Letters from Adina - #29b

Letter XXIX (ii). The Garden of Gethsemane.

He raised His eyes heavenward with a divine look of holy submission, and cried, in a strong voice – “Not as I will, O God, but as Thou wilt.”

… We at length crossed the brook, and entered the dark groves of Olivet.

Well knowing all the paths, we advanced to a central group of the venerable Olive-trees; beneath which, tradition saith, Abraham used to sit; and there Jesus, turning to us, said in a voice of the deepest woe -

“Friends, the hour of my suffering is come! My work is ended: I would be alone.”

“Remain you here, and watch, for we shall be sought. Come with me, Peter, and come thou also, James. I am going to pray yonder.”

“ Take me with Thee also, dear Lord?’’ I said, sorrowfully. “Yes thou art always with me, beloved,” he answered; ‘‘I will not leave thee now.”

So leaving the eight friends to keep watch against the coming of His enemies, who were known to be seeking him everywhere, He went to the most hidden parts of the garden.

He stopped at the place, near the rock, where Adam is said to have hidden from Jehovah, and He said to us, in a sorrowful tone, “Tarry ye here, while I go apart, and pray to my Father,’’

He went from us about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down where a thick olive branch, hanging low to the ground, hid Him from our sight.

I was so fearful lest He should leave us, and we should see Him no more, that I soon softly drew near to the spot, and beheld Him kneeling on the ground, while deep groans broke from His heart. I heard His voice murmuring, but could not distinguish the words, broken by grief; only the tones were those of anguish and dread.

As he prayed thus in great agony, I suddenly beheld a light pass by me, as if from the skies; and lo! an angel stood by the side of Jesus, bending over Him, and raising Him up from the ground.

A soft bright glory shone around the spot; so that Peter, seeing it, came towards me, supposing someone had entered the garden, bearing a torch.

I beckoned to Peter to pause, and he gazed with me in speechless wonder and admiration upon the form of the angel, from whose glorious face was shone the radiance which illumined the place where Jesus was.

As the angel raised Jesus from the ground, we saw that our Lord’s divine countenance was convulsed with anguish; and upon His brow stood great shining drops of sweat, mingled with blood, which oozed from His pallid temples, and, rolling down His cheeks, dropped to the ground.

Never had we beheld a human visage so marred by sorrow, so deeply graven with the lines of agony.

The angel seemed to speak comforting words, and pointed with his shining hand towards heaven, as if to encourage Him with hope, and give Him strength.

The face of Jesus grew more serene. He raised His eyes heavenward with a divine look of holy submission, and cried, in a strong voice –

“Not as I will, O God, but as Thou wilt.”

The angel then embraced Him, as if strengthening Him, and soaring upward, disappeared, like a star returning into the blue heaven; while Peter and I stood by wondering, and full of awe at what we beheld.

‘‘How looked the angel?’’ I asked of John, interrupting him in his report.  

‘‘As a noble youth, with a countenance so dazzling I could not look upon him steadily. He seemed to be clothed in flowing raiment, silvery white; and a fragrance, more delicate and grateful than that of the most precious perfumes of India was diffused by his presence throughout the garden, while the sound of his voice seemed to fill all the air with strange music, unlike aught that may be heard on earth.”

‘‘Had the angel wings?’’ asked my cousin Mary. "Nay, I could not well discern,” answered John. ‘‘His robes seemed to shape themselves into wings, as he rose from the earth; and when he stood they flowed with living grace about his god-like form.

After the departure of the angel, Jesus seemed calmer, and as we did not wish to trouble His sacred meditations, we softly returned to where James lay asleep.

We remained for some time conversing together upon the wonderful vision we had seen, which confirmed us in the belief that Jesus came from God, and was in truth the Messias that should come; but at length, wearied with the labours of the day, we must have fallen asleep, for we were suddenly startled by the voice of our dear Master, saying –

“Why sleep ye, children? - But the hour is past for watching. Ye may sleep on now, for though your flesh is weak, your spirit is willing. I need your aid no more.’’

But we refused to sleep longer. We then advanced to where the other disciples were, and found them also asleep.

“Arise, let us go hence’’ cried Jesus, in a tone that roused them from their slumber; “lo, they are at hand who seek me.”

While he was speaking, we saw many torches gleaming through the trees, along King David’s walk, and the tramp of footsteps fell on our ears.

We soon saw a large party advancing into the midst of the garden; they walked rapidly, and spoke only in undertones.

We at once took the alarm, and said to Jesus - “Fly, dear Master! Let us ascend the hill, and escape by the way to Bethany; for these are enemies.’’

“Nay,’’ answered our dear Master; “I must submit to my Father’s will.

It must needs be that I deliver myself into the hands of these men; how else shall the Scriptures be fulfilled? Seek safety for yourselves in flight; but I must go whither they will lead me.’’

