Garden at Gethsemane According to the Completed Testament

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The Prayer at Gethsemane

Transcript of Garden at Gethsemane According to the Completed Testament

The Prayer at Gethsemane

The Gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke give us the parallel descriptions of the desperate prayer of Jesus when he took his closest disciples to Gethsemane to pray just prior to being betrayed and taken to be crucified.

Traditionally and still the predominant opinion about this moment is that it portrays Jesus' desire to avoid the pain, whether physical or spiritual, or the crucifixion, and escape death out of human weakness

But could the man who taught that “those who seek to keep their lives will lose, and those who seek to lose their lives will keep it,” and “what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?”, actually have any fear of any type of threat to his own life?

The Discovery of Rev. Sun Myung Moon about Jesus' Prayer

In a speech titled The New Future of Christianity, given on 09/18/1974, the Rev. Sun Myung Moon stated that:

“In our ignorance, we Christians have missed the true spirit of Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. There he told his disciples:

'My soul is very sorrowful even to death; remain here and watch with me.' And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed. 'My father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will but as thou wilt.' (Matt. 26:28-39)

He prayed this way not once, but three times. He was sorrowful even to death. Many int eh Christian world suppose jesus prayed this way out of human weakness, shrinking from his mission of dying on the cross.”

“Nothing can be farther from the truth!”

Christian Martyrs

“Under Roman tyrants hundreds of thousands of Christians were martyred. They never said, 'Please let this cup pass from me.'”

Peter before his own Crucifixion

“Simon Peter, when he was himself about to be crucified, told his persecutors, 'I am not worthy to die in the same manner as my Lord. Do me a favor! Crucify me upside down.' Even he did not say, 'Please let this cup pass from me.'”

Stephen before his own martyrdom

“When Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was being stoned to death, he did not say, 'Let this cup pass from me.' Rather, he died peacefully, praying for his tormentors.”

Even Patriotic Heroes

“Such bravery is not limited to the Bible, Nathan Zzhale, a young officer captured in the American Revolutionary War, said as he was about to be hanged, 'I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.' He did not say, 'Please let this cup pass from me.'”

Jesus is the Absolutely Fearless Leader of the Christian world

“Do you suppose that the Messiah, the Son of God, was weaker than all these people-- especially if you think he came for the sole purpose of dying on the cross for world salvation? No. Were that the case, he would be unqualified as a Messiah. We have not understood the Lord Jesus.

The prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane was not uttered out of any selfish concern or fear of death. Jesus Christ, our Lord, was ready to die a thousand times over if that were the only way to bring about the salvation of humanity.”

Then why did Jesus prayed to his Heavenly Father to let the cup pass from him?

Reasons for Jesus' Prayer

“Jesus concern was for his mission. He grieved at the suffering of his Heavenly Father. He was in turmoil because he could foresee the terrible consequences of his crucifixion. Jesus knew well that his crucifixion was not God's ultimate will. He knew his death would postpone the realization of the Kingdom of Heaven another 2,000 years, and that in the meantime humanity would suffer greatly.”

Reasons for Jesus' Prayer

“He knew that millions of future followers would have to suffer, shedding their blood and being martyred as he had been. He knew Israel would be forsaken and desolate. And most of all, he had hoped to bring victory and glorious fulfillment to his Father's throne in heaven, not to return alone through the crucifixion. He had hoped for a triumphant homecoming.”

Reasons for Jesus' Prayer

“So in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus made his final desperate plea to God: 'Even at this late hour, is there any possible wa that I can remain on earth to fulfill my mission?' If we are to become true followers of Christ, we must fathom the grief and anguish that Jesus Christ suffered.”

Now if you adhere to traditional understanding of the mission of Jesus you must be thinking that Jesus did fulfill the Heavenly Father's will of dying on the cross for the sins of all people. But, If that is correct, why did Jesus throughout his ministry only looked for ways to make people believe in him, not for people to oppose him. In fact, he tried to show those who opposed him that they were wrong. In fact when someone asked him in John 6:28... What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.I asked many people when I share God's word with them, what would they have done if they were the one being addressed by Jesus and they decide to believe in him. The vast majority answer without hesitation that they would not have crucified Jesus.

In a prior section of the speech given by Rev. Moon he says just as we Christians of today would not want to crucify the returning Lord, the Israelites of Jesus' time were not looking to crucify the Messiah they had been prepared to receive by God for 4,000 years. Then if they had recognized who Jesus was, “would they still have had to crucify him.?” asks, Rev. Moon. Obviously, no. Therefore, If God had prepared the people of Israel to receive Jesus and Jesus himself worked to have people believe in him, then what went wrong?

If you would like to find the answer to this question and a transcript of Rev. Moon's speech please contact me at:

[email protected]

Pedro Morales