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).
He had told Judas what he would do, betray Him; and He also told Peter that he would speak against Him to deny Him. But we notice here especially His words: “For I say unto you, that this that is written of Me must yet be accomplished in Me, ‘He was reckoned among the transgressors’” (Isa. 53:12).
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. 14:9).
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