THE GARDEN OF LOVE

"Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?"

Matthew 26:36-40
King James Version

When Jesus was praying to His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, it became a garden of love. It was there that Jesus asked His Father to let the cup of sorrow pass from Him but He also told His Father that He wanted to do what God wanted Him to do.

Our Heavenly Father did not want His beloved Son to be tortured, cursed, beaten beyond recognition, spat on and have sharp and painful nails pounded into His hands as He hung there on the cross wounded and bleeding dying for your sins and for my sins.

However, Jesus was the only sinless Sacrifice that God would accept. God is Holy and He can't look at sin so He had to turn away from His own Son when Jesus took our sins on Himself and walked that long lonely road to Calvary and died for your sins and for my sins.

John W. Peterson wrote the beautiful inspiring and heart touching hymn "No Greater Love". There really is no greater love than the love Jesus has for you and for me. If you ever think nobody cares about you and loves you, remember the cross that Jesus died on because He loves you so much.

Joanne Lowe
August 19, 2020