The Winepress Alone
In the manual: Come, Follow Me lesson 42, “The Redeemer Shall Come to Zion,” on Gospel Library
Start
Isaiah sees someone coming from the direction of Edom in bright red clothes. He asks why the clothes are red, like the clothes of a man who has been treading grapes (Isaiah 63:1–2).
Read Together
To make wine, people poured grapes into a pit cut in the rock and stomped on them with bare feet. The juice stained their clothes red. In Doctrine and Covenants 133:46–51, the Lord says he will be red in his apparel when he comes again.
1Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? 3I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.
9In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.
What It Teaches
The answer in verse 3 is “I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me.” The Doctrine and Covenants says the winepress he trod alone held the fierce wrath of Almighty God (Doctrine and Covenants 76:107). He took on himself what should have fallen on us.
That suffering began in Gethsemane, where his sweat was “as it were great drops of blood” (Luke 22:44). The name Gethsemane means oil press, a place where olives were crushed. He asked Peter, James, and John to watch with him, and three times he found them asleep (Matthew 26:36–45). On the cross he cried, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught that “because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so.”
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “None Were with Him,” General conference, April 2009
Verse 9 tells why he did it. “In his love and in his pity he redeemed them.” Whenever his people suffered, “he was afflicted” too, and he carried them “all the days of old.”
Talk About It
Verse 7 says, “I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord.” What kindness from the Lord could each of us mention tonight?
Take to Church
The Savior stood alone in Gethsemane so that we never have to. In all our afflictions, he is afflicted too.