In the Garden is Weeping (UNMASTERED)

(This track is an unmastered pre-release of the upcoming 2024 Easter: Stories & Songs album!)

With bellies full and feet clean, the disciples followed Jesus from the Upper Room in Jerusalem, down into the Kidron Valley, across the Mount of Olives, and into Garden of Gethsemane—the garden in which Jesus would soon be betrayed.

Many of us are familiar with the betrayal of Judas in Gethsemane. One whom Jesus called a friend, here led a legion of soldiers to Christ and, with a kiss, inaugurated the bloody and tortuous death Jesus would soon endure, all for the low price of 30 silver coins.

Judas’ betrayal, however, was not the only betrayal in Gethsemane that night.

Prior to the arrival of Judas and his legion, Jesus was betrayed by each of His other disciples. For while He prayed and agonized and pleaded with the Father, through sweat and blood and many tears, His disciples were found fast asleep. Their Friend, their Master, their God, a mere stones throw away and in the hour of His greatest need, and the disciples seemingly could not have cared any less as they laid their heads down and drifted off to sleep.

He needed them and they were asleep. He woke them and they fell back to sleep. This was a betrayal that certainly stung as deep as the kiss that would soon follow. Their bellies were full with bread and wine. Their feet now carried only one layer of dirt, all thanks to Jesus. Yet, here they left Him to battle the darkness of night all alone.

Every one of His disciples betrayed Jesus. And we have too.

See, Gethsemane isn’t the only garden in the Bible. The Bible, in fact, starts with a garden, Eden—the dream of God brought to life. There was a betrayal in that garden too. I believe there were also many tears.

And as the Father now stands in the middle of the garden with His arms stretched out, pleading and agonizing over the loss of His perfect communion with us, and as He works towards and sweats towards the restoration of His dream, how many of us are found fast asleep on the job?

We may not be able to sympathize with a man who would sell out his Friend for 30 silver coins. But who among us cannot relate to being lost in our own dreams, asleep and useless, while our Master and our Lord—who has filled our bellies and cleansed not only our feet but our souls—battles the dark of night alone?

Credits

Words & Music: Bill Wolf
Backing Vox: Rachel Wilhelm
Backing Vox: Phillip Joubert
Upright Bass: Vince Ilagan
Acoustic guitars, Dobro, Piano, Penny whistle, Percussion, BGVs: Adam Whipple
Violin: Sean Claire
Violin: Kyle Venlet
Viola: Julie Roy
Cello: Andy Bryenton