Passion Week ~ Yeshua’s Betrayal & Arrest ~ Part 1
In our last post, we continued to examine the final days of Yeshua’s life and ministry. After praying to His Father on behalf of all His talmidim, Yeshua and those with Him cross the Kidron Valley to Gethsemane, an olive grove on the Mount of Olives, just east of Yerushalayim. This is now very early on Friday morning in the Jewish culture.
To Gat Sh’manim (Gethsemane)
1 After Yeshua had said all this (the True Lord’s Prayer from our last post), He went out with His talmidim across the stream that flows in winter through the Vadi Kidron to a spot where there was a grove of trees; and He and His talmidim went into it. [1] 32 They went to a place called Gat Sh’manim, and Yeshua said to His talmidim, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took with him Kefa, Ya’akov, and Yochanan. Great distress and anguish came over him; 34 and He said to them, “My heart is so filled with sadness that I could die! Remain here and stay awake.” [2]
Yeshua Prays in Agony
41 He went about a stone’s throw away from them, kneeled down, and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from Me; still, let not My will but Yours be done.” 43 There appeared to Him an angel from heaven giving Him strength, 44 and in great anguish He prayed more intensely so that His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 On rising from prayer and coming to the talmidim, He found them sleeping because of their grief. [3]
Yeshua Prays a Second Time
40 He returned to the talmidim and found them sleeping. He said to Kefa, “Were you so weak that you couldn’t stay awake with Me for even an hour? 41 Stay awake and pray that you will not be put to the test – the spirit indeed is eager, but human nature is weak.” 42 A second time, He went off and prayed. “My Father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink it, let what You want to be done.” [4]
Yeshua Prays a Third Time
43 Again, He returned and found them sleeping; their eyes were so heavy. 44 Leaving them again, He went off and prayed a third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to the talmidim and said, “For now, go on sleeping; take your rest.… Look! The time has come for the Son of Man to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up! Let’s go! Here comes My betrayer!” [5]
Upon reflection, I decided not to provide any commentary on these passages individually other than to note Yeshua’s struggle between His divinity and His humanity. That should be a source of strength for all of us experiencing our own struggles.
In our next post, we move on the Yeshua’s Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane.
Click here for the PDF version.
[1] Yochanan 18:1.
[2] Mark 14:32–34.
[3] Luke 22:41–45.
[4] Mattityahu 26:40–42.
[5] Mattityahu 26:43–46.
My Heart is for Israel 