Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane what a day. The struggle of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. Prayer for a cup

After the Last Supper, Jesus Christ with His disciples went to the Mount of Olives (Olive) and on the way taught them to fulfill the commandments and consoled them. We came to a small stream called Kedron. Jesus Christ stopped and began to pray to the Heavenly Father for His disciples and for all the people who would believe in Him, for all Christians.

At the foot (that is, below) of the Mount of Olives stood Gethsemane. Behind this village was a large shady garden. Jesus Christ often went to this garden with His disciples. Judas knew this place because Jesus Christ took it with Him. When they entered the garden, Jesus Christ said to the disciples: "Sit here while I go and pray there." Peter, James and John He took with Him and went with them further into the garden. It became sad, scary and hard for Jesus Christ, and He said to them: “My soul is grieving mortally; stay here and watch with Me” (I am sad to death, don’t leave here and don’t sleep). He moved a few steps away from the disciples, knelt down, fell face down on the ground and prayed: “Father! If possible, let this cup pass me by. However, do not do as I want, but as You please.” He prayed that the Heavenly Father would deliver Him from suffering on the cross. How hard it was for Jesus Christ! How He suffered! Sweat fell from him to the ground in large drops of blood. And for whom did he endure everything? For you and me.

Getting up, He went to the three disciples. They were so exhausted and wept that they fell asleep. Jesus walked up to Peter and said to him, “Simon! Are you sleeping? Even an hour you could not stay awake with Me! Watch (do not sleep) and pray so that you do not fall into temptation (do not sin).

Having said this, Jesus Christ again went to pray, and returning to the disciples, again found them sleeping. No matter how hard they tried not to fall asleep, their eyes stuck together by themselves.

The third time Jesus Christ prayed to the Heavenly Father, and the third time, when He came to the disciples, they were asleep. “You are still sleeping and resting,” the Lord told them, “and you don’t know that it’s all over. The time has come. The Son of Man is given into the hands of sinners. Get up, let's go, My traitor is coming."

Before Christ had time to utter these words, fires flashed between the trees and bushes in the garden and people appeared with weapons and sticks. These were the soldiers and servants of the high priests sent to capture Jesus. Judas led them. He told the soldiers: “Whoever I kiss, grab that one. This is He." The traitor approaches Jesus and says: “Hello, Teacher!” - and kisses him. Jesus Christ said to him: “Friend! Why are you here? With a kiss you betray the Son of Man."

Knowing in advance what would happen to Him, the Lord Himself approached the crowd and asked: “Whom are you looking for?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered Him. "This is me!" - he said. And what? The crowd surged back and everyone fell to the ground. Christ asked the same question again, and again the people said they needed Jesus of Nazareth. "I said it was I. So, if you are looking for Me, then leave My disciples, let them go."

At this time, Peter drew his sword, struck a slave named Malchus and cut off his right ear. Touching the severed ear, Christ healed the servant and said to Peter: “Put your sword into its sheath. Or do you think that I cannot ask My Father to send Me more than twelve legions (regiments) of angels?”

Then He spoke to the chief priests and elders who were present: “You attacked Me as if I were a robber. Why didn’t they take Me in the temple when I was sitting among you and teaching?”

But what about the disciples of Christ? Everyone fled in fear. Only Peter and John followed the crowd from a distance to see what the evil Jews would do with Jesus Christ.

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On the eve of Easter, the online newspaper Meridian publishes articles that describe the last days of Jesus' life until His resurrection.

They crossed Kidron, through which the full moon illuminated their path, then climbed the Mount of Olives to the Garden of Gethsemane - where they often gathered together.

It was a small olive orchard. Its name "Gethsemane" means "oil press", and it was at this hour that Jesus had to endure the power of unthinkable, hardest pressure. At the entrance to the garden, calling only Peter, James and John with him, He “began to grieve and yearn,” and said to them: “My soul is grieving to death; stay here and watch with me” (Matthew 26:38).

Then, moving away a little, in great torment, Jesus “fell on His face, prayed and said: My Father! if possible, let this cup pass from me; however, not as I will, but as You.” “Abba,” He called out, using an address to the Father filled with sincere love and humility (Mark 14:36).

Suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane

The intense agony that Jesus experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane was not caused by fear in the face of physical pain and crucifixion. Since He was the Son of the Eternal Father, no one could take His life from Him. However, during these hours of the night, He had to overcome all the forces of darkness, taking upon Himself all the pain, all sins, all illnesses and sufferings of this perverted world.

“Not only physical pain, not only mental anguish was such a torture for Him that they vomited blood from His every pore; it was a spiritual torment that only God could endure. No other man, no matter how great his physical or mental fortitude, could suffer so; for his human organism would have given up, and ... would have led to a loss of consciousness and a long-awaited oblivion. In that hour of torment, Christ met and overcame all the horrors that Satan, “the prince of this world” could bring down on Him…” (James E. Talmage).

