Did you ever notice the word “garden” in John 18:1? – “After He finished saying these words, Yeshua went out with His disciples across the Kidron stream and entered… into a garden.”
Which garden was this? – The Garden of Gethsemane.
What “words” had Yeshua just finished saying? – The prayer of John 17.
Yeshua prayed for His disciples to be unified, glorified and protected in this world, since He was leaving to return heavenward.
Yeshua prayed this magnificent prayer for His disciples, presumably on Mount Zion, and then crossed the Kidron valley to pray the blood-sweating prayer of Gethsemane. The two prayers were approximately an hour apart. There is a spiritual connection between them.
The prayer of Gethsemane, “Not My will but Your will be done” – Matthew 26:39, was a response to the prayer of John 17. He dedicated Himself to obedience, even unto death on the cross and descent into hell, in order that His prayer for His disciples would be fulfilled.
This most intense evening included:
- Arriving at Mount Zion upper room
- Eating the Passover together
- Cutting the Lord’s Supper covenant
- Praying the John 17 prayer
- Crossing the Kidron
- Entering garden of Gethsemane
- Praying the “Not My will” prayer
- Being arrested
- Taken before High Priest
- Taken before Pilate
Let’s shorten this to:
- Passover
- Lord’s Supper
- John 17
- Gethsemane
- Crucifixion.
Yeshua was crucified in order to fulfill all the glorious things He prayed for His disciples in John 17. In Gethsemane He prayed to be willing to sacrifice Himself in order to fulfill the John 17 prayer. His prayer for our glorious destiny demanded His prayer for total dedication, which led to His being crucified for us.
Immediately after this prayer, the soldiers came to arrest Him. He was so filled with holiness and power, that when He said to them, “I am He,” the soldiers fell down backwards (John 18:6). When we pray together with Yeshua the prayers of John 17 and Gethsemane, in dedication and love, great power will be released for the kingdom of God as well.
Asher serves as president of Tikkun Global family of ministries and congregations, dedicated to the dual restoration of Israel and the Church. He is founder of the Revive Israel five-fold ministry team, and oversees both Ahavat Yeshua and Tiferet Yeshua congregations in Israel.
He and his wife Betty share a passion for personal prayer and devotion, local evangelism and discipleship in Hebrew, and unity of the Body of believers worldwide.
Asher was raised in a conservative Jewish home and holds degrees from Harvard University, Baltimore Hebrew College and Messiah Biblical Institute. He has authored numerous books, tracts and articles.