Resurrection Life of Jesus Church
THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
PART 72: GETHSEMANE
RLJ-1975
JOHN S. TORELL
AUGUST 11, 2024
THE BETRAYAL
The apostle John recorded what took place at the last Passover meal with Judas Iscariot. As they lay around the table partaking in the Passover meal, Jesus said that one of the twelve men was a traitor. John 13:21
Peter immediately asked John, who was next to Jesus and leaning on His chest, to seek out more information on the matter. verses 22-25
Jesus replied that the guilty one was the man who received the sop and He gave it to Judas Iscariot. A sop is a thin, wafer-like piece of bread dipped into the common dish as a sort of improvised spoon. verses 26-27
No one at the table knew what Jesus told Judas, but when he left shortly thereafter, they thought that Jesus had sent him to buy something because Judas was the treasurer and carried the bag of money. verses 28-30
MOUNT OF OLIVES
Once the meal was over, they sang a hymn (psalm), left the Upper Room, and walked to the Mount of Olives where there was a garden at the foot of the mountain called Gethsemane. Matthew 26:30
According to John, this was a place that the God-man had previously visited and was known to Judas. John 18:1-2
During the walk to Gethsemane, Jesus told the apostles they were going to be offended that night. The God-man declared that after the resurrection, He would meet them in Galilee. Matthew 26:31-32; Zechariah 13:7
Peter protested that he would not abandon Jesus even if the rest of the apostles did so. Matthew 26:33
Jesus countered that Peter would deny Him three times before the cock crowed. verse 34; Mark 14:30; Luke 22:34
The Romans divided the night into four periods (watches), each consisting of three hours, the first beginning at six in the evening. The changing of the guard at the end of a watch was marked by the sound of a trumpet. The last of the four watches was closed by the blowing of a horn at three in the morning, which was sounded three times to imitate the crowing of a rooster.
Peter was offended and vowed not to deny Jesus, even if it meant his death, as did the rest of the apostles. Matthew 26:35
GETHSEMANE
Once Jesus arrived to the Garden of Gethsemane, He directed the apostles to sit down and then took Peter, John, and James another 50-60 feet further and instructed them to join Him in prayer. Matthew 26:36-38; Mark 14:32-34; Luke 22:39-41
A FINAL PRAYER BY JESUS
Jesus uttered a final prayer before Judas’ betrayal resulted in His arrest. The God-man knew it was only a matter of hours before He was nailed to a cross. Judas had gone to the palace of the high priest and the ungodly Jewish leadership would want to make the arrest in a private place such as the Garden of Gethsemane, and since Judas was familiar with the spot, he would lead the soldiers to the trap set up for Jesus.
The humanity of the God-man is evident when He becomes exceedingly sorrowful. In a last attempt to see if the redemption plan can be altered, He prays three times to God the Father while the apostles slept. Lucifer put them to sleep in order to deny Jesus the prayer support He needed. Nevertheless, God the Father sent an angel to strengthen Jesus and confirm He was on the right track. The God-man visited Peter, James and John and found them asleep each time. Matthew 26:39-45; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46
Luke records that Jesus was sweating drops of blood when praying. The medical term for this is hematidrosis and it only occurs when someone suffers from extreme levels of stress. Luke 22:44
SUMMARY
It was in the Garden of Gethsemane that the God-man realized He was about to enter the most difficult phase since being incarnated into a human body. He knew that He would be abused at the palace of Caiaphas and given over the Romans and subjected to further violence. While this was going to be a horrible experience, it was nothing in comparison when He would be made sin for the human race and experience the full force of God’s wrath.
No being in creation has ever suffered like Jesus and I’m not sure we will ever fully comprehend the magnitude until we arrive in heaven.
Remember, it’s not so important how you begin your life after salvation, but how you finish it!
Do you have an ear to hear with?
