the seed of woman in the Resurrection Garden.
In the Garden, Round One, we saw the fall of mankind into sin through the disobedience of Eve first then Adam in Eden. But, In the Garden, Round Two, through the power of prayer, Jesus crushed the devil’s head after he tried to pull the same trick he did in Eden. Finally, in Round Three, we see the devil totally crushed when the message would catch on fire around the world that he is raised from the dead. What God said would happen in Genesis 3:15, did happen!
Now, this is deep, but let’s go there. There were three victories in each of the gardens. Why? Because when God spoke and said Satan’s head would be crushed, it was the same as saying what was done in Eden was already undone. (Isaiah 55:11, Hebrews 4:12). It is what is known as an event precedent. In other words, God’s Word preceded Satan’s lie and Adam and Eve’s disobedience to make those events of none effect because Jesus would undo it all with His victory over sin and death. Thus, victory in the Garden of Eden was not defeat. When Jesus prevailed in the Garden of Gethsemane, again victory, it was the same as saying, “Satan I have come to fulfill my Father’s word and what you did in the Garden of Eden, is undone.” And, finally, when Jesus died and was raised up by the Holy Ghost, and appeared in the Resurrection Garden to Mary, it was the same as saying victory. So, what do we have? Victory for the Father in the Garden of Eden, Victory for the Son in the Garden of Gethsemane and Victory for the Holy Ghost in the Resurrection Garden. (Romans 8:11). In other words, victory for us because we are more that conquerors through the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. (Roman 8:37).
So, what garden are you in? Are you in the Garden of Eden trying to decide if you want to live for Jesus? Or, are you in the Garden of Gethsemane, struggling with whether you want to submit to the will of the Father in your life? Or, are you in the Resurrection Garden? Do you have the kind of joy Mary Magdalene had when she knew he was alive? Through the power of the Holy Spirit you can be alive in the Resurrection Garden of love, joy, peace and everything Jesus died and rose from the grave to give us.
Now, stay with us for a closing prayer and for Apostle Charles who will close us out and gives you contact information. And if you would like to be a guest on our podcast contact me at cgmpresents@gmail.com
Lord, we pray for all our listeners that they will daily step into your garden of blessings that you have prepared for them. Give them direction on how to walk in that garden and how to show others the love of Jesus found in that garden. And if you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, simply say, “God, I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I call on Jesus to deliver me from a life of rejecting and sinning against you to a life of righteous living in him and I believe I am saved unto everlasting life.” Romans 10:9‑10, 13.
If you would like to be a guest on our podcast email us at: cgmpresents@gmail.com
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