From The Garden To The Cross—part Of Our Lord’s Last Earthly Journey Series

From the Garden to the Cross—Part of our Lord’s Last Earthly Journey

Introduction: When the LORD made Adam, He put Adam in a garden—Eden. Now that the last Adam, Jesus Christ, is about to die for the sins of the world, one of the last things He saw was a garden as well. Dr. A. W. Pink in his commentary on John’s Gospel has a lot of useful material to help one better understand some of the Biblical Text.

1 The Arrival at the Garden

Text: John 18:1-2, KJV: 1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. 2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.

All four Gospels have a particular focus or emphasis on this last few moments of freedom which our Lord endured. John is the only one to mention a garden, which could mean anything from a bed of flowers to a grove of trees, like here. I’ve sometimes wondered if the Lord, on this last night before He was crucified, ever remembered the times when believers would meet with Him and just fellowship.

John 14 closed with the Lord saying, “Arise, let us go from here” or similar words, and it’s likely he spoke the words in John 15-17 as the disciples made their way to the garden (Gethsemane, as it’s called in Matthew 26:36 and Mark 14:32). Luke (22:39) adds they went to the Mount of Olives. At any rate, it was not a short walk to get from wherever they were in Jerusalem to reach the Mount of Olives and the garden of Gethsemane in particular.

Then John adds that they went forth over the brook Cedron or Kidron as some render the word. This is also the same “brook” that David crossed over when he fled from Absalom and the revolt Absalom had engineered many years before (see 2 Samuel 15-18). The word “brook” here means a wadi or dry stream bed that usually only carried water when the rains came. This event, the time of Passover, was in spring and apparently the spring or “latter” rains hadn’t come yet.

Something to keep in mind is that these events, taking place in the Garden, took place at night and the early morning. These men were tired, physically and emotionally, and who wouldn’t be, after hearing some of the most comforting yet unsettling words ever spoken! The Lord had said, “Love one another” but added “The world will hate you” and other things that absolutely look like flat contradictions, but every one of the Lord’s sayings came true. And they’re still coming true even today. In one of Dr. Vance Havner’s written messages, there’s a sobering thought: anyone taking a stand for Christ will soon realize he’s a lone sheep among a pack of wolves (paraphrasing the exact statement).

The men finally arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane. John adds they had “ofttimes” resorted there, maybe when they had come to Jerusalem, but we’re never told anything about these retreats or withdrawals.

But lest we forget, there was another disciple who knew where the place was. He had been part of the group and had done all the things a disciple would do—except believe Jesus as Lord.

He was Judas Iscariot.

He had made arrangements with the chief priests and promised to lead them directly to Jesus, in exchange for 30 “pieces of silver” or coins worth a month’s wages. It’s ironic, because Judas had complained about Mary of Bethany anointing the Lord’s feet with ointment worth almost a year’s wages (see John 12:1-6) but settled for maybe 10 per cent of that to betray Jesus. I’m still shaking my head over that.

The disciples and the Lord had arrived at Gethsemane, seemingly alone. Few would probably be out and about in an early April morning in the Jerusalem of those days, but this was different. History was about to be made and these eleven men were about to be part of it.

2 The Alone Time in the Garden

Text, John 18:3-11, KJV: 3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? 5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. 6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. 7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. 8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: 9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none. 10 Then 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. 11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?