Volume 11 · Chapter 72

JESUS IN GETHSEMANE. JESUS CAPTURED. NOW we left the city through the gate in the direction of the Olive Mountain. So there is the garden which is now still called Gethsemane but in a totally different location. The garden Gethsemane belonged to that inn on the Olive Mountain which belonged to Lazarus and was known as a favorite spot for outings. Below that inn, which lay on the hill and offered a wide view, there was like a park, and a very pleasant path went through it going up the hill. The park itself was the actual Gethsemane and is thus located in a totally different place from the one that is shown now and has only the name in common. The very old trees that are present there made it probable to the later visitors that they found the right place.

[GGJ.11_72,2] We often gathered with that innkeeper, and therefore Judas believed also that he would certainly find Me there, since otherwise I would not have left Lazarus to be alone with My disciples. The park itself offered an ideal place for inner meditation because of the great silence there, and therefore I brought the disciples to that place so that they once more could reflect upon the latest events.

[GGJ.11_72,3] We searched for a place besides the path, and I asked Peter, John and James to come with Me and go a little further, away from the others. That is what they did, and they followed Me.

[GGJ.11_72,4] Now came the moment that the whole weight of the coming affliction came down on the soul of the Son of man, and the deity again drew back entirely to leave the completely free decision to the human Jesus. (1 See Book 21 41:2.)

[GGJ.11_72,5] Therefore He felt the dreadful hour and said: “My soul is saddened unto death.” Then He also said to the three: “Stay here and watch with Me.”

[GGJ.11_72,6] He went a little further and prayed the words: “Father, if possible, let this cup pass away from Me – but not as I want, but as You want.”

[GGJ.11_72,7] But since these words did still not express the personal determined decision, the deity did still not return in Him.

[GGJ.11_72,8] Jesus went back to His own and found them sleeping.

[GGJ.11_72,9] From this He saw that He only could find support with the Father in Him. He woke up the three and spoke the well-known words: “Can you not watch with Me for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”

[GGJ.11_72,10] With these words He did not only mean the three but also Himself.

[GGJ.11_72,11] Now Jesus went back and prayed again: “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to pass away from Me then I will drink it and Your will be done.”

[GGJ.11_72,12] Again, driven by unrest, the soul sought external contact with His own. He found them again sleeping, and so deeply that they did not wake up but only moved drowsily when He called them.

[GGJ.11_72,13] Now Jesus, the Son of man, had overcome.

[GGJ.11_72,14] With a glance of compassion He looked at His own, hurried back and called out loud: “Father, I know that it is possible for this cup to pass away, but only Your will be done, and therefore I want to drink it!”

[GGJ.11_72,15] Then the deity returned in Him completely and strengthened Him, penetrating into Him completely and spoke: “My Son, You had to take Your decision for the last time. Now Father and Son are united in You and have become eternally inseparable. Carry what has been given You to carry. Amen.”

[GGJ.11_72,16] Then I stood up again and walked to My disciples who lay down sleeping again, woke them up and spoke: “How can you sleep now and leave Me alone in the most difficult hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation, for the spirit is indeed willing but the flesh is weak. But you must always be strong. Look, now the hour has come that I will be delivered up to My enemies. So do not sleep and be strong.”

[GGJ.11_72,17] At that moment a group of temple guards came near with torches and led by Judas. He wanted to bring them to the inn where he thought to find Me there. The disciples asked Me what this meant. But I told them to step back and walked on the path towards the group. When Judas saw Me, he came to Me, greeted Me and wanted to kiss Me as a sign of identification for the armed temple servants. But I prevented him and said: “Judas, are you betraying the Son of man in this way? It would have been better for you never to be born.”

[GGJ.11_72,18] Then I turned to the group of people and asked them with a mighty voice: “Whom are you seeking?!”

[GGJ.11_72,19] The leader answered: “Jesus of Nazareth.”

[GGJ.11_72,20] Then I made Myself known with the words: “It is I” and walked a few steps closer to them.

[GGJ.11_72,21] But the temple guards drew back because they heard a lot about My power and were afraid of it, for which reason Caiaphas had chosen only helpers who did not know Me yet. A few of them who stood in the back fell even to the ground because of the impact of those who stood in front.

[GGJ.11_72,22] Since the helpers stood there hesitating and fearful, I asked them again: “Whom are you seeking?”

[GGJ.11_72,23] And at the repeated answer of the leader I said again: “I told you that it is I. But if you seek Me, let these here go.”

[GGJ.11_72,24] Now when the helpers noticed that nothing was happening to them, they were ashamed of being afraid before, pushed toward Me and soon surrounded Me while the leader shouted at them that they only had to guard Me since the command of the high priest was that they only should capture Me.

[GGJ.11_72,25] But Peter, who noticed now that a serious danger was threatening Me and no miracle was happening to free Me, he drew the sword which he always carried hidden with him and rushed up to Me. Malchus resisted him by keeping him off with his spear. Then Peter struck him and cut off Malchus’ ear.

[GGJ.11_72,26] Now I called out to Peter: “Put your sword back into the sheath! Shall I not drink the cup that My Father has given Me?”

[GGJ.11_72,27] Then Peter drew back. I touched the injured ear of the helper and it was immediately healed. This deed amazed the helpers, so that they no longer bothered about the disciples and they were only concerned to lead Me away.

[GGJ.11_72,28] Now that I took everything in silence and also allowed them to bind My hands without any resistance, they talked among each other, being surprised and wondering why they told them that they had to use extreme violence since capturing such a man was really dangerous. Judas stood by, waiting for something to happen by which the guards would be frightened. But since noting happened he was now all the more convinced that My power would unfold before the High Council.