In modern revelation, Jesus speaks of these minutes: “I, God, endured all these things for all men, that they might not suffer if they repented. But if they do not repent, they will have to suffer just as I suffered; What affliction caused Me, God Himself, the greatest of all, to tremble with pain and bleed from every pore, and suffer in body and spirit—and would not drink the bitter cup and recoil” (Doctrine and Covenants 19:16).

In the greatest spiritual and physical torment, Christ experienced the impossible, “and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. And an angel appeared to him from heaven and strengthened him ... And, being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly” (Luke 22:44).

This obedient Son, whose fellowship with the Father was so perfect that He could say, “He who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9), began to pray even more earnestly. I wonder what He prayed for at that moment, incomprehensible to the human mind, when Jesus took upon Himself the punishments for the sins of the world and paid an exorbitant debt for our shortcomings, for which we could never pay ourselves.

Jesus brings the pay

He paid for the sins of all who repent in His name and reunite with the Lord. And since the Lord can see everything that was in the past, is in the present and will be in the future, in the Garden of Gethsemane Christ experienced those sins that we have not yet committed.

If Jesus had not drunk that bitter cup in the most difficult task ever given to anyone in the universe, we would have been spiritually dead. And, having sinned, we would never have the opportunity to be cleansed again and return to our Heavenly Father, remaining eternal debtors. Without repentance, we would stand before God on the due day with a clear mind and would have "perfect knowledge of all our guilt and our uncleanness and our nakedness."

However, through repentance made possible by a perfect Son—the Lamb sacrificed to pay for our sins—we can gain new life, and the weight of our sins and guilt will be lightened. Is there anyone in this sad world full of disappointments who does not need this gift? When we cry out in utter desperation, “O Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, who am full of bitter gall and bound in the chains of death forever” (Alma 36:18), we will be heard by the One who was in Gethsemane that night and was full of mercy towards us.

“One night I dreamed ... that I was in the Garden of Gethsemane, that I was a witness of the Savior’s torment ... I was standing behind a tree that grew in the foreground ... Jesus, along with Peter, James and John, went through a small gate to my right ... When He prayed, Tears streamed down his face, facing me. I was so moved by what I saw that I also wept, filled with sympathy for His great sorrow.

I yearned for Him with all my heart. I loved Him with all my soul and wanted nothing more than to be near Him…. The Savior and the same three Apostles... had to depart... I couldn't take it anymore. I ran out from behind the tree, fell at His feet, hugged His knees and begged Him to take me with Him. I will never forget the kindness and tenderness with which He bent down, picked me up and hugged me...

I even felt the warmth of His chest, against which I nestled. Then He said, “No, my son; they have finished their work and can go with me, but you must stay and finish yours.” I still didn't let him go. Looking up and looking into His face (for He was taller than me), I implored Him fervently, "All right, but promise me that I will come to You eventually." With a sweet and gentle smile, He answered, “It will depend on you alone.” (Orson F. Whitney, The Atonement of Jesus Christ , Geoffrey R. Holland, Liahona, March 2008).

Oil press location

Just as everything created in the world testifies to us of the Savior, so the Garden of Gethsemane - where the olive oil was pressed - bears a quiet testimony of that terrible night. Olive oil was very important in the life of the people of Israel. Thanks to olive oil, which was used in lamps, it was possible to turn on the light on a dark night. Olive oil served as a healing balm for wounds, and the olive mass was used as fuel. But the only way to obtain olive oil was to subject the olives to great pressure by crushing them in a stone press. Under this weight, the olives, being initially bitter, produced an oil that tasted sweet.

So it is with the Atonement. Out of the bitterness of that night came something precious and sweet, something that gives light to the night. When we are anointed with consecrated oil, healing comes to us through the sacrifice of Christ, who had to endure pressure to give us a healing balm for our wounds.

Jesus asked His apostles Peter, James, and John not to sleep, but twice He found them "sleeping with sorrow" (Luke 22:45). He said to them, "Couldn't you watch with me one hour?" Then he added, pitying them: "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." And finally, the third time He found them sleeping and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners” (Matthew 26:41-45).

Betrayal

It is possible that at that very moment He saw the torches approaching. They were armed soldiers led by Judas. “He who eats bread with me lifted up his heel against me” (John 13:18).

Approaching Jesus, Judas not only greeted him, but “kissed him” (Matthew 26:49).

In an attempt to prevent Jesus' arrest, Peter raised his sword and cut off the right ear of Malchus, the priest's servant. However, Jesus, touching his ear, healed him, adding: “Do you think that I cannot now plead with My Father, and He will present Me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53). For the moment had come when the heavens were not to intervene, and Jesus was to allow what was written in the scriptures to be done.

When the soldiers seized Jesus, "they saw before them a weary, unarmed man who had been betrayed by one of his closest companions, and whose arrest was painfully and hopelessly watched by a handful of frightened Galileans." This was the start of a long, hard night of interrogation. First, He was taken to the dissolute, greedy Anna, a former high priest who had served for seven years. Being one of the most depraved people on earth, he brought to power and controlled the current high priest, who carried out his every word.

