Luke 22:24-4624And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. 27For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. 28Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. 29And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; 30That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 31And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 33And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. 34And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. 35And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. 36Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. 37For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. 38And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough. 39And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. 40And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, 46And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. (Luke 22:24‑46)
How perfectly the Lord Jesus knew before, all that was to be done to Him, and even what would be said. Before they came to Jerusalem He told the disciples that He must suffer. At the passover supper He said, “Truly the Son of Man goeth as was determined” (verse 22).
Those words were written several hundred years before by the prophet, about the holy Servant Who was to come to earth. It is plain that Jesus was that holy One; He knew He would be put on trial as one who disobeyed God’s laws, a transgressor, and said to be guilty. Yet in Him was no sin.
He knew the disciples would be badly treated because they believed in Him, and He gave them many words of comfort, more of His words are written by John (chapter 14-17). But He spoke plainly that He would yet rule in His kingdom, (v. 30) as also written by the prophets (Zech. 14:99And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one. (Zechariah 14:9)).
It is not told what time Jesus and the eleven disciples left the house where they ate the passover, but it was night; Judas had already gone to lead the soldiers who were to take the Lord Jesus. Although Jesus knew that, He did not change to a different part, He went to the same place outside of the city on the side of Mt. Olives.
That place is called a garden, but perhaps more what we would call an orchard, as many fruit trees grew on these slopes. It was early spring, but in that climate persons could wrap in their cloaks and sleep on the ground. The disciples did not realize what was to happen, though they were sad because Jesus had said He would suffer, but they were sleepy and laid down and slept.
Jesus went a short distance from them and knelt down in prayer to God His Father. He knew fully the cruelty He would soon suffer from the soldiers and the priests; and more awful, what He must suffer to take the punishment for sin, from God. That we cannot in any part understand.
He spoke of it as taking “a cup”; We dread to take bitter medicine; sometimes children cry to see one spoonful of what they do not like. The sorrow was real to the Lord as a most bitter cup. Yet His prayer to God was, “Not My will, but Thine be done.”
Great sorrow causes a person to become weak; Jesus prayed so earnestly in deepest sorrow, or agony, that an angel came from heaven to give Him strength. Yet when He rose from prayer, He went to the disciples, thinking of how they would feel when He would be taken from them.
Jesus had said that the things written of Him “had an end”, and the next words and chapter show how quickly all happened and was fulfilled.
As we read how fully the Lord Jesus knew all that was to happen, yet how firmly He kept on to suffer, our hearts must thank Him and trust Him for all He has said is yet to come.
ML 02/17/1946