Garden of Gethsemane

At the lower part of the Mt. of Olives is the Garden of Gethsemane.  It is named for the ancient olive trees that grow there to this day.  Gethsemane was gat-shamna in Aramaic and referred to an olive press.  The Garden of Gethsemane was where Jesus brought his disciples to pray.  This is where he was arrested by the soldiers of the High Priest and taken away for indictment.

Aside from the beautiful Church of All Nations that beautifully depicts Jesus praying and agonizing over what was to come, the Garden itself is beautifully kept and there's a quietness and peacefulness within it's gates that is hard to describe.  We were lead in a brief devotional and then given an opportunity to walk through the Garden and pray alone.  What a moving experience!  The song, "I Come to the Garden Alone" was on my mind and still is everytime I think about being in that wonderful place. 

I Come To The Garden Alone Lyrics
I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The son of God discloses.

And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.

He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet that the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.

I'd stay in the garden with Him
'Tho the night around me be falling
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling

And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.

This is Tyler walking through the Garden.  Just about where he's standing, you can look to the right (his right) and see the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem where Christ will return one day.  I was warmed by the thought that Jesus prayed in this place as he looked upon the city gate where He will one day return. 

Ezekiel 43:7

New International Version (NIV)

⁷ He said: “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever.

Ezekiel 44

The Priesthood Restored

¹ Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east, and it was shut. ² The LORD said to me, “This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered through it. ³ The prince himself is the only one who may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence of the LORD. He is to enter by way of the portico of the gateway and go out the same way.”