In the house of Caiaphas

After this, the weary Jesus was led to Caiaphas, the current high priest, who at least had a Sanhedrin. And behold, before them stood a prisoner who had not committed a single crime. “They were faced with a very difficult task, for they themselves could not agree among themselves on all charges except one - that a man named Jesus should be put to death” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine). However, since they had to bring some kind of charge against Him, they tried to find false witnesses.

There were many people who were eager to give false testimony, but "their testimony was so false, so vague and contradictory, that the matter did not go anywhere." Following all these disputes, Jesus was silent, which only confused Caiaphas even more, until, finally, he asked: “You don’t answer anything? ... I conjure you by the living God, tell us, are you the Christ, the Son of God? Then Jesus (for it was no longer a secret to anyone) answered, “You said” (Matthew 26:62-64).

Betrayal of Peter

During this time, Peter was waiting in the courtyard, talking to the assembled people and listening to the false stories of the arrest. One official who let him into the courtyard of the palace asked, "Are you not one of this Man's disciples?" and he said, "No" (John 18:17).

Later, another employee said, “And this one was with Jesus of Nazareth” (Matthew 26:71). This time, sensing even greater danger, Peter replied, "I don't know the man." Then, as Peter stood and warmed himself by the fire, someone said, “This one of them” (Mark 14:70) and “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden?” (John 18:17).

Peter denied and swore, “I don’t know what you are saying” (Luke 22:60). Then the rooster crowed, and Jesus, who was being taken out of the house at that moment, turned and looked at Peter. Seeing His face filled with love, and those eyes filled with suffering, Peter, in despair, went out and wept bitterly.

Betrayal of Judas

On the fourth day after His solemn entry into Jerusalem, Jesus Christ said to His disciples: "You know that in two days the Passover will be, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."

On this day, in our opinion it was Wednesday, - the high priests, scribes and elders of the people gathered at the high priest Caiaphas and deliberated among themselves how they could destroy Jesus Christ. At this council, they decided to take Jesus Christ by cunning and kill Him, but not on a holiday (then a lot of people gather), so as not to cause indignation among the people.

One of the twelve apostles of Christ, Judas Iscariot, was very greedy for money; and the teaching of Christ did not correct his soul. He came to the chief priests and said, "What will you give me if I betray Him to you?"

They rejoiced and offered him thirty pieces of silver.

Since that time, Judas has been looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus Christ outside the people.

26 , 1-5 and 14-16; from Mark, ch. 14 , 1-2 and 10-11; from Luke, ch. 22 , 1-6.

The Last Supper

On the fifth day after the Lord's entry into Jerusalem, which means, in our opinion, Thursday (and on Friday evening it was necessary to bury the Paschal lamb), the disciples asked Jesus Christ: "Where do you order us to prepare Easter for You?"

Jesus Christ told them: “Go to the city of Jerusalem; there you will meet a man carrying a jug of water; follow him into the house and tell the owner: The Teacher says: where is the upper room (room) in which I would celebrate the Passover with My disciples? He will show you a large, furnished upper room; there prepare the passover.”

Having said this, the Savior sent two of His disciples, Peter and John. They went, and everything was fulfilled just as the Savior had said; and prepared Easter.

In the evening of that day, Jesus Christ, knowing that He would be betrayed that night, came with His twelve apostles to the prepared upper room. When everyone sat down at the table, Jesus Christ said: "I really desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, because, I tell you, I will no longer eat it until it is completed in the Kingdom of God." Then he got up, took off his outer garment, girded himself with a towel, poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples' feet and wipe them with the towel with which he was girded.

Foot washing

Having washed the feet of the disciples, Jesus Christ put on His clothes and, lying down again, said to them: “Do you know what I have done to you? Behold, you call Me Teacher and Lord, and you call me rightly. you, then you must do the same. I have given you an example that you should do as I have done for you."

By this example, the Lord showed not only His love for His disciples, but also taught them humility, i.e., not to consider it a humiliation for oneself to serve anyone, even an inferior person.

After partaking of the Old Testament Jewish Passover, Jesus Christ established the sacrament of Holy Communion at this supper. That is why it is called "The Last Supper".

Jesus Christ took the bread, blessed it, broke it into pieces and, giving it to the disciples, said: Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you for the remission of sins", (i.e., for you, he is given over to suffering and death, for the forgiveness of sins). Then he took a cup of grape wine, blessed it, thanked God the Father for all His mercies to the human race, and, giving it to the disciples, said: "Drink of it all, this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you for the remission of sins."

These words mean that, under the guise of bread and wine, the Savior gave His disciples that very Body and that very Blood, which the next day after that He gave over to suffering and death for our sins. How bread and wine became the Body and Blood of the Lord is a mystery, incomprehensible even to angels, which is why it is called sacrament.

Having communed the apostles, the Lord gave the commandment to always celebrate this sacrament, He said: " do this in remembrance of me". This sacrament is performed with us and now and will be performed until the end of the age at the divine service called Liturgy or Lunch.

