Page 24 - August 2025 - Truth & Tidings

e have noted the Anticipation of Lord of hosts Himself. Consistent with His
the Cross in Bethany (14:1-11) role as the perfect Servant, He anticipated
Wand in the Upper Room (vv12- His suffering as the fulfilment of God’s
25). The scene now shifts to the Garden of will. He moved forward in harmony with
Gethsemane (vv26-42). God’s plan to do the work entrusted to
After singing the last four Hallel Psalms Him (Isa 52:13; 53:6).
(Psa 115-118), they left the upper room and He predicted more than His smiting and
crossed the Kidron Valley (Joh 18:1), arriv- their stumbling. “But after that I am risen,
ing on the western slopes of the Mount of I will go before you into Galilee” (v28).
Olives where Gethsemane was situated He would be raised and they would be
(vv26-31). regathered. He would not leave them in
As they walked, the Lord prepared His despair, but encourage them with hope.
disciples for what would happen. He pre- The true Shepherd would gather His
dicted His smiting, their scattering, His sheep on resurrection ground.
resurrection and their reunion (vv26-28). What comfort this should have provid-
He also predicted Peter’s denial (vv29- ed. The angel’s message at the tomb would
31). Upon arrival at Gethsemane, having confirm His words, “Tell his disciples and
separated from His disciples, He prayed Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee:
three times to His Father (vv32-42), sub- there shall ye see him, as he said unto you”
mitting Himself entirely to His Father’s (16:7; cp. Mat 28:8-10,16-20).
will. In this way, He prepared Himself for
what lay ahead. Peter’s Denial (vv29-31)
Peter processed little of the Lord’s
Preparatory Predictions (vv26- words, hearing only that he would be
31) stumbled. He responded impulsively, “Al-
though all shall be offended, yet will not
The Disciples’ Departure (vv26-28) I” (v29). Such bravado and self-belief led
“All ye shall be offended because of me to a further humbling prediction: Peter’s
this night” (v27). His disciples would fall would be the greatest! He would ut-
1
stumble and fall and it would be because terly deny his association with the Lord,
of Him. Their reaction to His smiting not once or twice, but three times. Peter
would cause them to stumble that very emphatically refused to accept this, and
night. the other disciples followed his lead.
He based His prediction on the OT: “For Sincere loyalty and personal pride
it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and blinded Peter to his own weakness. He
the sheep shall be scattered” (v27). Here showed no awareness of his need of the
the Lord quoted Zechariah (cp. Zec 13:7). Lord’s enabling grace. “Wherefore let him
Zechariah had predicted the smiting of the that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he
shepherd. Jesus confirmed that the One fall” (1Co 10:12).
who would wield the sword would be the
Preparatory Prayer (vv32-42)
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV
unless otherwise noted. Gethsemane means “oil press,” and it

248 TRUTH kTidings August 2025