Hello, God. It's me, Mara.

On a hillside near the city, a grove of olives grew — Gethsemane means “oil press” — its nuance Jesus knew. This Garden Grove, a place of prayer — a happ’ning there one night, near press for oil — the press of sin, our sins on Christ, not light.

So — what happened in that garden, where heavy weights press oil? Affliction and anxiety, to us they are a foil.

The first man, Adam, by his choice disjoined(1) God by his sin. The second Adam, Jesus Christ, forgives us from within. He knew He was the sacrifice, He sweat real drops of blood, from stress intense, to prove Him man,...