During the Last Supper, the Savior announced to the apostles that one of them would betray Him. They were very saddened by this and in bewilderment, looking at each other, in fear began to ask one after another: "Am I not the Lord?" Judas also asked: "Is it not me, Rabbi?" The Savior quietly said to him: "you"; but no one heard it. John reclined next to the Savior. Peter motioned to him to ask who the Lord was talking about. John, falling to the breast of the Savior, quietly said: "Lord, who is this?" Jesus Christ also quietly answered: "the one to whom I, having dipped a piece of bread, will serve." And, having dipped a piece of bread in salt (in a dish with salt), He gave it to Judas Iscariot, saying: "what you do, do it quickly." But no one understood why the Savior told him this. And since Judas had a box of money, the disciples thought that Jesus Christ was sending him to buy something for the holiday or to give alms to the poor. Judas, having accepted the piece, immediately went out. It was already night.

Jesus Christ, continuing to talk with His disciples, said: “Children! It will not be long for me to be with you. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. love among themselves. And there is no greater love than if a man lays down his life (gives up his life) for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you."

During this conversation, Jesus Christ predicted to the disciples that they would all be tempted about Him that night - they would all scatter, leaving Him alone.

The Apostle Peter said: "If everyone is offended about You, I will never be offended."

Then the Savior said to him: "Truly, I say to you that this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny Me three times and say that you do not know Me."

But Peter even more, began to assure, saying: "Even though it behooves me to die with You, I will not deny You."

All the other apostles said the same. Yet the words of the Savior saddened them.

Consoling them, the Lord said: "Let not your heart be troubled (that is, do not grieve), believe in God (Father) and believe in Me (Son of God)."

The Savior promised His disciples to send from the Father His other Comforter and Teacher, instead of Himself - Holy Spirit. He said, "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, the Spirit of truth, Whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him and does not know Him; but you know Him, because He dwells with you and will be in you ( this means that the Holy Spirit will be with all who truly believe in Jesus Christ - in the Church of Christ). can overcome Me), and you will live. But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you everything and remind you of everything that I have said to you." "The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, which comes from the Father He will testify of Me; and you also will testify, because you are with me from the beginning" (Jn. 15 , 26-27).

Jesus Christ also predicted to His disciples that they would have to endure a lot of evil and troubles from people because they believe in Him, "In the world you will have sorrow; but be of good cheer (be strong)," said the Savior; "I have conquered the world" (i.e., I have conquered evil in the world).

Jesus Christ ended His conversation with a prayer for His disciples and for all who will believe in Him, so that the Heavenly Father would keep them all in firm faith, in love and in unanimity ( in unity) among themselves.

When the Lord finished supper, even during the conversation, he got up with his eleven disciples and, having sung psalms, went beyond the Kidron stream, to the Mount of Olives, to the Garden of Gethsemane.

NOTE: See in the Gospel: Matthew, ch. 26 , 17-35; from Mark, ch. 14 , 12-31; from Luke, ch. 22 , 7-39; from John, ch. 13 ; ch. 14 ; ch. 15 ; ch. 16 ; ch. 17 ; ch. 18 , 1.

Prayer of Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane and taking Him into custody

Entering the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus Christ said to His disciples: "Sit here while I pray!"

Prayer for a cup

And he himself, taking with him Peter, James and John, went into the depths of the garden; and began to mourn and yearn. Then he said to them: "My soul is grieving to death, stay here and watch with me." And, moving away from them a little, He, on bended knee, fell to the ground, prayed and said: “My Father! I want, but how are you.

After praying like this, Jesus Christ returns to the three disciples and sees that they are sleeping. He says to them, "Couldn't you watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation." And departing, he prayed, saying the same words.

Then he returns again to the disciples, and again finds them sleeping; their eyes were heavy, and they did not know what to answer him.

Jesus Christ departed from them and prayed for the third time with the same words. An angel appeared to Him from heaven and strengthened Him. His anguish and spiritual anguish were so great, and his prayer so zealous, that drops of bloody sweat fell from His face to the ground.

Having finished the prayer, the Savior got up, approached the sleeping disciples and said: “Are you still sleeping?

At this time, Judas, the traitor, came into the garden with a crowd of people who walked with lanterns, stakes and swords; they were soldiers and ministers sent by the chief priests and Pharisees to seize Jesus Christ. Judas agreed with them: "Whoever I kiss, Take Him."

Approaching Jesus Christ, Judas said: "Rejoice, Rabbi (Teacher)!" And kissed him.

Jesus Christ said to him: "Friend! Why have you come? Do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" These words of the Savior were for Judas the last call to repentance.

Then Jesus Christ, knowing everything that would happen to Him, approached the crowd and said: "Whom are you looking for?"

From the crowd they answered: "Jesus of Nazareth."

The Savior says to them, "It is I."

At these words, the warriors and servants stepped back in fear and fell to the ground. When they recovered from their fear and got up, they tried in confusion to seize the disciples of Christ.

