In the Garden

Judas, one of Jesus' disciples, betrays him to the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver. Jesus shares the Last Supper with his disciples, where he speaks of his imminent death and Peter's denial. They go to the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prays and is betrayed by Judas with a kiss. Jesus is arrested and taken to the high priest's house. Peter denies knowing Jesus three times, just as Jesus had predicted. Peter is overwhelmed with guilt and weeps bitterly. In the Garden As the days of Holy Week passed, the chief priests grew more and more anxious to take Jesus prisoner, that they might get the Roman governor to condemn him to death. But they dared not take him openly because they dreaded that the people might rush to his rescue. Great was their joy, therefore, to receive a secret visit on Thursday night from one of Jesus' own disciples. This man's name was Judas. He was one of the twelve, and had followed the Master for three years, and had seen all his wonderful miracles and kind deeds, and had listened to his gracious, loving words. But alas, Judas loved money and power, and he was terribly disappointed that Jesus was not going to make himself into a great earthly king. So the evil idea came to him that he would make friends with the chief priests by helping them to catch Jesus, when none of the people were about. Judas told the chief priests that if they would come with him, he would show them the place where Jesus was, and betray him to them. The priests were delighted to accept this chance, so they gave Judas thirty pieces of silver as the price for betraying Jesus. At the very time when Judas was talking to the chief priests, Jesus and the eleven other disciples were sitting in an upper room in Jerusalem, partaking of the Last Supper together. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat, this is my body. Then he blessed the cup of wine, and they drank it. He said, This is my blood of the new covenant, which will be poured out for many. Then Jesus told them that all of them would be made to stumble that night on his account. Peter cried out, Lord, I am ready to go with you into prison and to death. But Jesus answered, I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times. Then Jesus rose, and they all went out together to the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus went a little distance from his disciples that he might pray to his Father, for he knew that he was about to suffer a terrible death, and that the people he loved and longed to serve were going to choose evil instead of good, and were going to turn against him and shout out, Crucify him, crucify him. So he kneeled in his agony and was greatly distressed. But at last he cried out to his Father, Not my will, but thine, be done. The disciples had all gone to sleep, for they were very tired. But suddenly they were awakened by the trampling of feet and shining lights. The chief priests and soldiers were entering the garden, and in front of them all was Judas. He came straight up to Jesus and kissed him as assigned to the soldiers. Then Jesus said to Judas, Do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss? But the disciples had leapt to their feet, and one swiftly cut off the ear of the high priest's servant. But Jesus would not let his disciples fight. For, said he, cannot I now pray to my Father, and he would instantly send me more than twelve legions of angels? And reaching out his hand, he healed the servant's ear. Jesus spoke to those who had come to arrest him. Do you come out as against a thief with swords and clubs? When I was daily with you in the temple, you did not arrest me. But this is your hour and the power of darkness. Then Jesus allowed himself to be led away to the high priest's house. Peter followed, anxious to know what would happen to his master, and sat down among the servants by the fire which was there, hoping that no one would notice that he was one of the disciples. But a woman came up and said, This man was also with him. Peter was startled and frightened and muttered, I know him not. But after a while a man came in and said, You are also of them. But Peter answered, Man, I am not. All this time Jesus was standing at the high end of the hall with his hands bound, being insulted and questioned by the priest. A whole dreadful hour passed in this way, and then another man came up to the fire and looked earnestly at Peter. Of a truth, he said, this fellow was also with him, for he is a Galilean. Then Peter, with oaths and curses, answered, Man, I know not what you are saying. And immediately a cock crew. Then the Lord turned and looked upon Peter, and Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him during supper, Before the cock crow, you shall deny me three times. And as Peter's eyes met those of his weary, tormented master, his heart broke in sorrow, and he rushed from the hall and wept bitterly.