John 18:1-3 ¹After saying these then, he went out with his disciples across the wadi of the Kidron, where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. ²Now Judas, who was betraying him, also knew the place, because Jesus often gathered there with his disciples. ³Therefore, Judas, having taken a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

Jesus had finished the supper with his disciples, who had heard his prayer to the Father in their behalf. The hour had finally come, and Jesus stepped out into the night in total confidence in the Father’s care. Like the Synoptic Gospels, John moves to the climax of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Everything Jesus said and did led up to this moment. John’s account of the events is similar to those found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, but there are some notable differences and details not included. John appears to be independent of the Synoptics or any sources (oral or written) they used. What he recounts fits his overall purpose of showing Jesus to be the Messiah and Son of God. There are details included that evidence an eyewitness to the events, or at least someone who got the information from an eyewitness. The historicity of the details is not a question but more on the emphasis of what John, the beloved disciple, saw and experienced and how he wanted his readers to interpret these events.

John leaves out the challenges of Jesus and the disciples in the garden in Gethsemane, which was across the Kidron wadi. The garden was located on the Mount of Olives, across the Kidron valley. We cannot know why this event is truncated, but John may have wanted his readers to hear the prayer of chapter 17. The Synoptic portrayal of Jesus in the scene in the garden could suggest some hesitancy or lack of certainty on the part of Jesus as he prayed, but his prayer could be interpreted more as Jesus’ confirmation of the Father’s plan. John also does not record the struggle of the disciples to stay awake as Jesus prayed.

John does pick up on the significance of Judas’ betrayal, possibly because it follows the stream of those of the “world” who refused to believe in Jesus. Judas acted out his plans of turning in Jesus through betrayal. Betrayal is a strong word that means someone on the inside, in a relationship with a person, turns his or her back in such a way to cause harm. Judas had spent up to three years with Jesus and knew as much as the other disciples. He also knew the secret place they camped in the garden and took the arresting group to that spot. The group that came was well equipped with soldiers and temple police who had lanterns and torches to see because it was night and weapons. It is possible that the soldiers were a detachment of Romans who would have reinforced the weaker police force from the Sanhedrin. The arrest needed to take place at night because of Jesus’ popularity. Anything in the day could have caused a riot. Jesus did not run away from all this trouble but went to the place where he knew Judas would find him. He willingly faced his suffering, knowing with confidence that the Father was with him.

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