Student assignment # 2 Unit 1 Choice 1 The Savior’s Suffering in Gethsemane. Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46; John 18:1-2

This week I have to say was rather intense as it was all about the end of the Savior’s life and mission on earth. I read about the events that took place leading up to and during His crucifixion and His resurrection. It was truly an amazing, spiritual week. I just can’t see how anyone can study this part of the scriptures without feeling the deepest spiritual feelings one can experience in this mortal life for all that our Lord, Brother, and Savior has done for us!!! My testimony that He sacrificed his life for us, that He atoned for our sins and suffering, and was resurrected- that He lives is stronger and more powerful than ever before…  It is my hope that this study of the Garden of Gethsemane will have the same effect for you as it has for me. So, let’s get started!

First, the study materials you will need are: the Bible, The Book of Mormon, and the Life and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles Chapter 25: “Not my Will but Thine be Done”. You can find an app that you can download for the scriptures if you don’t have any with you. You can also go to this site to read them as well as the student manual you will need: https://www.lds.org/manual/the-life-and-teachings-of-jesus-and-his-apostles/section-5-the-week-of-the-atoning-sacrifice-to-the-resurrection/chapter-25-not-my-will-but-thine-be-done?lang=eng . This takes you straight to the chapter that had the headings you will need to read. To find the scriptures to read, just click on Scriptures at the list to the left where you see Manuals at the top, or open another tab and paste this in: https://www.lds.org/scriptures?lang=eng

 I am pretty much going to write the questions that were in this assignment that helped me study the material and then write my responses. As you start your study, say a prayer in your Heart that the spirit will open, soften, and expand your mind as you read and study the scriptures that you will receive a testimony/ stronger testimony of the Savior and His mission on earth. That you will receive those things that you need to know at this time in your life to help you as it pertains to this subject, and will liken the scriptures unto yourself- to put yourself in His place and feel what he felt and feels for us because of His suffering  and sacrifice. I testify that at some point in everyone’s life, we will have an opportunity to feel this-To go through a “type of Christ” experience.  Maybe you think it bold of me to express this, but it is true. In order to really be like Christ and follow Him, if we really truly seek to know Him, we will experience this. It is a way to truly understand Him and His love for us and that He will truly never leave us-He will never give up on us.

1.  
Review Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46, making a list of words and phrases that describe the Savior’s suffering. Include in your list clarifications provided in the footnotes.

My List: From Matthew- “ began to be sorrowful and very heavy”; “ My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death”; “fell on His face and prayed”; “ O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me…”  “ O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me except I drink it…”; “prayed the third time”; From Mark- “be sore amazed, and…very heavy”; “fell on the ground”; “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee”;  “the hour is at hand… the Son of man is betrayed”; From Luke- Withdrawn; “kneeled down and prayed”; “an angel …from Heaven, strengthen[ed] Him”; “being in Agony”; “prayed more earnestly”; “sweat…great drops of blood”; John- betrayed.

2.   Write additional insights about the Savior’s suffering in Gethsemane found in the following resources:

·         Mosiah 3:7; Alma 7:11-13; Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-19

My List of Insights: Mosiah- temptations; “pain of body”; “hunger, thirst, fatigue…more than man can suffer”; “great…anguish for the wickedness and abominations; Alma- “Suffering pains, afflictions, and temptations of every kind”; “take upon Him the pains and sicknesses of his people”; “take upon Him their infirmities that His bowels may be filled with mercy according to the flesh…that he may know…how to succor His people”; “suffereth according to the flesh… that He might blot out their transgressions”; D&C 19:16-19 “suffered…for all…that they might not suffer if they would repent”; “ Tremble because of pain and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit”

·         The institute student manual commentary, “To What Extent Was the Atonement Completed in the Garden of Gethsemane?” (p. 173)

--He had suffered the majority of His pain in the Garden of Gethsemane, but the final phase did not occur until He experienced the withdrawal of His father’s presence and endured without Him on the cross. This was so His sacrifice and Atonement for our sins would be complete. He had to feel alone-cut off from His presence in order to accomplish this.

·         The institute student manual commentary for Luke 22:44, “And Being in an Agony, He Prayed More Earnestly” (pp.173-74)  

--“He bore the weight, the responsibility, and the burden of the sins of all men, which, to us, is incomprehensible. …” It is truly incomprehensible the pains and agony he suffered for us. He not only suffered the pain of the sins and infirmities themselves, but the temptations and feelings of being alone and cut off –the consequences as well.

