JESUS IN THE GARDEN.
"WHEN Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Kedron, where was a garden, into which he entered, and his disciples." The brook Kedron is on the east side of Jerusalem, and runs through a deep hollow called the Valley of Jehoshaphat. On the other side of the valley is the Mount of Olives. The garden of Gethsemane must have been on the lower slope of this mountain, near the valley,
Soon after Jesus and his disciples came into this garden, Jesus said to them, "Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder." He took with him Peter, and James, and John; and when they had gone away by themselves, Jesus began to be very sad, and said to them, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye here and watch with me." After saying this, he went a little farther on, and falling on his face, prayed most earnestly, saying, "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." While he was praying, there came an angel and strengthened him; for his agony was so great, that he sweat "as it were great drops of blood, falling down to the ground."
At length, he returned to the three disciples whom he had left a little way behind him, and found them asleep. Then he said to Peter, "What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing; but the flesh is weak." When he had thus spoken, he went away and prayed the second time, saying, "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done." Then he came again to his disciples, and found them asleep; for their eyes were heavy. Without reproving them, he went away and prayed the third time, speaking the same words as before. On returning to his disciples after this prayer, he said to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners."
It must be remembered that, earlier in the evening, Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, had gone forth from them to betray his Lord. Having agreed with the chief priests and Pharisees for a certain sum of money, and having received from them a band of men and officers, he came with lanterns and torches and weapons, seeking for Jesus. Since Jesus so often visited this garden with his disciples, Judas knew where he would be likely to find him, and had come directly to the place. He entered the garden with his armed men, just as Jesus was talking to his disciples, and saying, "Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me."
Now Judas had given the officers and soldiers a token, saying, "Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; hold him fast." So he immediately went up to Jesus, and said, "Hail, Master; and kissed him."
Then Jesus said unto him, "Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss?"
"Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them,
Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way; that the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gayest me have I lost none." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. And when his disciples saw what would follow, they said, "Lord, shall we smite with the sword?" "Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up the sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given• me, shall I not drink it?" "Thinkest - thou that I cannot pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?"
Then the officers and soldiers took Jesus and bound him, and led him away to Annas, first, who was father-in-law to Caiaphas the high priest. Then the disciples forsook their Lord and fled.