Reviewing some photos from our trips to Israel caused me to reflect on the things that took place as Jesus was arrested, falsely tried, crucified and raised from the dead.

On Thursday, Jesus gathered with His disciples in an upper room for the Passover meal.   During this “Last Supper” He gave them an example of how they are to serve others in humility when He washed the disciples’ feet.  He also instituted the “Lord’s Supper” during this meal as He told them about His betrayal.  It was during this time Jesus said to Peter, “before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

Following this Jesus shared some amazing truths with His disciples which I’d encourage you to read in John 14-16, and John gives us an eyewitness account of Jesus’ prayer for the disciples and for us in John 17.

Jesus led His disciples from the upper room, across the Kidron Valley to the Garden of Gethsemane where He prayed in agony as He anticipated His betrayal and crucifixion (Matthew 26:36-56).

While in Israel, we got to spend some additional time in the Garden of Gethsemane to pray.  It was humbling and an incredible blessing to be in the place where Jesus prayed just prior to His arrest.

One of the amazing things our tour guide shared with us is the “blood clover” that grows in the Garden of Gethsemane. The clover has tiny red spots in the leaves that look like droplets of blood. He explained that it only grows naturally in three places; in the Garden where Jesus’ sweat was mingled with blood as He prayed, by the house of Caiaphas where Jesus was tried and beaten and near the Empty Tomb!