The Savior said again, "Whom are you looking for?"

They said, "Jesus of Nazareth."

"I told you it was I," answered the Savior. "So if you are looking for Me, leave them (the disciples), let them go."

Soldiers and servants, approaching, surrounded Jesus Christ. The apostles wanted to protect their Teacher. Peter, having a sword with him, drew it and struck with it a servant of the high priest, named Malcha, and cut off his right ear.

But Jesus Christ said to Peter: "Put the sword in its sheath; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword (i.e., whoever raises the sword against another will perish by the sword himself). Or do you think that I cannot now implore My Father, so that He would send many angels to protect Me? Shall I not drink the cup (of suffering) that the Father has given Me (for the salvation of people)?"

Kiss of Judas

Having said this, Jesus Christ, touching Malchus' ear, healed him, and voluntarily gave Himself into the hands of His enemies.

In the crowd of servants were also the chiefs of the Jews. Jesus Christ, addressing them, said: “You went out as if to a robber with swords and clubs to take Me; every day I was in the temple, I sat there with you and taught, and then you did not take Me. But now is your time and power darkness."

The soldiers, having tied the Savior, led Him to the chief priests. Then the apostles, leaving the Savior, fled in fear. Only two of them, John and Peter, followed Him from a distance.

NOTE: See Evangel.; from Matthew, ch. 26 , 36-56; from Mark, ch. 14 , 32-52; from Luke, ch. 22 , 40-53; from John, ch. 18 , 1-12.

The Judgment of Jesus Christ by the High Priests

First, the soldiers brought the bound Jesus Christ to the old high priest Anna, who by that time no longer served in the temple and lived in retirement.

This high priest interrogated Jesus Christ about His teachings and His disciples in order to find some fault in Him.

The Savior answered him: “I spoke openly to the world: I always taught in the synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always gather, and secretly did not say anything. What are you asking Me? Ask those who heard what I told them; spoke".

One servant of the high priest, who was standing close by, hit the Savior on the cheek and said: “Is this how you answer the high priest?”

The Lord, turning to him, said to this: "If I said badly, show me that it is bad; but if it is good, then why are you hitting Me?"

After interrogation, the high priest Anna sent the bound Jesus Christ across the courtyard to his son-in-law, his high priest Caiaphas.

Caiaphas was the serving high priest that year. He gave advice in the Sanhedrin: to kill Jesus Christ, saying: "You know nothing and do not think that it is better for us that one person should die for the people than that the whole nation should perish."

St. Apostle John, pointing to the importance of holy orders, explains that despite his criminal plan, the high priest Caiaphas involuntarily prophesies about the Savior that He must suffer for the redemption of people. That is why the apostle John says: this is he(Caiaphas) did not speak for himself, but being the high priest that year, he predicted that Jesus would die for the people". And then he adds: " and not only for the people(i.e. for the Jews, since Caiaphas spoke only of the Jewish people), but that even the scattered children of God(i.e. Gentiles) put together". (John. 11 , 49-52).

Many members of the Sanhedrin gathered at the high priest Caiaphas that night (the Sanhedrin, as the supreme court, according to the law, had to gather in the temple and certainly during the day). The elders and scribes of the Jews also came. All of them had already agreed in advance to condemn Jesus Christ to death. But for this they needed to find some guilt worthy of death. And since no guilt could be found in Him, they sought out false witnesses who would tell lies against Jesus Christ. Many such false witnesses came. But they could not say anything for which Jesus Christ could be condemned. In the end, two people came forward with such false testimony: "We heard Him say: I will destroy this temple made by hands, and in three days I will raise another not made by hands." But even such a testimony was not sufficient to put Him to death. Jesus Christ did not respond to all these false testimonies.

The high priest Caiaphas stood up and asked Him: “Why don’t you answer anything to the fact that they testify against You?

Jesus Christ was silent.

Caiaphas again asked Him: "I conjure you by the living God, tell us, are you the Christ, the Son of God?"

To such a question, Jesus Christ answered and said: "Yes, I, and even I say to you: from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the power of God and coming on the clouds of heaven."

Then Caiaphas tore his clothes (as a sign of indignation and horror) and said: “What else do we need witnesses for? Now, now you have heard His blasphemy (that is, that He, being a man, calls Himself the Son of God)? What do you think? "

The mockery of the Savior in the courtyard of the high priest

After that, Jesus Christ was handed over to custody until dawn. Some began to spit in His face. The people who held him cursed him and beat him. Others, covering His face, slapped His cheeks and asked with mockery: "Prophesy to us, Christ, who hit You?" The Lord endured all these insults meekly in silence.

NOTE: See in the Gospel: Matthew, ch. 26 , 57-68; ch. 27 , one; from Mark, ch. 14 , 53-65; ch. 15 , one; from Luke, ch. 22 , 54, 63-71; from John, ch. 18 , 12-14, 19-24.

