Luke 22:39-46 - Exposition

The agony in the garden. This eventful scene is recounted in detail by all the three synoptists. St. Matthew's account is the most complete. St. Mark adds one saying of the Lord's containing a deep theological truth, "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee." These remarkable words, occurring as they do in the midst of the most solemn scene of prayer in the Redeemer's earth-life, tell of the vast possibilities of prayer. What may not be accomplished by earnest supplication to the throne of grace?

St. Luke's account is the shortest, but it contains the story of the angelic mission of help, and the additional detail of the "bloody sweat."

St. John alone of the four omits the scene; but, as in other most important recitals where he refrains from repeating the story of things thoroughly known in his Master's Church at the period when he committed his Gospel to writing, he takes care, however, often to record some hitherto unrecorded piece of the Lord's teaching, which is calculated to throw new light upon the momentous twice and thrice told incident, the story of which he does not deem it necessary to repeat. So in John 2:1-25 . he throws a flood of light upon Christian baptism. John 6:1-71 . is a Divine commentary on the Holy Eucharist. While in Luke 12:23-28 he gives us, in his Master's words, a new insight into that awful sorrow which was the source of the agony in Gethsemane.

Canon Westcott suggests that the succession of the main events recorded by the four evangelists was as follows:—

Approximate time

The Event

1 a.m

The agony. The betrayal. The conveyance to the high priest's house, probably adjoining "the Booths of Hanna."

2 a.m

The preliminary examination before Annas in the presence of Caiaphas.

About 3 a.m

The examination before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin at an irregular meeting at "the Booths."

About 5 a.m

The formal sentence of the Sanhedrin in their own proper place of meeting—Gazith or Beth Midrash ( Luke 22:66 ; Matthew 27:1 , πρωΐ́ας γενομένης ; comp. Mark 15:1 ; Luke 22:66 , ὡς ἐγένετο ἡμυέρα . The first examination before Pilate at the palace.

5.30 a.m

The examination before Herod. The scourging and first mockery by the soldiers at the palace.

6.30 a.m

The sentence of Pilate ( John 19:14 , ὥρα ἦν ὡς ἕκτη ).

7 a.m

The second mockery of the condemned "King" by the soldiers.

9 a.m

The Crucifixion, and rejection of the stupefying draught ( Mark 15:25 , ἦν ὥρα τρίτη ) .

12 noon

The last charge.

12-3 p.m

The darkness .

3 p.m

The end.