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From Eden to Gethsemane

 T
he Creator of the universe planted a perfect garden in Eden for Adam and Eve to enjoy. He walked in the garden with them every evening. Then they believed Satan’s lie and their relationship with God was broken. They lost the garden. The Creator came back to this sin-filled earth to rescue us and as He finished his earthly ministry, it was in another garden—the Garden of Gethsemane. 
Jesus knew what faced him in the next few hours.  He would be arrested. He would be beaten and spit upon.  He would be accused by the religious leaders of his day, who would lie through their teeth about him.  And then he would be nailed to a cross and hung to die like a common criminal. It was all for you, and it was all for me.  Jesus didn’t run away and he didn’t give up, even though his most trusted disciples fell asleep during their Master’s greatest time of need.  He could have said it wasn’t worth it anymore, especially since the men he’d spent the most time with and invested so much in couldn’t even keep watch with Him. Jesus was still willing to go through with the Father’s perfect plan to save us from our sins even though we most assuredly did not deserve it. 

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His sacrifice provides the only way to a restored relationship with God. It is eternal life—there is much more to come after life here on earth. His resurrection guarantees we will get back to the perfect garden of God, which Revelation 22 tells us is where the River of Life flows and fruit is always in season. Will you be there? Have you received His gift of eternal life?  


They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, "Sit here while I go and pray." He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. "Abba, Father," he cried out, "everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine."

Mark 14:32-36 NLT

Excerpt from Gardens of the Heart

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