“Not so, Lord,’’ answered Peter. ‘‘There is time for Thee to escape; or if not, we will stand by Thee and defend thee.”

So said all the disciples. Jesus shook His head, and said, with a mournful smile - ‘‘Ye know not what ye say, or would do. My hour is come.”

While he yet spake, the multitude drew near, and those who came foremost, raising their torches above their heads, discovered us, with Jesus in the midst.

To my surprise, I beheld Judas acting as their guide, for he alone knew where his Master was to be found at that hour.

When he perceived Jesus, this wicked man ran forward, with the eagerness of friendship in his face, and kissed Jesus on the cheek, saying - “Hail, Master! I am glad I have found thee.”

‘‘Judas,’’ said Jesus, “betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss?”

When Judas heard this, he turned to the multitude, at the head of which I now discovered some of the chief priests, and most learned Scribes of the Temple, and cried aloud - “This is He! Seize Him, and hold Him fast!”

Thereupon the crowd, to the number of full ten-score men, among whom were the vilest sort of people, ran forward to lay hands upon Jesus; the moon and torches shedding almost the bright light of day into the garden upon the whole group.

At seeing them advance so furiously, with spears, and clubs, and swords, Peter and James placed themselves before Jesus to defend Him, while I, being unarmed, cast myself across His breast, to shield His life with my body.

The bolder men in the crowd coming too near, Peter smote one of them with his sword, as he was reaching out his arm to grasp Jesus by the shoulder, and clave off his ear.

At seeing this the crowd uttered a fierce shout, and were pressing upon us, but Jesus raised the palm of His hand, and said, quietly - “Whom seek ye?’’

Instantly the whole mass rolled backward, like a receding billow flung back against the face of an immovable rock, and every man fell with his forehead to the ground, where they lay for a while stunned.

We twelve alone stood; for Judas had not been struck down, and now remained gazing with amazement and terror upon the prostrate enemies of Jesus.

“O Lord!’’ cried Peter, astonished, ‘‘if thou canst thus repel thy foes, thou needest not fear them. Shall I smite Judas also?’’

‘‘Nay—put up thy sword, Peter! Let him remain to witness my power that he may know that he nor his have any power over me, save that I give them.”

While He was thus speaking, the people and soldiers rose to their feet : instead of flying, they seemed to be infuriated at their discomfiture; and as the chief priests, crying out that it was by sorcery they had been stricken down, rushed madly forward, and laid their hands upon Jesus, and upon us all.

In vain I strove against numbers to rescue Jesus; we were driven from the garden, leaving Jesus in the hands of his enemies.

When John had gone thus much, dear father, our tears and his were mingled.

I have omitted to mention to you what more John further related, touching the arrest of the Prophet.

“As the chief priests laid their hands on Him,” he said, “there was heard in the air the sound of myriads of rushing wings, and a voice like the gathering signal of a trumpet echoing and re-echoing in the skies, as if a countless host of invisible beings were being assembled armies by armies, in the mid-heaven.

At this fearful and wondrous sounds all raised their heads, but could behold nothing.

Then Jesus said, with a majestic and commanding look, such as I never before beheld upon His face -

‘‘Ye hear, O men of Israel, that I am not without heavenly friends! If I pray my Father, which is in heaven, He will give me twelve legions of His angels, now hovering in the air and yearning to defend me from my foes to aid me!

But I may not use my powers for myself. I came on earth to suffer. As a man, I must submit to all things that come upon me; nor make use of means in my own behalf that a man may not command. For this I came into the world. Lead on ! I go with you.”

Thus, dear Father, was Jesus borne away by a fierce multitude, and dragged into the city, followed by a shouting and insulting crowd, who, seeing that, notwithstanding His miraculous powers, they could so easily secure and hold Him, mocked Him only the more, for they could not understand how He possessed powers which could not be exercised to prevent His own capture.

John, whose ardent love, and affection for Jesus, led him to follow them, heard all this; but Jesus made no answer, only walking quietly with them, patiently enduring all they said and did.

John followed; but being recognised as one of Jesus’ disciples, by a soldier in Aemilius’ legion, he was seized, and only escaped capture by leaving his apparel in the grasp of the rude Roman; for such was the prevalent hatred to Jesus, that His enemies threateningly called for His followers, and would have taken them also had it been in their power.

Five of the disciples, who have escaped arrest, are now in this house, whither John fled also, on eluding the grasp of the soldier leaving his linen garment in his hand. Our hearts are troubled within us.

With eyes blinded with tears, I can scarcely subscribe myself,

Your morning but loving daughter,

Adina.

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The new Lady Donna Immersion in Spirituality, Academics and Citizenship @ the "I AM" School will study abridged excerpts of the Letters from Adina taken from Reverend Ingraham's original edited version of 'The Prince of the House of David', published by Cassell & Co. Ltd (1903), that reveal remarkable insights into the Living Etheric Record left by Beloved Jesus's Ministry in the Holy Land.