·         The institute student manual commentary for Luke 22:44, “And His Sweat Was As It Were Great Drops of Blood Falling Down to the Ground” (p. 174)

--While it is obvious that He suffered physically and mentally, it was His “spiritual agony of soul” that “caused Him to suffer such torture”. Only a God could take on such. As we see that it caused Him to bleed from every pore, my thought was that we cannot separate our experiences whether they are physical, mental, or spiritual, our whole being is affected-physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

3.   Read Matthew 26:36 and the institute student manual commentary for Matthew 26:36, “Then Cometh Jesus … unto a Place Called Gethsemane” (pp. 172-73). Write a paragraph about how the meaning of Gethsemane adds insight to what the Savior experienced there.

--If one understands that olive oil is considered highly valued and precious oil and used for its health and healing powers, one can see that to take an olive and press the oil out could represent the essence of bringing out the purest form of it. The part that is used to heal and has greatest value has to be extracted from the meat in a way that forever changes it. It is while under great pressure that we- like the Savior can be changed and purified to reach a higher spirituality and unity with the Father.

4.   Write response to each of the following questions, looking for lessons you can apply to your own life from the example of the Savior in Gethsemane:

·         What were the Savior’s disciples doing while He was praying? What had the Lord taught the Apostles in Matthew 26:41? What does His example teach about how to be obedient even when “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak?” How does Doctrine and Covenants 10:5 apply to this verse?

My response: The Savior’s disciples slept while He suffered in Gethsemane. In Matthew 26: 41, He told them to watch and pray that they would not enter into temptation for the flesh is weak even though the spirit is willing. In D&C 10: 5, we see that by praying, we can conquer Satan and escape his servants. This teaches us that by obeying His counsel to watch and pray always, we will be able to overcome the adversary.

·         Read Mosiah 15:7; 3 Nephi 11:11; Doctrine and Covenants 19:19. Write the phrases from these verses that describe what motivated the Savior to “drink the bitter cup.”

My Response: From Mosiah 15:7; 3 Nephi 11:11; & D&C 19:19, We read these phrases: “The will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father”, “…have glorified the Father……I have suffered the will of the Father…”, “Glory be to the Father, and I partook…”.In these, we see that Christs main motivation was obedience to His Father and to glorify Him.

·         Write your thoughts about the Savior’s use of the word nevertheless in Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42. In each of these accounts, what did the Savior initially ask for? What did He say next, using the word nevertheless? What does it require to submit one’s will to the Father in this way, no matter how painful or difficult the outcome might be? When have you followed the “nevertheless” pattern the Savior exemplified in these verses by submitting to Heavenly Father’s will even though it was very difficult?

My Response: In Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:36; and 22:42, Christ submits to the Father’s will even though it was very painful. He asks that it be taken from Him showing what He wants or wishes could be instead, but when He utters “nevertheless”, He gives His will to the Father. Through the Savior’s example, we learn that in order to submit our will to the father and suffer our great trials and afflictions, our desires, thoughts, and feelings most surly will be in opposition to the will of the Father. So it is with this understanding of having complete faith and trust in Him that we are to be willing to obey and submit our will to Him. I have followed the Savior’s pattern in this many times in my life. The biggest one for me was having to give up my children and allow my ex-husband to have them for two years and trust my Heavenly Father that this was His will and I would not understand it. I learned a lot about myself and about my Father in this.

·         According to Luke 22:44, as the Savior’s agony became more intense, how did His prayer change? Do you feel more like praying or less like praying when you are suffering? When has it made a difference in your suffering to have turned to the Lord with more earnest prayer?

My Response: In Luke 22:44, we see that as the savior’s agony increased, He prayed more earnestly. I think that it depends on where I am spiritually whether I pray more earnestly as my pain in my trials increases. For the most part, I turn to the Lord immediately. I think the thing that stops me is when I don’t feel worthy to pray either because of something I feel I have done wrong or perceived to have done wrong. The thing is, if we don’t reach out, we suffer needlessly more than we have to whereas, when we reach to Him in Prayer, we can be strengthened to help us endure.

·         Reflect on what you have learned about the Savior’s suffering in Gethsemane. Write a paragraph about lessons you can apply to your own life from the example of the Savior in Gethsemane.

My Response: From the Savior’s example, I am going to be more mindful and be ready to be obedient when fulfilling my mission so I won’t “fall into temptation” from the weakness of my body and mind though my spirit be willing  because I don’t want to  miss out on blessings. I am also going to remember that when I reach out in Prayer, I will be given angels round about me to strengthen me.  I will follow His example and immediately turn to prayer- even in earnest when temptations and infirmities befall me and remind myself that in order to reach higher spirituality, I must endure under pressure all the pains, suffering, sacrifices, and trials Father wills to inflict upon me.