BOOK 6. THE DEATH.
CHAPTER 1.
6.1.3. Of the Garden into which Christ entered.
Of the Garden into which Christ entered.
Matthew relates it thus. Matt. xxvi. 36. "Then cometh Jesus with them into a place called Gethsemane," (eis chorion) it signifies in special, a field, a village; but more generally a place, as we translate it; and this place was called Gethsemane, (i.e.) "a valley of fatness:" certainly it was a most fruitful and pleasant place, seated at the foot of the mount of Olives: accordingly John relates it thus, John xviii. 1. "Jesus went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden;" many mysteries are included in this word, and I believe it is not without reason that our Saviour goes into a garden. As,
1. Because gardens are solitary places, fit for meditation and prayer; to this end we find Christ sometimes in a mountain, and sometimes in a garden.
2. Because gardens are places fit for repose and rest: when Christ was weary with preaching, working of miracles, and doing acts of grace in Jerusalem, then he retires into this garden.
3. Because a garden was the place wherein we fell, and therefore Christ made choice of a garden to begin there the greatest work of our redemption: in the first garden was the beginning of all evils; and in this garden was the beginning of our restitution from all evils; in the first garden, the first Adam was overthrown by Satan, and in this garden the second Adam overcame, and Satan himself was by him overcome; in the first garden sin was contracted; and we were indebted by our sins to God, and in this garden sin was paid for by that great and precious price of the blood of God: in the first garden man surfeited by eating the forbidden fruit, and in this garden Christ sweat it out wonderfully, even by a bloody sweat; in the first garden, death first made its entrance into the world; and in this garden life enters to restore us from death to life again; in the first garden Adam's liberty to sin brought himself and all us into bondage; and, in this garden, Christ being bound and fettered, we are thereby freed and restored to liberty. I might thus descant in respect of every circumstance, but this is the sum, in a garden first began our sin, and in this garden first began the passion, that great work and merit of our redemption.
4. Christ goes especially into this garden, that his enemies might the more easily find him out; the evangelist tells us that this garden was a place often frequented by Jesus Christ, so that Judas, "which betrayed him, knew the place, for Jesus oftentimes resorted thither with his disciples," John xviii. 2. Sure then he went not thither to hide himself, but rather to expose himself; and like a noble champion, to appear first in the field, and to expect his enemies. Thus it appears to all the world, that Christ's death was voluntary. "He poured forth his soul unto death," (saith the prophet,) Isa. liii. 12. "He gave himself for our sins," (saith the apostle) Gal. i. 4. Nay, himself tells us, "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I laid down my life: no man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself, I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again," John x. 17, 18. But I will not stay you at the door; let us follow Christ into the garden, and observe his prayer, and his sufferings there.