Luke 22:39 He came out and went, as his custom was, to the Mount of Olives. His disciples also followed him. 40 When he was at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you don’t enter into temptation.”
41 He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and he knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
43 An angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. 44 Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.
45 When he rose up from his prayer, he came to the disciples, and found them sleeping because of grief, 46 and said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
47 While he was still speaking, a crowd appeared. He who was called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus to kiss him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said to him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 A certain one of them struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
51 But Jesus answered, “Let me at least do this”—and he touched his ear, and healed him. 52 Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and elders, who had come against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you in the temple daily, you didn’t stretch out your hands against me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
God had revealed to Adam and Eve that Christ would enter into mortal combat with Satan. It would be through death that Christ would defeat death. Though this was the preordained plan: the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot…was foreordained before the foundation of the world, 1 Peter 1:19-20, it was still a difficult assignment to fulfill. Knowing his betrayal is coming, Jesus is pleading with the Father to find another way to secure our salvation. He is sweating blood. He is fighting the temptation to walk away. He is so distraught that the Father dispatches an angel from the Throne Room to strengthen Jesus.
And at the time of his greatest need he came to the disciples, and found them sleeping because of grief. Excessive sleep can be a symptom of depression. Imagine the emotional weight that the disciples were experiencing. Jesus had told them at supper that one of them would betray him. The high priest and Pharisees, the supposed religious leaders, would kill him. The disciples would be losing their companion, mentor, and friend. And, not only that, but Jesus had explained to them how Jerusalem would be surrounded by armies and the beautiful temple of God, the center of worship, would be destroyed. And, that, because they would also come under attack, they should arm themselves with a sword. Finally, Peter would be sifted by Satan. In short, their whole world was coming apart at the seams and Jesus would not be there to shepherd them through the hard times.
Returning to his disciples after prayer Jesus finds his closest companions asleep and then one of the handpicked apostles, Judas, after three intense years of training, betrays him. But even at his arrest, Jesus, thinking of others, restores the right ear of the high priest’s servant. Then turning to the high priest, captain of the temple, and to the elders, Jesus, calmly but defiantly confronts them. “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you in the temple daily, you didn’t stretch out your hands against me.”
Nothing catches God by surprise. Nothing is beyond God’s sovereign control. Before being led away Jesus acknowledges that his arrest and, ultimately his crucifixion was inevitable. Addressing the high priest he said, this is your hour and the power of darkness.