e would now set up his throne in
Jerusalem. Some of the Pharisees in the crowd, who did not believe in
Jesus, said to him:
"Master, stop your disciples!"
But Jesus said:
"I tell you, that if these should be still, the very stones would cry
out!"
And when he came into Jerusalem with all this multitude, all the city
was filled with wonder. They said: "Who is this?"
And the multitude answered:
"This is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth in Galilee!"
And Jesus went into the Temple, and looked around it; but he did not
stay, because the hour was late. He went again to Bethany, and there
stayed at night with his friends.
These things took place on Sunday, the first day of the week; and that
Sunday in the year is called Palm Sunday, because of the palm branches
which the people carried before Jesus.
Many people heard him gladly, but the great city was deaf to his
pleadings. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem," he cried, "thou that killest the
prophets, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as
a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"
[Illustration: _The great city was deaf to his pleadings_]
THE STORY OF THE BETRAYAL
At the foot of the Mount of Olives, near the path over the hill toward
Bethany, there was an orchard of olive trees, called "The Garden of
Gethsemane." The word "Gethsemane" means "oil press." Jesus often went
to this place with his disciples, because of its quiet shade. At this
garden he stopped, and outside he left eight of his disciples, saying to
them, "Sit here while I go inside and pray."
He took with him the three chosen ones, Peter, James, and John, and went
within the orchard. Jesus knew that in a little while Judas would be
there with a band of men to seize him; that in a few hours he would be
beaten, and stripped, and led out to die. The thought of what he was to
suffer came upon him and filled his soul with grief. He said to Peter
and James and John:
"My soul is filled with sorrow, a sorrow that almost kills me. Stay here
and watch while I am praying."
He went a little further among the trees, and flung himself down upon
the ground, and cried out:
"O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me;
nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou willest!"
So earnest was his feeling and so great his suffering that there came
out upon his face great drops of sweat like blood, falling upon the
ground. After praying for a time,
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