Gethsemane
.jpg)
Gathhsemane is only mentioned by Matthew[1] and Mark[2] who place Jesus’ agony and his arrest there. Luke[3] specifies that these events took place at the Mount of Olives and John[4] speaks of a garden that Judas knew "because Jesus and his Disciples often met there."
Maria Valtorta confirms these four accounts and notably explains why Jesus and his Disciples often gathered there.
Gathhsemane is an agricultural property located to the west of the Mount of Olives and near the city of Jerusalem. It is one of the estates of Lazarus, who owns several in Jerusalem. Therefore, it is private property. Its proximity to the Temple, located just across the Kidron, but also to Bethany where Lazarus and Martha reside, and to the field of the Galileans, the traditional place of their encampment during the obligatory feasts, all explain why Jesus and his Disciples have a practical and safe base there.
The property is managed by Jonah and his family.
Location
- Other spellings: Gathhsémané - Gath Semni - Gat Šmānê,
- 31° 46’ 48’’ N / 35° 14’ 24’’ E /
- +710m
Residents or natives
Jonah, the guardian, his wife Mary and their son Mark.
Description
This property of Lazarus of Bethany is located on the Mount of Olives opposite Jerusalem on one of the roads leading to Bethany.
[The House of Gathhsemane] "is located within the city, yet at its outskirts. It is already a real rustic house amidst an olive grove. From the small courtyard in front of it, one sees the trees descending in rows down the hill. They stop where a small stream, carrying very little Water[5], runs through the gap between two low hills. The Temple is at the top of one of the two; on the other, olive trees as far as the eye can see."[6]Later, pursued Jesus finds Home at Nob, a village northeast of Jerusalem, on the eastern slope of Mount Scopus. This provides Maria Valtorta with an opportunity to describe the surroundings.
"Jesus left the City through the Gate of the TroupWater and went down into the Kidron valley, which has very little Water in its bed. Jesus crosses it by jumping on stones emerging from the Water and heads toward the Mount of Olives. At this place, they are dense and still mixed with scrubland that makes this part of Jerusalem dark, I would say funereal, this narrow strip squeezed between the gray walls of the Temple dominating this side of the mountain and the Mount of Olives on the other side. Further south, the valley broadens and lightens, but here it is really narrow, like a giant claw’s scratch digging a deep furrow between Moriah[7] and the Mount of Olives."[8]
Notable events
- Jesus receives the allegiance of Judas[9] impressed by the authority Jesus displays when driving out the Merchants of the Temple. It is the same one who, in the same place, allows Jesus to be arrested with a Kiss after his night of agony[10].
- The risen Jesus appears to the Disciples gathered for the additional Passover (Pesha Sheni). This feast allowed the faithful who had not been able to eat the Passover a month earlier to do so. Jesus had kept some people away from this feast that was to be the occasion of his violent Passion[11].
- The Risen Jesus gathers Apostles and Disciples here before leaving for the nearby place of his Ascension[12].
- It is finally the place where Mary will retire with John[13] until her Dormition[14] and her Assumption[15].
"The house from which I ascended to Heaven was one of Lazarus’ countless gifts for Jesus and His Mother. The small house of Gathhsemane, near the place of His Ascension. There is no need to look for its remains. In the destruction of Jerusalem by The Romans, it was devastated and its ruins were scattered over the centuries."[16]
Its name
Gathhsemane is a transliteration of its Hebrew name: Gat Šmānê, meaning "the oil press," which is consistent with the nature of the place.
Where is it mentioned in the work?
EMV 54 EMV 66 EMV 70
EMV 112 EMV 196
EMV 602 EMV 638 EMV 642 EMV 643 EMV 646 EMV 648 EMV 649 EMV 650 EMV 651
Explore