(A) Introduction. (Read the reference)

After Jesus left Jerusalem he crossed the Kidron Valley and entered the walled, private garden of Gethsemane that contained a grove of olive trees. A rich supporter had probably given him a key to the gate of the garden. I am reminded of the private gardens associated with the London Squares - Eccleston, Warwick and St George's Square - to which you can only gain access if you possess a key to the gate.

John does not describe Christ's agony in the garden. This is fully covered by the three other gospels. He does provide details of Jesus' arrest that are omitted in the accounts of Matthew, Mark and Luke.

We can see in John's record of the arrest a contrast between the murky side of human nature and the light that shined in the darkness.

(B) Three inappropriate responses.

(1) A display of force.
The force sent to apprehend Jesus was made up of 200 or more Roman soldiers from the cohort garrisoned in Jerusalem and a squad of temple police. They came armed: They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. v3. Why were there so many of them? Why did they come to arrest the Prince of Peace carrying clubs and swords? What was the purpose of the flaming torches on a moonlit night?

It is possible that a sizeable number was sent because it was intended to surround the garden to prevent escape. Although it was a night of bright moonlight it would be significantly darker in an olive grove. Also, I think Judas ensure a large force was sent to capture Jesus. He probably wanted to provoke Jesus to make a fight of it. As far as Judas was concerned the more Jesus defeated the better. The traitor hoped to kick-start Jesus' bid for power. See exposition on Judas.

Through the centuries the enemies of Christ have used force against him and his church. No century has been worse in this respect than the twentieth - the age of Science! Lenin, Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao tse Tung and Hitler had one thing in common - an inveterate hatred of Christianity. Believers still face intimidation, imprisonment and death in some parts of the world. Yet violence is a poor weapon to use against the church - it never achieves its end. Satan is so blinded by hatred, malice and spite that he seems incapable of learning from his mistakes.

(2) A display of treachery.
Judas, one of the twelve, allied himself with the world - the opponents of Jesus - to achieve his own end. He desired personal power and influence in the new kingdom of Greater Israel. He had political ambition and probably still hoped to manoeuvre Jesus into declaring war on the Romans and their collaborators. Judas was the tool of Satan because it was God's intention that Jesus should fulfil a quite different role - that of sacrificial lamb.

The enemy within the church does the cause of Christ infinitely more harm than the enemy without. Judas had inside knowledge of the habits and practices of Jesus and his disciples. Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. He used his familiarity with the way Jesus operated to disrupt the fellowship between the Master and his adherents.

Today, there are traitors who know their way around the church. They are good at intriguing, lobbying and exerting pressure. The enemies of Christ exploit denominational publications, worm their way onto committees and penetrate the inner councils of the church. They build reputations and establish a power base to get their own way, achieve their own ambitions and shift the church in the wrong direction. The Association I belong to has recently shown intolerance to churches that practice open rather than strict communion. Fellowships that invite all believers to the Lord's Supper rather than believers baptised by immersion have been told to leave the Association. This change was brought about by a group of activists who paid scant attention to Christ's teaching on unity.

(3) A display of violence.
Peter reacted to the danger threatening Jesus very bravely but very foolishly. What could the disciples achieve with the two swords in their possession against a cohort of Roman soldiers? It wasn't as if Peter was an expert swordsman. He took a swipe at Malchus, the high priest's slave, and succeeded only in cutting off his ear. It is, perhaps, just as well for Peter that his left-handed lunge didn't do more damage. Peter's violent response was completely out of keeping with his Master's intention. Jesus told Peter, and the other disciples, on more than one occasion that he had to die. "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." John3v14and15. The destiny of Jesus was not the destiny the disciples expected or hoped for. He was the sacrificial lamb: He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. Is53v7.

We will never get far if we take on the world with its own weapons. As I write Muslims are protesting violently against the scurrilous representation of their prophet in Western newspapers. I have quite a lot of sympathy with Muslims who are outraged by the disrespect shown their prophet. I feel so angry when Jesus is insulted and mocked in the media that I would like to get my hands on those responsible and rough them up a bit. But that is not Christ's way. I remember the words he spoke to Peter recorded by Matthew: "Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?" Mt26v52.

