Wednesday, April 20, 2011

In The Garden of Gethsemane - He Fulfilled All This for Me - And For You!

Today, I am wondering where to start. Thinking about Gethsemane at least today feels very sad. The weather has been so deary; that I can't seem to find the usual sunshine in my soul; but I do want to bare testimony of my Savior.
It just grieves me to think about the Lord hurting for me and for all of us.  I love the Savior with all of my heart and soul. I love Him for all of his divine qualities; that I would love to have. I love Him for his teachings and example. I love Him for his deep love and ever awareness of each of us. I love Him for his gentle, kind and loving spirit. I love Him for being there so many times for me. I know He walks with me and sometimes carries me through my life experiences; when it is too hard for me. Perhaps, in the pre-existence, He walked and talked with us all and He knew us as he knows us now. I like to think that is true. I want to be a follower of Him. I want to repent of my sins and have the Saviors atonement effective in my life. I want to feel his arms embrace me. I want to look into his face and feel his love for me. I love him for doing for me what I can not do for myself. I have deep gratitude for our Heavenly Fathers plan. I know it to be true with all my heart. I can never fathom what happened in the the Garden of Gethsemane; but I love the Savior for not dropping the bitter cup. I love Him, I love Him, I love my Redeemer; and I know that he lives!
     Here is a remarkable vision that Elder Orson F. Whitney had:
"I seemed to in the Garden of Gethsemane, a witness of the Savior's agony. I saw Him as plainly as ever I have seen anyone. Standing behind a tree in the fore-ground, I beheld Jesus, with Peter, James and John, as they came through a little...gate at my right. Leaving the three apostles there, after telling them to kneel and pray, the Son of God passed over to the other, side where He also knelt and prayed. It was the same prayer with which all Bible readers are familiar: :Oh my Father, if it be possible ,let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."
`As he prayed the tears steamed down his face, which was toward me. I was so moved at the sight that I also wept out of pure sympathy. My whole heart went out to him: I loved him with all my soul, and longed to be with him as I longed for nothing else.
Presently He arose and walked to where those Apostles were kneeling --fast asleep! He shook them gently, awoke them, and in a tone of tender reproach untincitured by the least show of anger or impatience asked them plaintively if they could not watch with him one hour. There He was, with the awful weight of the world's sin upon his shoulders, with the pangs of every man, woman and child shooting through his sensitive soul--and they could not watch with Him one poor hour!
       Returning to his place, He offered up the same prayer as before; then went back and again found them sleeping. Again he awoke them, re admonished them, and once more returned and prayed. Three times this occurred."
     Just think Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did this for all for us! Knowing the love that our Heavenly Father had for this son how hard it was for even He to not take away this bitter cup. I feel within my heart that even Our Father must have wept too. Satan was there with all of his hosts trying to stop this part of the plan. An angel was sent to bare the Savior up; to complete these agonizing moments. How grateful I am that he did not relinquish for even a second of time.

    Just think of this thought by Elder Niel A. Maxwell: "Having bled at every pore, how red His raiment must have been in Gethsemane, how crimson that cloak! No wonder, when Christ comes in power and glory,that He will come in a reminding red attire, not only signifying the wine press of wrath but also to bring to our remembrance how he suffered for each of us in Gethsemane and on Calvary! (Ensign, May 1987.p. 72.)
"Can we,even in the depths of disease, tell Him anything at all about suffering?"
     "In ways we cannot comprehend, our sicknesses and infirmities were borne by Him even before they were borne by us. The very weight of our combined sins caused Him to descend below all. We have never been, nor will we be, in depths such as He has known. Thus His atonement made perfect. His empathy and Mercy and His capacity to succor us, for which we can be everlasting grateful as He tutors us in our trials. There was no ram in the thicket at Calvary to spare Him, this Friend of Abraham and Isaac. (As I Am, pp. 116-17)

Oh, how true it is Our Redeemer Lives. What comfort this sweet sentence gives. He Lives!

7 comments:

Marie Rayner said...

Beautiful post Leanne. I, too, am so very grateful for what the Saviour did for us. The depth of His love for us and for Heavenly Father brings me to tears. Thanks so much for your support and friendship. They mean the world to me. xxoo

Unknown said...

It is heart-wrenching and wonderful at the same time. I so want to be with Him, to comfort Him. To be in His presence and shower Him with the love He deserves. Thank you for sharing this Leann.

Barb said...

Hi LeAnn!

What a beautiful post! As usual, I am writing my comment with tears in my eyes, because you touched my very soul with your thoughts.

Like the song, I truly do stand all amazed at the love that the Savior has for us! Thank you for sharing your beautiful testimony.

Have a wonderful and blessed Easter! Thank you for your friendship and love!

Hugs and Love,
Barb

As Sistas in Zion said...

"Oh it is wonderful that he would care for me enough to die for me..." We are blessed to have a Heavenly Father who would loved us so much he gave his only beggoten for each of us. We are so blessed to have an older brother Jesus Christ who was willing to take upon him our pain and suffering. We cannot even comprehend the unbearable pain the Savior suffered in Gethsemane, all we can do is let his suffering not be in vain and take advantage of his atoning sacrifice. "Oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me."

Susan Anderson said...

Wonderful testimony, as always. Thanks for sharing it.

=)

PS. We seem to keep writing about the same subjects this week. My poem today is on the atonement.

Pitterle Postings said...

One of my very favorite scripture stories was when the apostles slept. I often compare it to our own lives and how we struggle to stay spiritually awake. This is so good today. Thank you.

asliceofsmithlife said...

Thank you LeAnn for sharing such a beautiful heartfelt post on NOBH! It is hard for me to fully understand all that Christ suffered for the whole world,but I'm so grateful for the faith to believe in His words and that His words and selfless act on the cross gave me everlasting life. May you have a blessed Easter!