The night of Jesus' betrayal is a pivotal event in the New Testament, marking the beginning of the Passion of Christ. This event is recounted in all four Gospels: Matthew 26:17-56, Mark 14:12-52, Luke 22:7-53, and John 13:1-18:11. It encompasses the Last Supper, Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, and His arrest.

The Last Supper

The evening begins with the Last Supper, a Passover meal Jesus shares with His disciples. During this meal, Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper, a sacrament commemorating His impending sacrifice. In Matthew 26:26-28 , Jesus takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it, and gives it to His disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is My body." He then takes a cup, gives thanks, and offers it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."

Jesus also foretells His betrayal by one of the Twelve. In John 13:21 , He declares, "Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me." This revelation causes distress among the disciples, leading to a series of questions and denials, particularly from Peter, who insists he will never fall away.

The Garden of Gethsemane

After the meal, Jesus and His disciples go to the Garden of Gethsemane. Here, Jesus experiences profound anguish as He prays to the Father. In Matthew 26:39 , He prays, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will." This moment underscores Jesus' dual nature as both fully divine and fully human, as He submits to the Father's will despite His human desire to avoid suffering.

The disciples, meanwhile, struggle to stay awake, failing to support Jesus in His hour of need. Jesus admonishes them in Matthew 26:41 , saying, "Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

The Betrayal and Arrest

The night culminates in Judas Iscariot's betrayal. Having agreed to hand Jesus over to the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16), Judas arrives with a large crowd armed with swords and clubs. He identifies Jesus with a kiss, a prearranged signal, as recorded in Matthew 26:48-49 : "Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: 'The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him.' Going directly to Jesus, he said, 'Greetings, Rabbi,' and kissed Him."

Jesus responds to Judas with a poignant question in Matthew 26:50 , "Friend, do what you came for." This moment highlights Jesus' foreknowledge and His willingness to embrace His destiny for the sake of humanity's redemption.

As the crowd seizes Jesus, Peter attempts to defend Him by striking the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Jesus rebukes Peter, saying in Matthew 26:52-53 , "Put your sword back in its place. For all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you not think I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?"

The disciples, overwhelmed by fear and confusion, ultimately desert Jesus, fulfilling His earlier prediction that they would all fall away. This abandonment sets the stage for the subsequent trials and crucifixion of Jesus, events that are central to Christian theology and the understanding of salvation.