Station 2: Jesus Prays in the Garden: by David Coleman
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Artist's Statement:
I was born in 1963. I am married with two children, and work as minister with Barrhead United Reformed Church. My four-year old son calls this picture a story about a drink. The Garden is framed by trees which link modern Britain with Jesus. Trees and the foliage with which that figure is clothed indicate the closeness of the incarnate Christ to the earth. The Judas figure, a failed echo of Christ, is being overgrown and strangled by the pieces of silver. He is betrayed and crucified by his own betrayal. Perhaps that is why the Finnieston crane becomes a cross for him. The large buildings in the background are likewise historic ironworks. The tower recalls the military watchtowers of Jerusalem. The disciples haven't a clue what Jesus is going through. Their togetherness contrasts with Christ's loneliness. They have brought out the four cups of Passover for a mellow evening, lying and circle dancing around the fire. Some sources speak of a fifth cup, perhaps the cup of suffering Jesus is both grasping and pushing away. The police have come with Judas. They come from peace demonstrations in Glasgow and Birmingham. The gospels suggest that Jesus' arrest was over-policed. It felt that way when I saw vanloads of riot shields driving past 100 000 peaceful people in Glasgow this February.
Station 2
Text Ref: Mt. 26:36-46
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
Going a little further, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
He went away a second time and prayed, “My father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hand of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
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