--- title: "On the Mount of Olives" description: "Tensions peaked tonight as Jesus was taken into custody by a heavily armed crowd. The betrayal, initiated by a kiss from a close follower, marks a dark turning point in a high-stakes standoff." image: "" book: "Matthew" bookId: "MAT" testament: "new" startChapter: 26 startVerse: 31 endChapter: 26 endVerse: 56 coversChapters: [26] aiTitle: "Breaking News: Leader Arrested in Midnight Raid After Trusted Confidant Flips" aiDescription: "Tensions peaked tonight as Jesus was taken into custody by a heavily armed crowd. The betrayal, initiated by a kiss from a close follower, marks a dark turning point in a high-stakes standoff." hasAiStory: true location: "Gethsemane" persons: ["Chief Priests","Elders","High Priests","Jesus","Judas","Peter","Prophets","Sons of Zebedee"] hashtags: ["betrayal","redemption","suffering","temptation"] genre: "gospel" readingTime: 3 type: "adaptive" slug: "MAT/on-the-mount-of-olives" canonicalId: "MAT.26.31-26.56" chronologicalOrder: 1484 relatedSlugs: ["LUK/on-the-mount-of-olives","MRK/on-the-mount-of-olives","ZEC/an-end-to-idolatry","PSA/psalm-119-your-word-is-a-lamp-to-my-feet-part-1","GAL/walking-by-the-spirit","REV/the-seven-bowls-of-wrath","EPH/the-full-armor-of-god","MAT/the-lord-sees-what-is-done-in-secret","LUK/temple-destruction-foretold","HEB/the-perfect-high-priest","JHN/ask-and-you-will-receive","JHN/jesus-the-bread-of-life","1PE/cast-your-cares-on-him","MRK/the-last-supper","1CO/pauls-salutation","JHN/where-i-am-going-you-cannot-come","1CO/warnings-from-israels-past","PSA/psalm-69-the-waters-are-up-to-my-neck","1PE/suffering-for-righteousness-living-for-gods-glory-suffering-as-christians-instructions-to-elders","PHP/following-jesus-example","ROM/function-of-the-law","ISA/the-suffering-servant","LUK/the-last-supper","REV/the-two-beasts","MAT/the-resurrection","GEN/the-noahic-covenant","PSA/psalm-88-i-cry-out-before-you","ACT/introduction","MAT/the-parable-of-the-ten-virgins","1PE/submission-to-authority","MRK/the-olivet-discourse","2PE/deliverance-from-false-prophets","EZK/a-prophecy-for-shepherds","REV/philadelphia","ROM/love-and-forgiveness","DAN/daniels-prayer","ISA/a-song-of-salvation"] prevSlug: "MAT/the-last-supper" nextSlug: "MAT/jesus-before-the-sanhedrin" --- In a scene of high drama unfolding late tonight, the man known as [Jesus](/persons/jesus) has been taken into custody. The arrest occurred following a quiet session of prayer, during which Jesus was seen struggling with profound emotional distress, repeatedly asking his followers to keep watch while he braced for the events to come. The situation turned volatile when [Judas](/persons/judas), a long-time member of Jesus' inner circle, led an armed mob to the scene. Judas used a pre-arranged signal—a kiss on the cheek—to identify his leader to the authorities. Despite the aggressive nature of the arrest, Jesus surrendered without resistance, pointedly rebuking his own supporters who attempted to fight back with weapons. During the chaotic scramble, a violent clash broke out when one of Jesus' supporters attacked an official, resulting in a serious injury. Jesus immediately intervened to stop the fighting, reminding those present that his path was guided by a higher authority rather than physical force. He dismissed his potential ability to summon overwhelming military aid, stating that these events are necessary to fulfill ancient prophecies. As the mob moved in to seize him, the rest of Jesus' companions abandoned their posts and fled the scene in panic. The arrest represents the culmination of a tense week of shifting alliances, leaving his followers in complete disarray as authorities now prepare to present their prisoner to the high-level legal council. ### Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial Then [Jesus](/persons/jesus) said to them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written:‘I will strike the Shepherd,and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” [Peter](/persons/peter) said to Him, “Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will.” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus declared, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter replied, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You.” And all the other disciples said the same thing. ### Jesus Prays at Gethsemane At that time Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He told them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with Him Peter and the two [sons of Zebedee](/persons/sons%20of%20zebedee) and began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.” Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.” Then Jesus returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. “Were you not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.” And again Jesus returned and found them sleeping—for their eyes were heavy. So He left them and went away once more and prayed a third time, saying the same thing. Then He returned to the disciples and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! See, My betrayer is approaching!” ### The Betrayal of Jesus While Jesus was still speaking, [Judas](/persons/judas), one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the [chief priests](/persons/chief%20priests) and [elders](/persons/elders) of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him.” Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. “Friend,” Jesus replied, “do what you came for.”
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested Him. At this, one of Jesus’ companions drew his sword and struck the servant of the [high priest](/persons/high%20priests), cutting off his ear. “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?” At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw? Every day I sat teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest Me. But this has all happened so that the writings of the [prophets](/persons/prophets) would be fulfilled.”
Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled.

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