John 18:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.

NIV: When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.

NASB: When Jesus had spoken these words, He went away with His disciples across the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden which He entered with His disciples.

CSB: After Jesus had said these things, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.

NLT: After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees.

KJV: When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.

NKJV: When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.

The words Jesus has just spoken include the High Priestly Prayer (John 17) as well as His final teachings to the disciples at the Last Supper (John 13—16). During feast days (Deuteronomy 16:16), Jerusalem was overcrowded, so travelers would often camp nearby. Jesus and His followers are spending their nights in a grove on the Mount of Olives (Luke 21:37; John 18:2). Other Gospels identify this location as Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36).

Upcoming verses will explain how Judas will lead Jesus' enemies (John 11:57; 12:9–11) to this location. In an era without photography, even well-known figures could be difficult to identify in person. For this reason, those seeking to eliminate Christ needed Judas (Matthew 26:14–16) to indicate where to find Him, as well as point Him out to the arresting guards (John 18:2–3).

John notes that Jesus is in the Kidron brook on the way to the Mount of Olives; he will soon explain Jesus' betrayal by a friend. This echoes a similar moment in the life of David, who was also betrayed by a supposed ally, while crossing Kidron en route to the Mount of Olives (2 Samuel 15:23–31).

John 18:1–11 occurs after Jesus' High Priestly Prayer (John 17). The garden setting evokes both the beginning and end of human history (Genesis 2:8; Revelation 22:1–5). Christ's obedience contrasts with the disobedience of Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45; Philippians 2:8; Genesis 3:12). Writing after the other Gospels were in circulation, John skips over Jesus' prayers in the garden (Matthew 26:36–46). Judas arrives to identify Jesus so He can be arrested. Christ provides a last demonstration of power before submitting to His enemies. Peter's maiming of a servant is mentioned, along with Jesus' rebuke of Peter, but not the healing of the servant's ear (Luke 22:50–51), or the disciples retreat (Matthew 26:56). David, also, experienced betrayal by a close ally while crossing Kidron on the way to the Mount of Olives (2 Samuel 15:23–31).

Jesus is secretly, quietly arrested in the garden of Gethsemane and taken to a series of sham trials before Jewish leadership. This leads to His encounter with the local Roman governor. Jesus accepts being described as "King" but denies that His current purpose is earthly rule. A mob assembled by Jesus' enemies reject Pilate's attempt to free Jesus. In the meantime, Peter fulfills Christ's prophecy about a three-fold denial.

John's Gospel was written well after the other three, so he frequently chooses to present different details. Chapter 17 detailed Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, just before He entered the garden of Gethsemane. This chapter describes Jesus' arrest, sham trials before Jewish leadership, and the beginning of His trial before the Roman governor. In the following chapter, Jesus will be unfairly condemned, executed, and buried.

The gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls “signs”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.