Season 3 Podcast 252 “A Christmas Message Pt II.”
Shortly after, having called his twelve apostles, Christ gives the greatest sermon in the world, simply called The Sermon on the Mount. It contains, among other teachings, the Beatitudes.
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
No event in the life of Christ was greater than His divine suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the Hill called Calvary. In the Garden of Gethsemane, he took upon himself the sins of the world.
As a prelude to Gethsemane Christ took his twelve disciples into the Upper Room to honor the Passover. The event is known worldwide as The Last Supper. In Christian churches everywhere the sacrament is still served commemorating that event. The purpose of the sacrament is so that saints everywhere can renew their covenants with Christ. Matthew records those events:
26 ¶ And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.
30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. (Matthew 26: 26-30)
3 RON
The Garden of Gethsemane is at the base of the Mount of Olives. It was there that he took upon himself the sins of the world, an event so excruciating that three times He asked the Father if it be possible let this cup pass from me; but, always submissive to the Father’s will, each time he added, “Not as I wilt but as thou wilt.”
36 ¶ Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
