100. Conspiracy for the Arrest of Jesus

As we have seen before, the chief priests and scribes were fearful of the multitudes that supported Jesus. If they were to arrest Jesus in public, there could be an uprising. And so when Judas offers to deliver Jesus into their hands at an hour when his supporters are gone, they see their opportunity.

101. The Passover with the Disciples

The Passover, in case you don’t know, commemorates the release of the Israelites from the bondage of ancient Egypt – the plagues that God visited upon the Egyptians “passed over” the homes of the Israelites – and was also the beginning of the Jew’s covenant with God, to be his Chosen People.

The whole purpose of Jesus’ ministry was to help his people fulfill this covenant – to take the next step in their religious evolution and be models of enlightened human functioning for the rest of humankind. It is a mission that he now knows has failed.

It’s not hard to imagine that Jesus would find it difficult to celebrate a covenant that he now believes his people have lost. And so he declines to participate in the Passover.

102. Withdrawal to the Mount of Olives

Remember that right up until the end, the disciples believed Jesus to be the messiah. It was an expectation that Jesus was never able to dispel. So when Jesus says that the disciples will all be offended, what he means is that they will all feel betrayed, because once he is taken and killed, they will finally see that he is not going to fulfill their messianic expectations. In their disillusionment and fear, they will flee and deny any relationship with Jesus.

Jesus is a pretty astute student of human nature. He knows how such things work.

103. At the Place Named Gethsemane

Jesus is well aware that he has stirred up some powerful resentment and anger among the Jewish authorities, and that they intend to kill him. He suspects such is his destiny, but at the same time knows there could be other options. He is young – only 30 – he could escape, he could go elsewhere and continue his teaching. Think how difficult it would be: He sees the total destruction that awaits his people if they do not change. He wants to continue to try and help them. But he senses his time is up. How is he to know what path to take?

And so he prays for guidance, three times (“howbeit not what I will, but what thou wilt.”). On the third time, he hears the marching of feet and the clanging of swords, and he knows he has received his answer.

And while all this is going on, the disciples fall asleep, unaware of the predicament their teacher is facing.