Alone as the disciples sleep

Jesus returned to find his followers fast asleep. They slept because they were out of sync with what Jesus was saying and experiencing. They were spiritually blind, unaware of the hour. Death was approaching, but they could not see it.

"Peter. Peter!" he said, waking him up. "Can't you even stay awake an hour and pray with me? Pray that you do not give into temptation but remain loyal to God."

Jesus' personal struggle continues

Jesus went to be alone with his Father again. In this secret place, he prayed. He was under intense emotional and mental stress, terrified by what he was about to go through. Overwhelmed by indescribable anguish and by the fear of death, tiny blood vessels in his sweat glands burst and Jesus began sweating drops of blood.

Jesus grasped at the ground, groaning in agony. Opting not to walk away from God and from the crucifixion that he faced, Jesus cried out with all of his heart: "O my Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done" (Matthew 26:42 NKJV). His struggle was so great that an angel sent by God came out of heaven and strengthened him.

Jesus returned to his disciples to find them slumbering a second time. At the sound of his footsteps they woke up and were speechless. Once more, he urged them to pray.

Jesus went away to pray a third time, asking the same things of his Father. The idea of facing a violent death tormented Jesus. But he knew that the only way that he could take away the sin of the world was to freely sacrifice his own life and die a violent death. Until now, he was going to his death willingly. Once more, God was asking his Son to choose.

It is time

When he returned to his disciples and found them asleep again he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand" (Matthew 26:45-46 NKJV).

Judas arrives in the Garden

Before Jesus could finish what he was saying, Judas Iscariot arrived on the scene. For three and a half years, Judas had spent almost every day around the one he would eventually betray. He was one of the twelve who followed Jesus closely, and Jesus knew him very well.

Driven by greed, Judas regrettably chose evil instead of good. Only days earlier he went to meet with the religious leaders who wanted Jesus killed. Behind closed doors he struck a deal with them. For thirty pieces of silver, Judas Iscariot agreed to lead a mob of wicked men to a secret, quiet place where Jesus would be.

As Judas entered the Garden, the men that were with him came carrying torches, swords and clubs. This mob included temple guards and a band of bribed Roman soldiers. This was no friendly meeting, for they had come in number to capture Jesus!

Judas betrays the Son of God

As a sign to identify Jesus to the mob, Judas had agreed to greet Jesus with a kiss on the cheek. Jesus was fully aware of what was about to happen to him, for his Father God had revealed it to him. His eyes filled with tears as he watched Judas approach him without delay. Jesus loved Judas as a brother and wanted to give him eternal life.

"Good wishes to you Teacher!" cried Judas and he kissed the side of Jesus' face.
Jesus replied, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" (Luke 22:48 NKJV).
Terror was expressed in Judas' eyes as the wickedness of his own sin became apparent to him. The mob looked at the two and hesitated.

Jesus makes the first move

Jesus boldly took a step forwards. Addressing the mob he called out, "Who are you seeking?"
"Jesus from Nazareth," they replied.
"I AM He," Jesus said boldly.
Jesus used the name "I AM". This was the same name that he used with his Father, when he revealed himself as God to Moses around 1400 years earlier! As he revealed to them his divine identity, power was released from him and the gang who had come to capture him fell backwards onto the ground. Startled, they arose and regrouped.
Again Jesus said to them, "Who are you seeking?"
Again they replied, "Jesus from Nazareth."
"Like I just said, I am He. So if it's me you want, I will go with you. But leave the others alone."

Anger welled up inside of Peter, Jesus' follower and friend. He took out his sword and charged at the servant of the High Priest who was with the mob of evildoers. The servant's name was Malchus. Peter lashed out at him with all his might, cutting off his right ear. Then riot broke loose between the men who followed Jesus and the mob that outnumbered them. This was not what Jesus wanted. He was the Prince of Peace and he loved much.

Jesus was not of this world

As the others fought, Jesus saw Malchus who was horrified and bleeding and screaming in agony. Moved with compassion, Jesus picked up the servant's ear from the ground. Reaching out to Malchus with it, Jesus replaced the ear back to where it had been sliced from. Immediately Malchus was completely healed and his hearing was restored. Overwhelmed, Malchus looked upon his healer with awe. He was speechless. Deep within his heart he knew that Jesus was the Son of God.

"Stop this!" shouted Jesus and instantly the fighting stopped. Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which my Father has given me?" (John 18:11 NKJV). He continued, "Or do you think that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he will provide me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?" (Mathew 26:53-54 NKJV).

And to the Temple guards who had risen against him he said: "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take me? I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled" (Mark 14:48-49 NKJV).

Deserted and taken captive

All of His disciples fled away, leaving Jesus behind. This fulfilled what the Jewish Prophets said would happen to the Saviour of the human race:

"Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered" (Zechariah 13:7 NKJV).
And, "He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; he was despised, and we did not esteem him. (Isaiah 53:3 NKJV).

The Roman soldiers and the Temple Guards bound Jesus with chains and shackles and took him captive. Totally abandoned, Jesus was with those who hated Him. And completely alone, he forgave them all.