The setting of the text is familiar to most of us.

The Garden of Gethsemane was a private olive grove on the western slope of the Mount of Olives. Jesus and his followers often went to this secluded garden for prayer. I've been to the area twice, and found it as quiet and peaceful as it must have been for our Lord.

On this occasion, however, Jesus went there not to find peace but a sword. He went there so Judas would know where to find him. He could have fled into the Galilean hills and evaded arrest forever. Instead, he went to the one place where his arrest was assured.

He could have hidden in the Garden, and escaped from the soldiers marching through its trees, but he waited for the soldiers to come.

He could have used his disciples to prevent Judas from identifying him. Instead he said, "Friend, do what you came for."

John gives us more of the story:

"Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, 'Who is it you want?' 'Jesus of Nazareth,' they replied" (John 18:4-5a). Note the irony of this situation. They are looking for him, but don't know that this is the one they seek. Clearly he could direct them elsewhere, or flee under the cover of anonymity.

Instead, the narrative continues, "'I am he,' Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)" (vs. 5b). His Greek words were actually, "I am," echoing the solemn and holy name of Yahweh himself. Note what comes next: "When Jesus said, 'I am he,' they drew back and fell to the ground'" (v. 6). Here is a second chance to flee.

Instead we find this response: "Again he asked them, 'Who is it you want?' And they said, 'Jesus of Nazareth.' 'I told you that I am he,' Jesus answered" (vs. 7-8). And finally they seized him. Have you ever heard of a person who worked so hard to be arrested?

But the story isn't done. Peter then drew his sword and attacked Malchus, the servant of the high priest (John. 18:10). Such an armed resistance could well have been successful, but Jesus stopped it immediately. He could have called "twelve legions of angels" (a legion was 6,000 soldiers; this would be 72,000 angels, sufficient for the task at hand, one would think). But he did not.

Who was actually responsible for Jesus' arrest? These incompetent soldiers, men who didn't even know their subject? The disciples? Judas? Or our Lord?