Chapter 1 - Retreat to Gethsemane

....The hour of Jesus’ betrayal had fully come, and Judas slipped away into the night. Jesus told the disciples that His time was short, and they would not be able to follow Him. "Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me." 1

.... Now He arose, the disciples being with Him, to escaped from the city and spare it from the edge of the sword. In an eerie reflection of David’s flight from Absalom, He followed David’s path of retreat. Quietly He passing through city and country by night, yet He could not be hidden: for Judas knew His goings well, had marked His steps, and became a guide to those who would seize Him. 2

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.... By the ascent of the Mount of Olives, in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus withdrew to await the onslaught in prayer. Inside the city, prideful men gathered together and encouraged themselves with shouting. The pursuit began, and their voices filling the night as they drew near. Yet Jesus drew apart by Himself to pray. 3

.... Now He was in agony, and His sweat became great droplets of blood falling down to the ground: a fear so horrific, so intense, that death from fear itself was very near. Three times He prayed that God might deliver Him from the torment that would follow; but in the end He deferred to Him and would drink this bitter cup that the Father’s will might be done. 4

.... "I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD now in the presence of all His people."

(Psalm 116:13-14)

.... Jesus found strength in trusting God, but His disciples were unprepared. In His hour of need they fell asleep. He had warned them beforehand; had rebuked them three times – but now they would enter temptation. For in that moment came a mob with lanterns, torches, swords and clubs, with Judas Iscariot going before them. With pretended words of friendship he drew near to Jesus and kissed Him: the sign he had given, that he might Betray Him. 5

.... "Look on My right hand and see, For there is no one who acknowledges Me; Refuge has failed Me; No one cares for My soul."

(Psalm 142:4)

.... The scuffle was brief as violent hands were laid on Jesus. Quickly He was bound and led away. His disciples were taken with fear, forsook Him, and fled away into the night. 6

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(see the Scriptural references by clicking on the associated hyperlinks)

The Plot to Destroy Jesus

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....1. a Among My people are found wicked men; b they lie in wait as one who sets snares; c they set a trap; they catch men.
....2. a The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ b And those who handle the law did not know Me; c the rulers also transgressed against Me; the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

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....3. My enemies are vigorous, and
........they are strong;
.... a And those who hate Me wrong-
........fully have multiplied;
....4. a In whose hand is a sinister
........scheme,
....b And whose right hand is full of
........bribes;
....5. a Who plan evil things in their
........hearts,
....b They continually gather to-
........gether for war.
....6. a Even My own familiar friend
........b in whom I trusted,
....c Who ate My bread,
....d Has lifted up his heel against
........Me.
....7. a They weighed out for My
........wages
....Thirty pieces of silver.
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Retreat to Gethsemane

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.... 8. All the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. a The king himself crossed over the Brook Kidron, b by the ascent of the Mount of Olives.

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....9. a They gather together, b they

........hide, c they mark My steps,

....When they lie in wait for My
........life.
....10. Those who lie in wait for My
........life take counsel together,
....Saying, "God has forsaken Him;
....a Pursue and take Him, for there
........is none to deliver Him."
....11. The pains of death surrounded

....... Me,

....And the pangs of Sheol laid

........ hold of Me,

....a I found trouble and sorrow.

....12. a Then I called upon the
........name of the Lord:
....b "O Lord, I implore You, deliver
........My soul!"
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The Prayer in the Garden

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....13. a Give ear to My prayer,

........O God,
....And do not hide Yourself from

........My supplication.
....14. a Attend to Me, and hear Me;

........b I am restless in My
........complaint,
....and moan noisily,
....15. a Because of the voice of the

........enemy,
....b Because of the oppression of
........the wicked;
....c For they bring down trouble
........upon Me,
....d And in wrath they hate Me.
....16. a My heart is severely pained

........within Me,
....And the terrors of death have
........fallen upon Me.
....17. a Fearfulness and trembling

........have come upon Me,
....And horror has overwhelmed
........Me.
....18. And I said, a "Oh, that I had

........wings like a dove!

....For then I would fly away and be

........at rest.
....19. Indeed, a I would wander
........far off,
....And remain in the wilderness
.......Selah.
....20. a I would hasten My escape

........From the windy storm and
........tempest."
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....21. Look on My right hand and
........see
....a For there is no one who
........acknowledges Me;
....Refuge has failed Me;
....No one cares for My soul.
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....22. a Surely He has born our griefs and carried our sorrows; b yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
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....23. The Lord God has opened
........My ear;
....And a I was not rebellious,
........b Nor did I turn away.
....24. I will take up a the cup of
........salvation,
....And call upon the name of
........the Lord.
....25. I will pay My vows to
........the Lord
....Now a in the presence of all His
........people.
....26. a Precious in the sight of the
........Lord
....Is the death of His saints.

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Betrayal by Judas

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....27. a Set a wicked man over Him, b and let Satan stand at his right hand.
....28. a When he is judged let him be found guilty, and let his prayer become sin.

....29. a Let his days be few, b and let another take his office.
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....30. a For it is not an enemy who
........reproaches Me;
....b Then I could bear it.
....c Nor is it one who hates Me who
........has magnified himself
........against Me;
....d Then I could hide from him.
....31. a But it was you, a man My

........equal,
....b My companion and My
........acquaintance.
....32. a We took sweet counsel
........together,
....b And walked to the house of
........God in the throng.
....33. a He has put forth his hands
........against those who were at
........peace with him;
....b He has broken his covenant.
....34. a The words of his mouth
........were smoother than butter,
....b But war was in his heart;
....c His words were softer than oil,
....d Yet they were drawn swords.
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....35. a Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, b and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little.
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....36. Faithful are the wounds

........of a friend,
....a But the kisses of an enemy are

........deceitful.
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Jesus is Arrested, Abandoned
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....37. a "Awake, O sword, against b My Shepherd, against c the Man who is My Companion," says the Lord of hosts. "Strike the shepherd, d and the sheep will be scattered."

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....38. O God, a the proud have
........risen against Me,
....b And a mob of violent men have
........sought My life,
....c And have not set You before
........them.
....39. a The proud have hidden
........a snare for Me, and cords;
....They have hidden a net for Me

........b by the wayside;
....They have set traps for Me.
........Selah.
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....40. I am a reproach among all
........My enemies,
....But especially among My
........neighbors,

....And am repulsive to My
........acquaintances;
....a Those who see Me outside flee

........from Me.
....41. I am forgotten like a dead

........man, out of mind;
....I am like a broken vessel.
....42. Loved one and friend You
........have put far from Me,
....a And My acquaintances into
........darkness.

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....43. The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, a was caught in their pits, of whom we said "Under His shadow we shall live among the nations."

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(see the Scriptural references and cross-references by clicking on the associated hyperlinks)