Gethsemane, Gabbatha, and Golgotha

Beware of the Crowd

Beware of the crowd.

One moment they cry, “Hosanna in the highest!”

“And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David…” (Matthew 21:9, KJV)

And the next—when the battle comes—where are they?

Gethsemane: The Place of Pressing

The disciples could not stay awake in Gethsemane.

“Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane… and saith… Tarry ye here, and watch with me.” (Matthew 26:36, 38, KJV)

Gethsemane means “oil press.” It is the place of crushing—the place where the great arena of agony (agonia) unfolds.

But the deepest place of battle was not at the entrance of the garden, where eight disciples remained. No—the battle pressed further in.

Jesus took Peter, James, and John deeper still.

“And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.” (Matthew 26:37, KJV)

They were called to watch and pray—but they slept.

“What, could ye not watch with me one hour?” (Matthew 26:40, KJV)

Meanwhile, Jesus stood alone in the place of agony:

“My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death…” (Matthew 26:38, KJV)

The Battle in the Garden

Satan sought to stop Him—to keep Him from the cross, from redemption, from Gabbatha, from Golgotha, from the very will of God.

“O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39, KJV)

Satan still seeks to keep us from God’s will today.

The first Adam failed in a garden.

“And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” (Genesis 2:15, KJV)

Yet when the serpent questioned God’s Word, Adam was silent.

“Yea, hath God said…?” (Genesis 3:1, KJV)

The Second Adam Prevails

But now, in another garden, the second Adam would not fail.

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22, KJV)

Jesus would accomplish the will of the Father.

“Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39, KJV)

Where Adam fell, Christ stood.

Gabbatha: The Place of Judgment

From Gethsemane, the path leads to Gabbatha—the place of trial, testing, and judgment.

“When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called… Gabbatha.” (John 19:13, KJV)

There, it appeared that Jesus was on trial.

But in truth, the government stood judged.

Pilate attempted to wash his hands of responsibility:

“I am innocent of the blood of this just person…” (Matthew 27:24, KJV)

Yet the One before him was the true Judge of all.

Golgotha: The Place of Victory

And then—Golgotha.

“And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull…” (Matthew 27:33, KJV)

There, Jesus won the victory.

He paid the price for the sins of the world—for every nation, every ruler, every soul.

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree…” (1 Peter 2:24, KJV)

At the cross, He declared the love of God:

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8, KJV)

He demonstrated the holiness of God and satisfied the judgment of God—for all:

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23, KJV)

For whosoever will—and whosoever will not:

“And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17, KJV)

Forsaken, Yet Faithful

Yet in that moment of fulfillment, Scripture records a sobering truth:

“But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.” (Matthew 26:56, KJV)

The crowd was gone.
The disciples fled.

But Jesus remained faithful.

The Finished Work

From Gethsemane…
to Gabbatha…
to Golgotha…

The battle was real.
The cost was great.
The victory was complete.

“It is finished…” (John 19:30, KJV)