Anchor My Faith

Previous Lesson
Next Lesson
Author: Stephen Weller
629 words, 3 minutes read time

On to the Mount of Olives

Scripture: Matthew 26:30; John 14:29-31

In the previous lesson the disciples were instructed to not be anxious as God has peace he wants to give to them. In this lesson we will finish up the details of this section, which is taking place in the upper room, and transition to the next location.

^{Jn 14:29} And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. ³⁰ I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, ³¹ but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

Jesus knows what lies ahead for him and he has told this to his disciples so that they won’t be caught by surprise. Jesus said the same thing to his disciples in John 13:19 and in John 16:4. To predict something and then always have it come to pass is a sign of a prophet. However, just one failure indicates that one is not a prophet of God.

Jesus will not be freely walking with them much longer as he will be arrested in a few hours. This will limit how much more Jesus can tell them. The reason for this restriction, Jesus blames on the coming of the ruler of this world who is Satan the devil. Those who do not believe and thus are not born again are serving Satan, whether they are aware of it or not. This is true with Judas, who is being used by Satan to go to the Mount of Olives, bringing with him, those who will arrest Jesus.

In the past there have been threats on the life of Jesus, but in all cases he was able to escape because it was not his hour. However, this time when Judas comes with others to arrest Jesus, he will not attempt resist or escape but will yield to them because it is now the right time. Since Satan has no claim on Jesus, Jesus has to willfully surrender to him in order to be taken. Jesus will demonstrate this when that time comes.

The Father sent Jesus to earth to proclaim the gospel and then die on the cross to purchase our salvation. Jesus has effectively proclaimed and explained the gospel of grace as opposed to the condemnation of the law and now it is almost time to go to the cross where his work will be finished. This obedience to the Father signifies the love Jesus has for the Father.

After saying these things, Jesus indicates that their time together in the upper room has come to an end and it is now time to leave and make their way to the Kidron Valley and to the garden of Gethsemane. Matthew adds that they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

^{Mt 26:30} And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

As they walked together to this new location, Jesus will make good use of his time and shared more things with them as we will see in future lessons.

Conclusion

Our time with Jesus in the upper room has come to an end as Jesus must soon be in a particular location for Judas and those with him to arrest Jesus. It would have been easy for Jesus to go to a place where Judas could not find him, but in obedience to the Father, Jesus will keep the divine appointment and meet Judas at the designated location.