Renunciation of the Apostle Peter

When Jesus Christ was taken away to be judged by the high priests, the apostle John, as an acquaintance of the high priest, entered the courtyard, while Peter remained outside the gates. Then John, having told the servant-doorkeeper, led Peter into the courtyard.

The servant girl, seeing Peter, said to him: "Are you not one of the disciples of this Man (Jesus Christ)?"

Peter answered "no".

The night was cold. The servants lit a fire in the yard and warmed themselves. Peter also warmed himself by the fire with them.

Soon another maid, seeing Peter warming himself, said to the servants: "this one was also with Jesus of Nazareth."

But Peter denied it again, saying that he did not know this Man.

After a while, the servants who were standing in the courtyard again began to say to Peter: "It is as if you were with Him; for even your speech reproves you: you are a Galilean." Immediately a relative of the same Malchus, whose ear Peter had cut off, came up and said: “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden of Gethsemane?”

Peter began to swear and swear: "I do not know this Man, of whom you speak."

At this time, the rooster crowed, and Peter remembered the words of the Savior: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." At that moment the Lord, who was among the guards in the courtyard, turned towards Peter and looked at him. The sight of the Lord penetrated Peter's heart; shame and repentance took possession of him, and, going out of the courtyard, he bitterly wept over his grievous sin.

From that moment on, Peter never forgot his fall. St. Clement, a disciple of Peter, tells that Peter, during the rest of his life, at midnight cock crow, knelt down and, shedding tears, repented of his renunciation, although the Lord Himself, shortly after His resurrection, forgave him. An ancient tradition has been preserved that the eyes of the Apostle Peter were red from frequent and bitter weeping.

NOTE: See in the Gospel: from Matt., ch. 26 , 69-75; from Mark, ch. 14 , 66-72; from Luke, ch. 22 , 55-62; from John, ch. 18 , 15-18, 25-27.

The death of Judas

It's Friday morning. Immediately the chief priests, with the elders and scribes, and the entire Sanhedrin formed a meeting. They brought the Lord Jesus Christ and again condemned Him to death for calling Himself the Christ, the Son of God.

When Judas the traitor learned that Jesus Christ was condemned to death, he understood the full horror of his act. He, perhaps, did not expect such a verdict, or he believed that Christ would not allow this, or he would get rid of his enemies in a miraculous way. Judas understood what his love of money had brought him to. Painful repentance took possession of his soul. He went to the chief priests and elders and returned thirty pieces of silver to them, saying: "I have sinned in betraying the innocent Blood" (i.e., betraying an innocent Man to death).

They told him; "what is it to us; see for yourself" (that is, answer for your own affairs).

But Judas did not want to humbly repent in prayer and tears before the merciful God. The cold of despair and despondency seized his soul. He threw the pieces of silver in the temple in front of the priests and went out. Then he went and hung himself (i.e., hanged himself).

The chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said: "It is not permissible to put this money into the church treasury, because this is the price of blood."

Judas throws pieces of silver

After consulting among themselves, they bought land from a potter with this money for the burial of wanderers. Since then, and to this day, that land (cemetery) is called, in Hebrew, Akeldama, which means: the land of blood.

So the prediction of the prophet Jeremiah came true, who said: "And they took thirty pieces of silver, the price of the Priced One, Whom the sons of Israel valued, and gave them for the potter's land."

NOTE: See the Gospel: Matthew, ch. 27 , 3-10.

Jesus Christ at Pilate's Trial

The high priests and chiefs of the Jews, having condemned Jesus Christ to death, themselves could not carry out their sentence without the approval of the head of the country - the Roman ruler (hegemon or praetor) in Judea. At this time, the Roman ruler in Judea was Pontius Pilate.

On the occasion of the feast of the Passover, Pilate was in Jerusalem and lived not far from the temple, in praetoria, that is, in the house of the chief judge, the praetor. In front of the praetorium, an open area (stone platform) was arranged, which was called lifostroton, but in Hebrew gavvafa.

Early in the morning, on the same Friday, the chief priests and leaders of the Jews brought the bound Jesus Christ to Pilate's trial so that he would confirm the death sentence on Jesus. But they themselves did not enter the praetorium, so as not to be defiled before Easter by entering the house of a pagan.

Pilate went out to them for a lifostroton and, seeing the members of the Sanhedrin, asked them: "What do you accuse this Man of?"

They answered: "If He had not been a villain, we would not have betrayed Him to you."

Pilate said to them, "You take him, and judge according to your law."

They said to him, "We are not allowed to put anyone to death." And they began to accuse the Savior, saying: "He corrupts the people, forbids giving tribute to Caesar, and calls Himself Christ the King."

Pilate asked Jesus Christ: "Are you the King of the Jews?"

Jesus Christ answered: "You say" (which means: "yes, I am the King").

When the chief priests and elders accused the Savior, He did not answer.

Pilate said to Him, "You don't answer anything? You see how many accusations are against You."

But even to this the Savior did not answer, so that Pilate marveled.

