Tuesday 26 April 2016

The tragedy of Calvary. Part 84.

The tragedy of Calvary: or the minute details of Christ's life from Palm Sunday morning till the resurrection and ascension taken prophecy, history, revelations and ancient writings by Meagher, Jas. L. (James Luke), 1848-1920


The indescribable sufferings of his soul reacted in his body. The repulsion to sin in his whole being rose up against the moral deformities, the wickedness of all mankind, and his blood oozed out through every pore of his skin. " And his sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground." (Luke xxii. 44.) His garments became red with blood. And there he was, all covered with blood, red as the man who presses out the red grape in Oriental countries. He has trodden down the sins of the nations laid on him. He has come forth from his victory over the fear of death; from his shrinking from his sorrows; from the sufferings of his Passion. Man will be redeemed. The prophet saw him in this agony in Gethsemane, " the winepress."

"Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bosra, this beautiful one in his robe, walking in the greatness of his strength? I that speak justice and am a defender to save. Why then is thy apparel red, and thy garments like theirs that tread in the wine-press ? I have trodden Gethsemane (In the translation in our Bible it is the " wine press.") alone, and of the Gentiles there is not a man with me." (Isaias lxiii. 1. 3.)

The great prophet, who wrote like an Evangelist, centuries before saw a vision of him when he sweated blood. In this fearful mental anguish, he wanted the help of his friends. But of the Gentiles there is not one with him. His dearest friends are asleep. Of this the prophet said: " The Lord hath trodden Gethsemane (the wine press) for the virgin daughter of Judah." (Lam. i. 15.) " And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all." (Isaias liii. 6.) "For the wickedness of my people have I struck him." (Isaias liii. 8.) When he came for sympathy to his three Apostles they were asleep. (Matt. xxvi. 45. 46.) "I sought and there was none to help." (Isaias lxiii. 5)

When he arose for the second time, he could hardly stand. His knees trembled. His face was pale arid bloody, his garments were red with blood,—he shook and shuddered. With trembling steps, he ascended the side of the cavern, reached a place where the ground was level, and came to where he left his three followers, and said, " Simon, sleepest thou?" They hardly knew him, he was so changed. He stood there trembling, pale, exhausted, bathed in blood oozing out the pores of his skin, running down his limbs. He hardly spoke above a whisper. When they looked at him they hardly knew him, he was so changed. John said to him:

"Master, what has happened to thee ? Will I call the other disciples ? Will we run away ?" Jesus replied: " Were I to live and teach and perform miracles for thirty-three years more, it would not be enough for the finishing of what must be fulfilled before this time to-morrow. Call not the others, for they would be scandalized to see me thus in agony, forget the past, lose confidence in me, and yield to temptation. But you who have seen the Son of man transfigured, now see him in the agony of his soul. Nevertheless watch and pray that you fall not into temptation." (Cath. Emmerich, pp. 103-4) For some minutes he remained encouraging them. Then he went back, and for the third time he threw himself on his face on the ground in the Grotto, and the agony began with still more terrific force.