John 18

John 18:1-13 . BETRAYAL AND APPREHENSION OF JESUS.

1-3. over the brook Kedron--a deep, dark ravine, to the northeast of Jerusalem, through which flowed this small storm brook or winter torrent, and which in summer is dried up.
where was a garden--at the foot of the Mount of Olives, "called Gethsemane; that is, olive press ( Matthew 26:30 Matthew 26:36 ).

2. Judas . . . knew the place, for Jesus ofttimes--see John 8:1 , Luke 21:37 .
resorted thither with his disciples--The baseness of this abuse of knowledge in Judas, derived from admission to the closest privacies of his Master, is most touchingly conveyed here, though nothing beyond bare narrative is expressed. Jesus, however, knowing that in this spot Judas would expect to find Him, instead of avoiding it, hies Him thither, as a Lamb to the slaughter. "No man taketh My life from Me, but I lay it down of Myself" ( John 10:18 ). Besides, the scene which was to fill up the little breathing-time, the awful interval, between the Supper and the Apprehension--like the "silence in heaven for about the space of half an hour" between the breaking of the Apocalyptic Seals and the peal of the Trumpets of war ( Revelation 8:1 )--the AGONY--would have been too terrible for the upper room; nor would He cloud the delightful associations of the last Passover and the first Supper by pouring out the anguish of His soul there. The garden, however, with its amplitude, its shady olives, its endeared associations, would be congenial to His heart. Here He had room enough to retire--first, from eight of them, and then from the more favored three; and here, when that mysterious scene was over, the stillness would only be broken by the tread of the traitor.

3. Judas then--"He that was called Judas, one of the Twelve," says Luke ( Luke 22:47 ), in language which brands him with peculiar infamy, as in the sacred circle while in no sense of it.
a band of men--"the detachment of the Roman cohort on duty at the festival for the purpose of maintaining order" [WEBSTER and WILKINSON].
officers from the chief priests and Pharisees--captains of the temple and armed Levites.
lanterns and torches--It was full moon, but in case He should have secreted Himself somewhere in the dark ravine, they bring the means of exploring its hiding-places--little knowing whom they had to do with. "Now he that betrayed Him had given them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He, hold Him fast" ( Matthew 26:48 ). The cold-bloodedness of this speech was only exceeded by the deed itself. "And Judas went before them [ Luke 22:47 ], and forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Master, and kissed Him" ( Matthew 26:49 ; compare Exodus 4:27 , 18:7 , Luke 7:45 ). The impudence of this atrocious deed shows how thoroughly he had by this time mastered all his scruples. If the dialogue between our Lord and His captors was before this, as some interpreters think it was, the kiss of Judas was purely gratuitous, and probably to make good his right to the money; our Lord having presented Himself unexpectedly before them, and rendered it unnecessary for any one to point Him out. But a comparison of the narratives seems to show that our Lord's "coming forth" to the band was subsequent to the interview of Judas. "And Jesus said unto him, Friend"--not the endearing term "friend" (in John 15:15 ), but "companion," a word used on occasions of remonstrance or rebuke (as in Matthew 20:13 , 22:12 )--"Wherefore art thou come?" ( Matthew 26:50 ). "Betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss"--imprinting upon the foulest act the mark of tenderest affection? What wounded feeling does this express! Of this Jesus showed Himself on various occasions keenly susceptible--as all generous and beautiful natures do.

4-9. Jesus . . . knowing all things that should come--were coming.
upon him, went forth--from the shade of the trees, probably, into open view, indicating His sublime preparedness to meet His captors.
Whom seek ye?--partly to prevent a rush of the soldiery upon the disciples [BENGEL]; and see mark 14:51 mark 14:52 , as showing a tendency to this: but still more as part of that courage and majesty which so overawed them. He would not wait to be taken.