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Just before He bent His footsteps to the garden； Jesus had said to the disciples； 〃All ye shall be offended because of Me this night。〃 They had given Him the strongest assurance that they would go with Him to prison and to death。 And poor； self…sufficient Peter had added； 〃Although all shall be offended； yet will not I。〃 Mark 14：27； 29。 But the
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disciples trusted to themselves。 They did not look to the mighty Helper as Christ had counseled them to do。 Thus when the Saviour was most in need of their sympathy and prayers； they were found asleep。 Even Peter was sleeping。
And John； the loving disciple who had leaned upon the breast of Jesus； was asleep。 Surely； the love of John for his Master should have kept him awake。 His earnest prayers should have mingled with those of his loved Saviour in the time of His supreme sorrow。 The Redeemer had spent entire nights praying for His disciples； that their faith might not fail。 Should Jesus now put to James and John the question He had once asked them； 〃Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of； and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with？〃 they would not have ventured to answer； 〃We are able。〃 Matt。 20：22。
The disciples awakened at the voice of Jesus； but they hardly knew Him； His face was so changed by anguish。 Addressing Peter； Jesus said； 〃Simon； sleepest thou？ couldest not thou watch one hour？ Watch ye and pray； lest ye enter into temptation。 The spirit truly is ready； but the flesh is weak。〃 The weakness of His disciples awakened the sympathy of Jesus。 He feared that they would not be able to endure the test which would come upon them in His betrayal and death。 He did not reprove them； but said； 〃Watch ye and pray； lest ye enter into temptation。〃 Even in His great agony； He was seeking to excuse their weakness。 〃The spirit truly is ready；〃 He said； 〃but the flesh is weak。〃
Again the Son of God was seized with superhuman agony； and fainting and exhausted； He staggered back to the place of His former struggle。 His suffering was even greater than before。 As the agony of soul came upon Him； 〃His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground。〃 The cypress and palm trees were the silent witnesses of His anguish。 From their leafy branches dropped heavy dew upon His stricken form； as if nature wept over its Author wrestling alone with the powers of darkness。
A short time before； Jesus had stood like a mighty cedar； withstanding the storm of opposition that spent its fury upon Him。 Stubborn wills； and hearts filled with malice and subtlety； had striven in vain to confuse and overpower Him。 He stood forth in divine majesty as the Son of God。 Now He was like a reed beaten and bent by the angry storm。 He had approached the consummation of His work a conqueror； having at each step gained the victory over the powers of darkness。 As
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one already glorified； He had claimed oneness with God。 In unfaltering accents He had poured out His songs of praise。 He had spoken to His disciples in words of courage and tenderness。 Now had come the hour of the power of darkness。 Now His voice was heard on the still evening air； not in tones of triumph； but full of human anguish。 The words of the Saviour were borne to the ears of the drowsy disciples； 〃O My Father； if this cup may not pass away from Me； except I drink it； Thy will be done。〃
The first impulse of the disciples was to go to Him； but He had bidden them tarry there； watching unto prayer。 When Jesus came to them； He found them still sleeping。 Again He had felt a longing for companionship； for some words from His disciples which would bring relief； and break the spell of darkness that well…nigh overpowered Him。 But their eyes were heavy； 〃neither wist they what to answer Him。〃 His presence aroused them。 They saw His face marked with the bloody sweat of agony； and they were filled with fear。 His anguish of mind they could not understand。 〃His visage was so marred more than any man； and His form more than the sons of men。〃 Isa。 52：14。
Turning away； Jesus sought again His retreat； and fell prostrate； overcome by the horror of a great darkness。 The humanity of the Son of God trembled in that trying hour。 He prayed not now for His disciples that their faith might not fail； but for His own tempted； agonized soul。 The awful moment had comethat moment which was to decide the destiny of the world。 The fate of humanity trembled in the balance。 Christ might even now refuse to drink the cup apportioned to guilty man。 It was not yet too late。 He might wipe the bloody sweat from His brow； and leave man to perish in his iniquity。 He might say； Let the transgressor receive the penalty of his sin； and I will go back to My Father。 Will the Son of God drink the bitter cup of humiliation and agony？ Will the innocent suffer the consequences of the curse of sin； to save the guilty？ The words fall tremblingly from the pale lips of Jesus； 〃O My Father； if this cup may not pass away from Me； except I drink it； Thy will be done。〃
