Page 4 - Holyland Magazine - 2021 Edition

The tranquil beauty of the
Garden of Gethsemane
Whispering stories of Jesus and His disciples
By Reuven Doron
Photos: Shutterstock
Positioned prominently upon the western
slopes of the Mount of Olives facing
Jerusalem, travelers and pilgrims to
the Holy Land will find the Garden of
Gethsemane by the beautiful grounds
of the Church of all Nations.
Attracting millions of visitors over many
centuries, this tranquil and historic garden
features magnificent ancient olives trees
standing silently as living witnesses to the
timeless story of Jesus and the dramatic
events of the night of His prayer vigil, betrayal
and arrest.
What is The Garden of
Gethsemane Famous For?
The text of the New Testament Gospel accounts
tells us that the Garden of Gethsemane was a
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favorite location that Jesus and His disciples What Happened in The Garden of
visited more than once, and probably many
times.
Not only was it a suitable place for private
prayer and fellowship for this tight band of
disciples looking for solace, away from the
hustle and bustle and curious ears of the
big city, but it also was conveniently located authentic olive press where the harvested
by the path leading from Jerusalem to the
villages of Bethany and Bethpage, which
Jesus often visited.
It was at the Garden of Gethsemane that
Jesus spent His final hours and prayed His
final prayers just before He was betrayed and
arrested. It is this unfathomable agony, and
the eternal consequences of these events,
that gave the Garden of Gethsemane its
significance and renown worldwide.
Views from inside the garden
Gethsemane?
The actual historic setting is that of a
commercial enterprise of olive oil production,
which, according to the manner of those
times, included a grove of olive trees (which
the entire region is famous for) with an
olives were processed, crushed, and the
precious oil extracted under great pressure.
After the Passover meal (the Last Supper)
that is recorded in all four Gospels, Jesus
led His disciples out of the City of Jerusalem
and across the Kidron Valley to the Garden
of Gethsemane. Here He will spend His final
prayer time with the men closest to Him
before His arrest, trial and crucifixion; a prayer