Agony in the Garden

April 7, 2023
Author: Hannah DeVivo

Peace be with you!

Today is Good Friday. Last year, I wrote a blog post focusing on the Passion and Death of Jesus. If you would like to read it, please click here. Today, I would like to examine the events leading up to the Passion of Jesus more closely.

The Mount of Olives

The events that we contemplate on Good Friday actually begin the night before. After Jesus and His disciples ate the Passover meal, they went to the Mount of Olives. “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father.’ Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”-Matthew 26:26-30.

Jesus Warns the Apostles

Before Jesus went off to pray alone, He warned His disciples of what was to come. He knew that they were about to undergo a spiritual attack, and He did not want them to be caught off-guard. Jesus loved and cared for His disciples. Even though He knew the plan that God the Father had for Him and the pain that He would endure, He focused on His closest friends and counseled them to pray. “Then Jesus said to them, ‘This night all of you will have your faith in me shaken, for it is written: “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be dispersed”; but after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to Galilee.’ Peter said to him in reply, ‘Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.’ Peter said to him, ‘Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you.’ And all the disciples spoke likewise.”-Matthew 26:31-35.

The Garden of Gethsemane

After the disciples promised not to deny Jesus, they continued to the Garden of Gethsemane, at the foot of the Mount of Olives, where Jesus asked the disciples to pray and keep watch. He withdrew alongside Peter, James, and John deeper into the garden. His three closest disciples could see that Jesus was deeply troubled. “My soul is sorrowful, even to death,” He said. “Remain here and keep watch with Me.” Jesus prayed, “Abba, Father, if You are willing, You can take this suffering away from Me. Yet may it be not as I will but as You will.” This is such a tender and real moment that always catches me by surprise. Jesus asked His Father to take the suffering away. He knew what was coming and there was a part of Him that didn’t want to endure it. Right after the request, though, Jesus submitted His will to God. What a beautiful and selfless love!

While Jesus was praying in the garden, His disciples fell asleep three different times. I can only imagine the pang of loneliness Jesus must have felt to see His very closest friends asleep while He was in so much anguish. “Could you not watch for even one hour with Me? Watch and pray, that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!”

Jesus Is Betrayed With a Kiss

After Jesus had finished praying for the third time, He returned saying, “Behold, the hour is at hand when the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. Get up, let us go. Look, My betrayer is at hand!” As He was speaking, Judas Iscariot, who had earlier left the Last Supper, came into the garden with a crowd of soldiers. After approaching Jesus, Judas kissed Him. Jesus looked at him and said, “Judas, you would betray Me with a kiss?” The soldiers arrested Jesus and the apostles fled.

Why did Jesus question Judas for betraying Him with a kiss? We know that Judas chose to identify Jesus to the guards in this way, but we don’t know why. Judas knew where Jesus would be; it is written that the disciples often met Him there. It is likely that the guards who were following Judas would not have known exactly what Jesus looked like up close, certainly not in the dark, and so it was necessary for a disciple of Jesus to point Him out. In the time of Jesus, a kiss was similar to what it still represents today: affection. To kiss someone upon greeting them was a sign of familiarity, friendship, and love. When Jesus saw Judas approach, He knew that He was about to be handed over and killed, but He may not have known that Judas would first greet Him with what was supposed to be a loving gesture. While we cannot say with certainty why Judas chose to kiss Jesus, we can imagine how much more painful it made the betrayal.

As you go about your day, I invite you to contemplate on the sorrows that Our Lord endured. Ask Him to walk with you as you bear the cross He has allowed you to carry. In uniting your suffering with His, I pray that you grow closer to His Sacred Heart.

Before You Go

Is there a certain part of Jesus’ Passion that stands out to you?

Are you willing to unite your suffering to the suffering of Christ?

Would you consider sitting quietly with the Lord for a few moments in church or at home to keep Him company this week?

Did you learn anything new in this article?

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