Three times has He uttered that prayer。 Three times has humanity shrunk from the last； crowning sacrifice。 But now the history of the human race comes up before the world's Redeemer。 He sees that the transgressors of the law； if left to themselves； must perish。 He sees the helplessness of man。 He sees the power of sin。 The woes and lamentations of a doomed world rise before Him。 He beholds its impending
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fate； and His decision is made。 He will save man at any cost to Himself。 He accepts His baptism of blood； that through Him perishing millions may gain everlasting life。 He has left the courts of heaven； where all is purity； happiness； and glory； to save the one lost sheep； the one world that has fallen by transgression。 And He will not turn from His mission。 He will become the propitiation of a race that has willed to sin。 His prayer now breathes only submission： 〃If this cup may not pass away from Me； except I drink it； Thy will be done。〃
Having made the decision； He fell dying to the ground from which He had partially risen。 Where now were His disciples； to place their hands tenderly beneath the head of their fainting Master； and bathe that brow； marred indeed more than the sons of men？ The Saviour trod the wine press alone； and of the people there was none with Him。
But God suffered with His Son。 Angels beheld the Saviour's agony。 They saw their Lord enclosed by legions of satanic forces； His nature weighed down with a shuddering； mysterious dread。 There was silence in heaven。 No harp was touched。 Could mortals have viewed the amazement of the angelic host as in silent grief they watched the Father separating His beams of light； love； and glory from His beloved Son； they would better understand how offensive in His sight is sin。
The worlds unfallen and the heavenly angels had watched with intense interest as the conflict drew to its close。 Satan and his confederacy of evil； the legions of apostasy； watched intently this great crisis in the work of redemption。 The powers of good and evil waited to see what answer would come to Christ's thrice…repeated prayer。 Angels had longed to bring relief to the divine sufferer； but this might not be。 No way of escape was found for the Son of God。 In this awful crisis； when everything was at stake； when the mysterious cup trembled in the hand of the sufferer； the heavens opened； a light shone forth amid the stormy darkness of the crisis hour； and the mighty angel who stands in God's presence； occupying the position from which Satan fell； came to the side of Christ。 The angel came not to take the cup from Christ's hand； but to strengthen Him to drink it； with the assurance of the Father's love。 He came to give power to the divine…human suppliant。 He pointed Him to the open heavens； telling Him of the souls that would be saved as the result of His sufferings。 He assured Him that His Father is greater and more powerful than Satan； that His death would result in the utter discomfiture of Satan； and that the kingdom of this world would be given to the saints of the Most High。 He told Him that He
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would see of the travail of His soul； and be satisfied； for He would see a multitude of the human race saved； eternally saved。
Christ's agony did not cease； but His depression and discouragement left Him。 The storm had in nowise abated； but He who was its object was strengthened to meet its fury。 He came forth calm and serene。 A heavenly peace rested upon His bloodstained face。 He had borne that which no human being could ever bear； for He had tasted the sufferings of death for every man。
The sleeping disciples had been suddenly awakened by the light surrounding the Saviour。 They saw the angel bending over their prostrate Master。 They saw him lift the Saviour's head upon his bosom； and point toward heaven。 They heard his voice； like sweetest music； speaking words of comfort and hope。 The disciples recalled the scene upon the mount of transfiguration。 They remembered the glory that in the temple had encircled Jesus； and the voice of God that spoke from the cloud。 Now that same glor