“When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.” (John‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬-‭2‬)

Here, John describes the Garden of Gethsemane as 1) across the Kidron Valley, meaning on the east side of the valley, and 2) a place that Jesus frequented with his disciples.

I suspect that Judas initially took the soldiers to the upper room, only to find it abandoned. Quickly gathering his thoughts, Judas knew where Jesus would be because he had been there with Jesus before. Admittedly, the fruitless trip back to the upper room is conjecture; Judas may have already realized they would be gone and went directly to the garden. But finding the upper room empty adds pressure to the storyline because Judas had an agreement to fulfill. Regardless, John tells us that Judas “knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.” (2)

The point of regularity is what stands out to me in this passage. Although that consistency aided Judas in his evil pursuit, I still see it as a good thing, and something I want to mark my own life with. I believe spontaneity can be a great strength, and consistency in some things is also essential.

One of the things I have tried to build as a constant in my life is completing this chapter-per-day devotional. With God’s help, today marks the 975th day in a row that I have read a chapter of the Bible devotionally. This practice doesn’t make me a hero; it simply shapes my life and establishes some landmarks for my life. Ninety-nine percent of the time, I have completed this reading before getting out of bed because I want God’s word to be the guide for my day. I don’t think it is a sin to read the Bible later in the day, but I want to make sure the busyness of the day doesn’t eat up my basic Bible time. (I read/study the Bible in addition to the morning devotional time, but admittedly, not every day.)

There are other things that I want to be regular things that I’m known for, but not for my glory. I have friends who are quick and automatic to pray when someone shares a burden. I have other friends who are consistent encouragers. And others, who automatically help the disadvantaged. These are all great things to be known for, as Jesus was known for spending time in the garden meeting with his disciples.

Father, help me to grow markers of consistency in my life. Help me to be a dependable intercessor. Help others see consistency in my life such that they can have confidence in me. Amen.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬-‭5‬).

The disciples need important guidance to move forward, and Jesus is intentionally providing it.

The setting is so important. Remember, in a few hours, Jesus will be forcefully separated from the disciples, and then hours later, they will see him publicly crucified. Their world is about to be shattered in ways they can’t imagine, and they will have to make some important decisions about following Jesus.

In a few hours, Jesus’s command to abide/remain in him will be difficult to understand. How can they abide in one who is going away? How can we abide in one whom we have never seen? Jesus’s next statement escalates the value of abiding: “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (5)

According to Jesus, the disciples will not be able to bear fruit without abiding in Jesus. This is so counterintuitive. The natural mind will suggest that we don’t need Jesus to bear good fruit. A few years ago, a Harvard Divinity School graduate published Good Without God. In this apologetic for humanism, he argued that humans do not need a belief in God to do good. Notice that Jesus’s statement is much narrower. Jesus isn’t arguing for generic deism; he is talking about exclusively abiding in him. Apart from him, the disciples will not be able to produce fruit.

Jesus challenged the innate belief that in ourselves we are good enough. But on whose scale? How do we measure “good enough”? Whatever natural abilities the disciples had – and, like us, they must have had some – Jesus said they were not enough to produce the fruit Jesus is referencing.

This lesson may need to percolate in our souls before we can embrace it.

Father, please help me realize that I can not produce fruit on my own. Help me to get over my self-appreciation and abide in Jesus. Amen.