Matthew 26:36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” …. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him… 59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward….73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” 74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
DISAPPOINTMENT! ARREST! TRIED ON FALSE CHARGES! BETRAYED BY A CLOSE FRIEND! All of these things happened to Jesus on that Thursday night. Jesus and the disciples went out to a place where there was an olive press so that he could pray, but the disciples were exhausted and fell asleep, leaving Jesus to pray alone. Then a mob came to arrest Jesus, led by Judas, who had promised to indicate Jesus by a kiss. (This is ridiculous, right? Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was witnessed by thousands of people, he taught for days on the teaching steps of the temple, and he healed people and performed miracles. So why does Judas feel it necessary to point out Jesus? Perhaps Judas was fed up and disgusted. Jesus hadn’t behaved the way Judas wanted and Judas was ready to let the religious leaders have him. Or was it that Judas already was demonically influenced and the demons just got a further hold on him?
Then there were the trials. Trials were not supposed to take place at night; however, the religious people hated Jesus so much that they were willing to ignore their own tradition. Besides, the Sabbath was coming and they wanted to tie up all the loose ends so that they could celebrate the Passover Sabbath properly.
And finally, Peter denied knowing Jesus. To his dying day, Peter never forgot that moment when he claimed he did not know Jesus, only for Jesus to look straight across that courtyard into Peter’s eyes. And at that moment, Peter knew that Jesus had heard him and that this was the moment Jesus had predicted earlier in the evening. It was a terrible moment for Peter and yet a very important one. As a leader of the early church, Peter would be compassionate with others because he remembered that moment in the courtyard.
Today, some of us or our friends or family members are undergoing unimaginable suffering. We are sure that nobody can possibly understand what we are going through. But Jesus knows! Jesus cares! The sufferings of that night were only the prelude to the agonies Jesus was to suffer on Good Friday.
There is a Savior. His Name is Jesus. And He cares!
PRAYER: Father God, hear our cries! We are suffering! We are afraid! Some of us are alone with nobody to comfort us or to help us! But you, O Lord, are the God who hears and sees and knows. Please, Father, save us. Help us. And give us your peace. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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