Gethsemane and Egypt

I just thought that I should let you all know that I am headed to the land of the Pyramids tomorrow so I won't be blogging for awhile. I am so excited!! This trip should be the ultimate Egypt trip! Pyramids, mummies, museums, falukkas on the nile, camels, Sinai, etc!! We get to do it all!

I also wanted to blog about my first experience in the Garden of Gethsemane today. We walked down there (it is so amazing that I am within walking distance) after church and spent some time pondering and reading scriptures. The Garden of Gethsemane today probably isn't what you would picture. There have been three churches planted right in the middle of it and there are usually a lot of tourists. However, we at the center are lucky because they allow us to go into a special private garden that they have there where they have actual olive trees and it is much more quiet and peaceful.

Today I read a few accounts of Christ's experience in the Garden of Gethsemane and as I sat there and read, I paid particular attention to the phrase "he fell on his face." In my mind I pictured Christ leaving the apostles behind weighed down with sorrow. As He walks away, He eventually gets to a point where He is staggering and struggling to stay upright. He finally gives in to the sorrow and pain and collapses "on his face" among the trees. He is then consumed by the pain and pleads with God to remove this great burden if it is possible.

As these thoughts ran through my head and as I pondered upon the scene that had played out in that garden thousands of years ago, I confess that I fell asleep for a minute. Upon waking up, the thought came to my mind that many years ago, some of the apostles had done the same thing as the Savior suffered only "a stone's throw" from where they were. I thought of the Savior's words to them as He said "could ye not watch with me one hour?" and I wondered if I would be guilty of the same thing. It is hard to imagine the Savior suffering the ultimate pain and sorrow so near and not being aware of His situation, much less falling asleep as He performed an act that would influence every soul who ever lived.

I know that Christ did indeed suffer in that garden for our sins and that His atonement is infinite and eternal.