In the Garden

One of my favorite hymns is "In the Garden" and has touched my heart for years. I do not know all the words but these key lines have always stuck with me. "I come to the garden alone While the dew is still on the roses" and "And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own; And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known."

For as long as I can remember some of my most special, most peaceful times of my life have been spent "In the Garden". And even more so "While the dew is still on the roses" early in the morning while most everyone else is still sleeping "alone" - I am a morning person.

But, was I alone? No, some of my closest talks with Our Father have been right there, setting in the dirt, pulling weeds, or planting. Even during the long years of my life when I wasn't living for God - He was there in the garden with me. I was never "alone".

There are three messages in the bible that take place in gardens I find very important.

The Garden of Eden

Most everyone, believer and non-believers know the "story" of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 2:8-10 "And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And a river went out of Eden to water the garden;"

We also know what happened after that - Adam and Eve messed up! Result of which God had created the most beautiful of gardens but we humans didn't listen and ended up where we are now. Most believers are or should be if not already, trying to get back to that garden.

The Garden of Gethsemane

One of the most touching times in history happened in a garden, Gethsemane.

Matthew 26:36-47
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 farther, 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.
43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Not once but three times, shortly before His "Death" Jesus prayed to Our Father, His Father in a garden. Jesus asked His disciples to "watch with" Him. Yet they fell asleep. Now, if they were in a more "uncomfortable" spot might they not have fallen asleep?

Jesus Talks to Mary

John 20:15-17

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

It does not say "garden" but if Mary thought Jesus was a gardener then would lead me to believe they were in a garden again. Jesus pops in a garden to deliver one more message before ascending to Heaven.

I love my time in the garden with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. My lowest times in my life have been when I couldn't for some reason be in the garden. My highest times have been while in the garden, listening and talking with Our Father. Is this coincidence? Or is it God speaking to me - we are to be like Jesus! Jesus did choose a garden to spend some of his last hours on earth, in earthly form, in a garden.

Previously published on ByFaithOnly my personal web site.