After that, Pilate entered the praetorium and, calling Jesus, again asked Him: "Are you the King of the Jews?"

Jesus Christ said to him, "Are you saying this on your own, or have others told you about me?" (i.e. do you yourself think so or not?)

"Am I a Jew?" - answered Pilate, - "Your people and the high priests delivered you to me; what did you do?"

Jesus Christ said: "My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, then my servants (subjects) would fight for me, so that I would not be delivered to the Jews; but now my kingdom is not from here."

"So You are the King?" Pilate asked.

Jesus Christ answered: "You say that I am the King. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to bear witness to the truth; everyone who is from the truth listens to My voice."

From these words, Pilate saw that before him stood a preacher of the truth, a teacher of the people, and not a rebel against the power of the Romans.

Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And, without waiting for an answer, he went out to the Jews for lifostroton and announced: "I do not find any fault in this Man."

But the chief priests and elders insisted, saying that He was stirring up the people by teaching all over Judea, beginning from Galilee.

Pilate, hearing about Galilee, asked: "Is He a Galilean?"

And having learned that Jesus Christ was from Galilee, he ordered to take Him to court to the King of Galilee Herod, who, on the occasion of Easter, was also in Jerusalem. Pilate was glad to be rid of this unpleasant judgment.

27 , 2, 11-14; from Mark, ch. 15 , 1-5; from Luke, ch. 15 , 1-7; from John, ch. 18 , 28-38.

Jesus Christ at the trial of King Herod

Herod Antipas, king of Galilee, who executed John the Baptist, heard a lot about Jesus Christ and longed to see Him. When they brought Jesus Christ to him, he was very glad, hoping to see some miracle from Him. Herod asked Him many questions, but the Lord did not answer him. The chief priests and the scribes stood and vigorously accused Him.

Then Herod, together with his soldiers, outraged and mocked Him, dressed the Savior in bright clothes, as a sign of His innocence, and sent him back to Pilate.

From that day on, Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, while before they were at enmity with each other.

NOTE: See the Gospel of Luke, ch. 23 , 8 12.

Pilate's last trial of Jesus Christ

When the Lord Jesus Christ was again brought to Pilate, many people, leaders and elders had already gathered at the Praetorium.

Pilate, having called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, said to them: “You have brought this Man to me as a corrupter of the people; and, behold, I examined in your presence, and did not find Him guilty of anything of which you accuse Him. I sent Him to Herod, and Herod found nothing in him worthy of death either.

The Jews had a custom of releasing one prisoner for the Passover feast, who was chosen by the people. Pilate, taking this opportunity, said to the people: "Do you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at Passover; do you want me to release the King of the Jews to you?" Pilate was sure that the people would ask Jesus, because he knew that the leaders betrayed Jesus Christ out of envy and malice.

While Pilate was sitting in the judge's seat, his wife sent to him to say: "Do nothing to that Righteous One, because today in my sleep I have suffered much for Him."

Meanwhile, the chief priests and elders taught the people to ask for the release of Barabbas. Barabbas, on the other hand, was a robber who was put in prison, with his accomplices, for the indignation and murder carried out in the city. Then the people, taught by the elders, began to cry: "Let Barabbas go to us!"

Flagellation of Jesus Christ

Pilate, wanting to let Jesus go, went out and, raising his voice, said: "Whom do you want me to let you go: Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?"

Everyone shouted: "Not Him, but Barabbas!"

Then Pilate asked them: "What do you want me to do with Jesus, who is called the Christ?"

They cried out: "Let him be crucified!"

Pilate again said to them: "What evil did He do? I did not find anything worthy of death in Him. So, having punished Him, I will let him go."

But they shouted even louder: "Crucify Him! Let him be crucified!"

Then Pilate, thinking to arouse compassion for Christ among the people, ordered the soldiers to beat Him. The soldiers took Jesus Christ into the yard and, undressing Him, beat Him severely. Then put on him scarlet(a short red garment without sleeves, fastened on the right shoulder) and, having woven a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and gave Him a reed in His right hand, instead of the royal scepter. And they began to mock Him. They knelt down, bowed to Him and said: "Hail, King of the Jews!" They spat on him and, taking a reed, they beat him on the head and on his face.

After that, Pilate went out to the Jews and said: "Behold, I bring Him out to you, so that you know that I do not find any fault in Him."

Then Jesus Christ came out wearing the crown of thorns and purple.

Pilate brings the Savior to the Jews
and says "Here's a man!"

Pilate said to them, "Here is a man!" With these words, Pilate seemed to want to say: "Look how tormented and desecrated He is," thinking that the Jews would take pity on Him. But such were not the enemies of Christ.

When the chief priests and ministers saw Jesus Christ, they shouted: "crucify him, crucify him!"

"Crucify, crucify Him!"

Pilate says to them: "You take him and crucify him, but I find no fault in him."

The Jews answered him: "We have a law, and according to our law He must die, because He made Himself the Son of God."

Hearing these words, Pilate was even more frightened. He entered with Jesus Christ into the praetorium, and asked Him: "Where are you from?"

