‘And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.‘
In the Gospel of Luke our blessed Lord is presented to us as the perfectly dependent man. In full accord with this He is often spoken of as praying, for prayer is the expression of dependence. In the close of His life, we have this touching word: “He came out, and went, as He was wont, to the Mount of Olives.” The shadows which had surrounded Him during His perfect path of service were deepening into blackness. Man’s cruel rejection of Him was all but complete. The terrible burden of sin, with its abandonment of God, was before His spirit. He had given expression to His love for His disciples in gathering them together to eat with Him the Passover before He suffered. He had set before them also that which they should do for a remembrance of Himself. Now He retires. Even from His chosen disciples, He separates Himself that He may be alone. There He pours out His soul to the Father, divinely measuring all that was before Him, shrinking from it in perfect piety, yet desiring the Father’s will to be done. Deepest anguish was His, yet most absolute submission. Precious, Holy Saviour, who can gaze on Thee there without deepest reverence!
(J Revell. Nugget suggested by an American subscriber as a rare example of a doxology in ministry)
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