As Jesus concluded the long discourse recorded in the gospel of John, we should next consider what is recorded by Matthew and Mark, for their statements are nearly exact in contents. Jesus knew just what would take place on this night, as he had enlightened his apostles but they did not comprehend.
Quoting then Matthew 26:30, “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives. Then saith Jesus unto them, ‘All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, (Zech. 13:7) I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.” Matt. 26:31-32. The word offended is used here but in our present day the word disappointed is the better word, for Christ knew that the faith of his followers would receive a crushing disappointment when they saw the enemy take off with their master.
Continuing with the record of Matthew 26:33 (also Mark 14:29) : “Peter answered and said unto him (Jesus) ‘Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.” Peter meant what he said, and at that moment he would have faced death gladly to defend his Lord. In the garden too he meant it when he slashed at Malchus and cut off his right ear. (John 18:10).
Jesus knew, however, the feelings of all the disciples would wither when the mob carried their master away. Human beings often display great courage as long as they have a strong leader, but let the leader fall and the followers will flee.
As the party reached “a place called Gethsemane” Jesus saith: “Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.”
Matthews account is more complete therefore it is quoted here. “And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, 0 my Father, If it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, ‘0 my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.’ And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, ‘Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold he is at hand that doth betray me.”
Jesus was willing to complete every duty for which he entered this world to show what his purpose was: the only way of salvation, for in Jesus only is “the way, the truth, and the life.” Any other way one might think acceptable is but fraud and leads to eternal destruction. Jesus was God’s ambassador on earth and by him only is salvation.
Jesus faced what would be a calamity for the ordinary man, but he was no ordinary man, for he was the son of God. Yet “he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.” Heb. 2:16. Jesus was the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29.
In God’s wisdom there seems to be no way that He would be reconciled for the sin of mankind except that His son be slain by the hands of wicked men, and to support His son, God did send an angel to Jesus: “And there appeared an angel unto him (Jesus) from heaven, strengthening him.” Luke 22:43. Jesus was willing to surrender to the wisdom of the Father and was aware of the hour that Judas and the wicked multitude would come for him.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One