The garden of Gethsemane (Dan Wells)

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” (Matthew 26:36)

The garden of Gethsemane is a very peaceful place. An olive grove across the Kidron Valley from the city of Jerusalem, it is just a short walk from the main streets. Yet it is quiet – even in today’s noise – and contemplative. It is a garden to be still, to rest and to reflect.

On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus takes his disciples to a garden to pray. They have just had the Passover meal – the Last Supper – and very soon, in the dead of night, a band of men will come and arrest Jesus. In the time between Jesus prays in the garden.

Gardens are for growing things. They are for producing things of beauty, such as flowers, or things of sustenance, such as food. Gethsemane is no exception.

Gethsemane means ‘oil press’. Most likely among the olive trees there was a press to turn the ripe olives into olive oil. An olive press works by taking the fruit and squeezing it under pressure so that the delicate and flavoursome oil runs out. Pressure and breaking produce something good and life-giving.

Jesus prays in the place of the oil press. He struggles with the weight and enormity of what he will do on the cross. He is crushed and broken under the burden of Calvary. Like the olives on the trees around him he is squeezed to his breaking point.

But that pressure brings something good, something that brings life. As Jesus prays, “not my will but yours be done” he chooses the path that brings us back to God. His suffering brings us healing. His crushing restores us. His brokenness brings us life.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your obedience in the garden that led to the cross. Thank you that you died and rose again for me. Amen.