I love to be outside when the temperature is agreeable. Today, I spent most of the morning working in flower beds and cleaning pollen from my front porch. A nice breeze blew gently, and it felt pleasant … until noon. But while outside, I began thinking of Jesus and His disciples in the Garden late in the evening and wondered if it had been chilly. Yesterday, we saw the mob of soldiers and the Temple Priests descend upon the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus!

Let’s take a trip back earlier in the day before they went to the garden and see what transpired.

Arriving at the Upper Room, Jesus and the twelve are preparing to eat the Passover meal, The Last Supper (Luke 22; John 13). Can you hear the commotion? The disciples are bickering over who is the greatest (Luke 22:24). Now do you see Jesus washing their feet (John 13:5-20)? I wonder if this demonstration came after the quarreling to teach them a lesson. Next, we see them reclining at the table and Jesus placing a morsel of bread in each of their mouths beginning with Judas (13:26). Did you understand what the eleven totally missed, that Judas is the betrayer? I felt so bad. I could see how troubled and distressed our Lord was at the thought of being betrayed (13:21). There he goes into the night, the son of perdition, leaving to do quickly what he intends to do (13:30). That gives me chills!

Jesus is always thinking of others. He comforts His followers with words on how to live, to depend on the Helper, the Holy Spirit of God, and to not be fearful; “Arise, let us go from here” (chapter 14 and verse 31b). See them leaving the Upper Room and making their way to the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus teaching by way of instruction and warnings (chapter 15&16).

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.

(16:33, NASB)

The night is lit with a full moon, and I see Jesus turn His face to heaven, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you” (17:1b). He pauses to pray the High Priestly Prayer, for the disciples, and their future glory before continuing over the ravine of the Kidron, to the garden.

Oh! How beautiful this day has been! Witnessing Jesus, our example, serving even those who would reject Him, continually putting others first and bringing glory to His Father. Oh! How beautiful is He!