Matthew 26:36-56
This part covers Jesus' prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane, and His arrest.
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 farther, 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."
This is Jesus' last night before He would be taken and executed, and He was very troubled and sorrowful. He left the disciples near the entrance to the garden, and took Peter, James and John with Him deeper into it, then He went a little beyond them, too. There He communed with His Father, earnestly asking if there could be any other way, as, in His humanity, when it came down to it, He really didn't want to have to go through this.
Jesus prayed this same prayer three times (vs. 42-44), and Luke tells us that, An angel from Heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground (Luke 22:43-44).
This is possibly the only time in all Eternity Past and Future that the Father and Son didn't agree 100% in their wills. Jesus was born into our human family in order to be the "sacrificial Lamb" that would take away our sins, but in His Humanity He faced many temptations, every temptation we are all tempted with, including trying to get out of this obligation. He had never been separated from His Father, and He really dreaded it. That's why He asked three times. But He knew there was no other way to be able to take us to Heaven. That's how much He loves us!
Luke 22:45-48
When He rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. "Why are you sleeping?" He asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." While He was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to to kiss Him, but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"
The culture Jesus lived in called for a close friend to greet another with a kiss on the cheek, as a sign of affection and respect. Judas was abusing this greeting in using it as a sign to His enemies. Surely, he didn't think he could deceive Jesus with it! So Jesus called him out.
John 18:3-11
So Judas came to the Garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to Him, went out and asked, them, "Who is it you want?" "Jesus of Nazareth," they replied." "I am He," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
I can imagine that when Jesus, the great I AM, actually said, "I AM," to them, the effect knocked them backward onto the ground!
Again He asked them, "Who is it you want?" "Jesus of Nazareth," they said. Jesus answered, "I told you that I am He. If you are looking for Me, then let these men go." This happened so that the words He had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those You gave Me." Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?"
And He touched the man's ear and healed him." (Luke 22:51.)
Here's Peter, again defending Jesus to keep Him "safe." But Jesus is now strengthened, and simply heals the man.
Matthew tells us that He said that could call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels. (26:53.)
And Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell us that Jesus told them that he had spent every day with them teaching in the temple courts, and they hadn't arrested Him there. (Matthew 26:55, Mark 14:49, and Luke 22:53.)
He knew they were afraid of the people, that's why they didn't arrest Him there.
And Luke adds, But this is your hour--when darkness reigns. (22:53.)
Jesus knew that Satan would think he was destroying Man's hope, and would rejoice at Jesus' suffering and death. That's why He references darkness getting the upper hand, but only temporarily. And these chief priests and Pharisees were the ones who called for His crucifixion, because they refused to believe in Him.
Jesus' humanity is glaringly on display here: through His anguished prayers, the arrest, all of the trials they illegally put Him through, His crucifixion, death and burial.
All because He loves us that much. God the Father loves us that much, to agree to sacrifice His own Son. This love is greater, grander, purer, broader, bolder, more passionate than any earthly love that is possible.
And this unlimited and eternal love can be yours, in Christ Jesus our Lord!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