But the Savior did not give him an answer.

Pilate says to Him: "Don't you answer me? Don't you know that I have power to crucify You and I have power to let You go?"

Then Jesus Christ answered him: "You would not have had any power over Me, if it had not been given to you from above; therefore, there is more sin on the one who delivered Me to you."

After this answer, Pilate was even more willing to release Jesus Christ.

But the Jews shouted: "If you let Him go, you are not a friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself a king is an adversary to Caesar."

Pilate, having heard such words, decided it would be better to put an innocent Man to death than to undergo the royal disgrace himself.

Then Pilate brought Jesus Christ out, himself sat down on the place of judgment, which was on the Lifostroton, and said to the Jews: "Here is your King!"

But they cried out: "Take it, take it, crucify Him!"

Pilate says to them: "Shall I crucify your king?"

The chief priests answered: "We have no king but Caesar."

Pilate, seeing that nothing helped, and confusion increased, took water, washed his hands in front of the people and said: "I am innocent of shedding the blood of this Righteous One; look at you" (i.e., let this guilt fall on you).

Pilate washes his hands

Answering him, all the Jewish people with one voice said: "His blood is on us and on our children." So the Jews themselves took upon themselves and even for posterity their responsibility for the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Then Pilate released the robber Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus Christ to them to be crucified.

Liberation of the robber Barrabas

NOTE: See in the Gospel: Matt., ch. 27 , 15-26; from Mark, ch. 15 , 6-15; from Luke, ch. 23 , 13-25; from John, ch. 18 , 39-40; ch. 19 , 1-16

Entering the Garden of Gethsemane, the Lord said to His disciples: “Sit here while I go and pray there. Pray, too, that you do not fall into temptation.”

And taking Peter, James and John with Him, he went into the depths of the garden, and began to mourn, be horrified and yearn. And he said to them: "My soul is grieving to death, stay here and watch with me." And, moving away from them a little, kneeling down, he fell to the ground and prayed: “My Father! if possible, let this cup (that is, the forthcoming suffering) pass (pass by) me; however, let it not be as I will, but as You.”

After praying like this, Jesus Christ returns to the three disciples and sees that they are sleeping. He says to them: “Could you not watch with Me for one hour? Watch and pray so that you do not fall into temptation." And again, going away another time, he prayed, saying: “My Father! If this cup cannot pass me by so that I do not drink it, Thy will be done.”

Again he returns to the disciples, and again finds them sleeping, for their eyes are heavy. He moved away from them and prayed a third time with the same words. An angel appeared to him from Heaven and strengthened him. And, being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Having finished the prayer, the Savior got up, approached the sleeping disciples and said: “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let's go; behold, he who betrays me has drawn near.”

At this time, Judas, the traitor, came into the garden with a crowd of people who walked with lanterns, stakes and swords. These were soldiers and ministers sent by the chief priests and Pharisees to seize Jesus Christ. Judas agreed with them: "Whoever I kiss, He is, take Him." Approaching Jesus, Judas said: “Rejoice, Rabbi (Teacher)!” And kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend! What did you come for? Do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss? These words of the Savior were for Judas the last call to repentance.

Then Jesus Christ, knowing everything that would happen to Him, approached the crowd and said: “Whom are you looking for?” From the crowd they answered: "Jesus of Nazareth." The Savior says to them, "It is I." At these words, the warriors and servants stepped back in fear and fell to the ground. When they recovered from their fear and got up, they tried in confusion to seize the disciples of Christ.

The Savior said again: "Whom are you looking for?" They said, "Jesus of Nazareth." “I told you it was I,” answered the Savior, “so, if you are looking for Me, leave them (the disciples), let them go.”

Soldiers and servants, approaching, surrounded Jesus Christ. The holy apostles wanted to protect their Teacher. Peter, having a sword with him, drew it and struck with it a servant of the high priest, named Malchus, and cut off his right ear. But Jesus Christ said to Peter: “Put your sword in its sheath; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword (that is, whoever raises the sword against another, he himself will perish by the sword). Or do you think that I cannot now beg My Father to send many Angels to protect Me? Shall I not drink the cup (of suffering) which the Father has given Me (for the salvation of men)?”

Having said this, Jesus Christ touched the ear of Malchus, healed him and voluntarily gave Himself into the hands of enemies.

There were also leaders of the Jews in the crowd. Jesus Christ, addressing them, said: “It is as if you came out against a robber with swords and clubs to take Me; Every day I was in the temple, I sat there with you and taught, and then you did not take Me. But now is your time and the power of darkness." The soldiers, having tied the Savior, led Him to the chief priests. Then the apostles, leaving the Savior, fled in fear. Only two of them, John and Peter, followed Him from a distance. Later, the apostle Peter will show cowardice and deny the Savior three times in the courtyard of the high priest.

NOTE: See Matt. 26, 36-56; Mk. 14, 32-52; OK. 22, 40-53; In. 18:1-12.