Thoughts for the Day

After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, ‘For whom are you looking?’ They answered, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ Jesus replied, ‘I am he.’ Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, ‘I am he’, they stepped back and fell to the ground.... If you are looking for me, let these men go.’ .... Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?’

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

After celebrating the Last Supper, Jesus continued teaching the disciples, before praying to his Father on their behalf. Finally he leads the disciples from the upper room in Jerusalem out the gate that leads to the Kidron Valley. At the bottom of this valley they would have crossed the stream and started to ascend the steep hill that is the Mount of Olives. There is still a garden here today with some very ancient olive trees. The theologian William Barclays mentions that the stream would have been red with the blood of the thousands of lambs slain in the temple over the Passover period. Can we imagine what this symbolism meant to Jesus!

When Judas arrives he brings with him dozens of soldiers (according to the Greek word used) as well as the temple police, and others. Instead of finding a terrified man cowering among the trees, Jesus steps forward to greet them. At his answer those present step back and fall to the ground. As in Capernaum when his opponents sought to attack him, he could just have walked away and been safe. But instead Jesus chooses to offer himself to them, knowing perfectly well they seek his death, and equally knowing that He is going to the Father in submission to His will.

We may not be called to offer up our lives in this way, but when we are called by God to do some task that feels daunting, perhaps we can remember this passage and our Lord's offering of his life and step forward in faith.

Lord Jesus Christ,
You offered up Your life
as a spotless offering
to redeem us from our sin.
May we have the courage
to take up any challenge
that comes our way
to carry out the work
that You call us to do.
Amen.