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BIBLE STUDY LESSON 08

SERIES T --- THE ADONAI OF LIFE

A NIGHT IN GETHSEMANE

From Matthew 26:30, 36-46; Mark 14:26, 32-42; Luke 22:39-46; John 18:1

After Yeshua’ Last Supper with His disciples in the Upper Room, they all sang a hymn together and headed toward the Mount of Olives. Along the way, He told them many things, pausing before they crossed the Kidron Valley, where Yeshua prayed a long prayer for His disciples. Now as they crossed the Kidron Valley, they made their way to a quiet garden on the Mount of Olives, known as Gethsemane. Judas Iscariot was not with them, but he knew where they would be, for he had been with them often in this place. [Sit here while I go alone to pray,] Yeshua told eight of the apostles. Then He took Peter, James and John with Him apart from the others. Deep sorrow and distress swept over Yeshua at that time. [My soul is almost overwhelmed with sorrow,] He told the three. [Stay here with Me and watch with Me. Pray that you will not be tempted.] Then Yeshua went away from them a few feet and kneeled on the ground and prayed that if it were possible the horrible hour to come might be avoided in some way. [Father, if it is possible, and You are willing, take this cup of suffering from Me,] He prayed. [However, I do not pray for what I want, but for what You want.] An angel came from heaven to strengthen Yeshua. By this time His agony was so great that the sweat which fell to the ground was like great drops of blood. When He arose and returned to the three disciples nearest Him, He found them sleeping. [Simon Peter, could you not watch with Me during this hour?] Yeshua asked him. [Watch and pray so that you are not tempted. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.] Yeshua returned alone to pray again, saying much the same that He prayed before. Then He returned to the three disciples and found them sleeping again, for their eyes were very heavy. A third time Yeshua returned alone to pray, saying again about the same that He prayed before. This time when He returned to His disciples, He said, [Sleep now, for the time is almost here when I will be betrayed into the hands of sinners. In fact, the time has come now. Get up, for the man who will betray Me is coming.]

COMMENTARY

IMPORTANT EVENTS ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES

For both Jews and believers, the Mount of Olives is a place of special sacredness. The Jews revere it as the scene of the last judgment described by the prophet Zechariah. Terraces of ancient Jewish graves cover its western slope, silently waiting for the resurrection of the dead. The few groves of olive trees are a reminder of the thick orchards that covered the hillside in ancient times. The fruit of those trees produced the finest oil for the anointment of Israel’s priests and kings. For believers, the Mount of Olives is revered as the setting of important scenes in the life of Moshiach. Although Yeshua probably crossed this stony ridge many times during His travels to and from Jerusalem, the events of Passion Week are among the most important. Visitors to Jerusalem stand on the temple mount and look at the broad slope of the mountain. Across the Kidron Valley, they can picture Yeshua riding down the hillside on the back of a young donkey, surrounded by a cheering crowd. Halfway down the mountain, He stops to look at the city and weeps over its coming destruction. The traditional site of Yeshua’ sorrow is marked today by the tear-shaped chapel of the Dominus Flevit Church. At the base of the Mount of Olives a second church commemorates the events that took place in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Basilica of the Agony stands near the quiet olive grove where Yeshua came to pray on the night of His arrest. Knowing that His death was near, Yeshua spent the night praying as His disciples slept. The torches of the guards who were coming to arrest Him were already visible in the valley when He came to wake them. After Judas arrived with the soldiers, the garden became the scene of shouts and confusion. Peter swung his sword, but his violence did not save Yeshua. The soldiers bound Him while the disciples fled in fear. They were hiding when the guards marched their prisoner back inside the city to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest. But the night of His betrayal was not the last time that Yeshua stood on this mountain. The resurrected Moshiach led His disciples to the Mount of Olives on the fortieth day after His return from death. While the disciples looked on, Yeshua was taken up into heaven and disappeared from sight. They were still looking at the sky when two angels appeared and promised that Yeshua would return again just as they had seen Him go. Today the Viri Galilaei Church marks a traditional spot where the disciples stood as they watched Yeshua ascend into heaven. Its name comes from the Latin phrase {Men of Galilee,} which the angels used to address the astonished witnesses of Yeshua’ ascension.

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