The Gethsemane Address

Fourscore and some centuries ago our heavenly Father brought forth in time and space a new universe, conceived in righteousness, and dedicated to the proposition that all people are created in the image and likeness of God.

Now we are engaged in a great cosmic war, testing whether that notion  — or any of the Father’s plans and purposes – can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war, an olive grove known as Gethsemane. We have come to dedicate ourselves to the memory of that field as a final testing place for him who gave his life that those people might live. For it was here that our Lord acquiesced to the will of his Father and accepted the cup of sorrow for sinners. It was here, on this ground, that beads of blood dropped like sweat from the Savior’s pores. It was here, in this place, that those fateful words thrice resounded, “Not my will but yours be done.” Thus, we have come to memorialize the legacy of that selfless, obedient act. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this, for thus our Lord commanded.

But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot sanctify this ground. The brave man who struggled here – once living, once dead, but now alive forevermore – has consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The unbelieving world will little note nor highly regard what we say here, and it is hell-bent to forget what he did here. It is for us, rather — the church, the body of Christ in the world – to be dedicated to the finished work which he who anguished here so nobly has culminated. It is rather for us, the saints, the people of God, to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from this atoning death we take increased devotion to that cause for which he gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly concur that his death shall not have been in vain; that we resolve to proclaim that Christ died for sins once for all, that whoever believes in him shall not be condemned; and that this salvation – of the Lord, by the Lord, and for all who accept it in faith – shall not perish from the earth.

                                                                                                                        Jim Chapman