The Lord’s Agony in Gethsemane

In Gethsemane, the Lord was distressed and fearful in the face of approaching death and abandonment by God. His agonizing struggle in prayer culminated in the words to his Father: “yet not My will, but Yours be done.” After the Lord Jesus had prayed to his Father in this way, He returned to the sleeping disciples.

From John 18:2, it can be seen that the Lord Jesus “often met there [in the Garden of Gethsemane] with His disciples.” And now Judas, the betrayer, was on his way, accompanied by a military unit of about 600 soldiers (a Roman cohort) and officers of the chief priests and the Pharisees. They came with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

In the account of the evangelist John, one then reads a sentence that touches the heart: “So Jesus, aware of all the things that were coming upon Him, went out” (John 18:4). What depths are contained in this one statement alone!

Indeed, everything was known to the Lord Jesus, every detail, every vileness, every malice, every pain, every hurtful word, the judgment of God, and ultimately death. And yet He continued on His way unwaveringly.

The Betrayal of Judas

Already in the Old Testament, the vile betrayal by Judas was hinted at. In Psalms 41:10, it reads: “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” What must it have been for the Lord Jesus to have the betrayer around Him for three years, day after day? In fact, Judas was even entrusted with the money box; he, too, was provided for by the Lord Jesus (Luke 22:35), and now this man stood on the other side (“lifted up his heel against me”), on the side of the enemies.

Another Old Testament fulfillment with regard to Judas is found in Psalms 55:13–14: “For it is not an enemy who taunts me, then I could endure it; … But it is you, a man my equal, my companion and my confidant.” And indeed—what mockery: to pretend affection with a kiss to the One who knows and understands everything! Mark reports that Judas did not kiss the Lord Jesus in passing, but “very” (or many times, tenderly—ch. 14:45). Can a greater baseness be imagined?

With what calm and sovereignty, but also with what seriousness, the Savior replies: “Friend, do what you have come for” (Matthew 26:50)! Once again: what must it have been for the Lord Jesus to endure this betrayer for three years, day after day, in His immediate proximity—in the awareness that this man would later betray Him in so vile a way! “So Jesus, aware of all …”—including the shameful betrayal of a Judas!

Also, with regard to the many abuses at the hands of people, the Lord Jesus knew every single detail:

• many sufferings through the leaders of his people (Matthew 16:21)
• to be regarded as nothing (Mark 9:12—cf Isaiah 53:3)
• mockery—scourging—crucifixion (Matthew 20:19)

Sufferings from the hands of God

The unsparing judgment of God was just as clear to our Savior. To His disciples, He mentioned one of the many prophecies and spoke of how the Old Testament word from Zechariah 13:7 would be fulfilled in Him: “I WILL STRIKE THE SHEPHERD.” He knew all this—even to the loud cry on the cross: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46; Psalms 22:2).

Repeatedly, the Lord Jesus had spoken to the disciples about the fact that “he must be killed.” The prophet Isaiah, with regard to the death of the Servant of God, speaks of “deaths” (plural—see Isaiah 53:9, footnote) in order to express the agonizing nature of the manner of death. And the dreadful meaning of death as the wages of sin was also very clear to the Savior.

So Jesus, aware of all …—also with regard to His atoning death on Golgotha!

The Lord’s Love, Power, and Devotion

How the Lord Jesus stands before the eyes of our hearts—incomparable, unique in His love for God and the lost!

How He showed His unrestricted power and dignity with the words: “I am He” (John 18:5), which so frightened the enemies that they drew back and fell to the ground! Just one word—and they fell to the ground!

How He showed His unfathomable love and care toward those who shortly afterward left Him and fled: “So if you are seeking Me, let these men go” —so that the word would be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one” (John 18:8–9).

And how He once again showed His love and willingness to help people by the fact that “He touched his ear and healed him” (Luke 22:51)—and that immediately before His own arrest!

And how He showed His complete devotion to the Father in the words: “The cup which the Father has given Me, am I not to drink it?” (John 18:11)! The awareness that this cup came from the Father’s hand caused Him, in admirable submission and dignity, to go this infinitely difficult way.

The evangelist Luke concludes the description of this scene with the following words of our Lord: “But this is your hour, and the power of darkness” (Luke 22:53). Indeed, what followed now was a work of people incited by Satan, a shattering outbreak of violence and darkness.