Another weapon of the world to lure men and women from the truth is entertainment. There are churches who think that the only way to attract young people back to their services is through entertainment - rock music, dance, drama and the like. Well, the world is always going to be better than the church at entertainment. If someone really wants rock music or drama the church is not the best place for either.

Another tactic of the world that the church is tempted to adopt is withdrawal. We can follow the policy of Japan's rulers who in the 17th century decided to close the country's borders to all foreigners - a policy pursued for over 200 years. Today, North Korea is protected from Western influence in much the same way. As the church shrinks in size, declines in influence and feels itself beleaguered there is the temptation to erect high walls of defence and pull up the drawbridge. This is not what Jesus wants for us either. He said: "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one." John17v15.

The apostle Paul shows us how to fight the good fight in his epistle to the Ephesians. We need to put on the belt of truth and breastplate of righteousness, take up the shield of faith, use with expertise the sword of God's word and pray without ceasing.

(C) Jesus shines in adversity

At the arrest of Jesus we see:

(1) A glimpse of his majesty
When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. v6. This memory of John conveys something mysterious and awesome. Jesus stepped out of the shadows of the garden into the garish light of the flaming torches and announced himself to the armed force. Just for a moment the veil was lifted and something of his divine glory was revealed - that glory Jesus had in the beginning with the Father. His enemies lurched back and fell stunned to the ground.

I expect the day will come when Freddy Flintoff, the England all rounder, will play cricket in the garden with his young sons. He will lob the ball up to them at a pace commensurate with their age and ability. I can almost hear his sons saying, "Bowl a fast one daddy." But daddy doesn't. As they get a little older and a lot cockier dad might decide to give them a taste of what he is made of and put down a quick yorker. It is a long time before they ask him to bowl fast again! His sons have had a glimpse of their father's hidden strength.

When Jesus introduced himself to the detachment of soldiers and temple police they caught sight of Christ's hidden strength and God's irresistible power.

The incident vividly illustrates the voluntary nature of Jesus' sacrifice. If he had decided otherwise no man could have laid a finger on him. It also reminds us of the hidden power in the church of God:

Crowns and thrones may perish,
Kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus
Constant will remain;
Gates of hell can never
'Gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ's own promise
And that cannot fail

(2) His loving care.
Jesus knew that his disciples were not ready for persecution or martyrdom and so he protected them. He told those sent to apprehend him: "If you are looking for me, then let these men go." v8.

Christians do experience tribulation in the world and there have been many martyrs down the years. However, it is also true that Jesus has said repeatedly throughout the history of the church, "Let these men go."

Persecution has been limited and partial. It is very, very rare for the church to be annihilated anywhere. The only exception I know of was in 17th century Japan when the church was seen as a threat to the state.

Jesus is the good shepherd. He protects his sheep from the wolf. In the words of Bruce Milne: Whatever the wolf may represent in our lives today - fault and shame from past failures, the accusing voices of criticism, sudden paralysing feelings of inadequacy as they come snapping and snarling at our heels - the good shepherd is there to meet them and to issue his word of command, 'Let my disciple go.'

(3) His perfect submission.
Jesus reproved Peter: "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" v11.

The cup is the symbol of God's wrath against sin and that is what Jesus was going to experience. God is angry at what sin has done to his creation. Sin has spoiled it. God's anger is evident from the distance he has put between himself and mankind. God has withdrawn from us. That is what overwhelmed Jesus on the cross and gave rise to his cry of desolation: "My God, my God why have you forsaken me?" Mt27v46. It was not easy for Jesus to bear our sin and accept its consequence. He shrank from the ordeal. The perfect Son of God was tested to the limits at Calvary.

Nevertheless Jesus submitted to the will of God. He willingly carried out salvation's plan. He made the cross, in the words of Thomas Kelly:

The balm of life, the cure of woe,
The measure and the pledge of love,
The sinners refuge here below,
The angel's theme in heaven above.