KJV John 18:1 “When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden…”
NASB John 18:1 “When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden…”
What must have been in His mind as He crossed the brook? One thousand years earlier, another King had crossed the same brook. His own son, Absalom, had risen up in rebellion. With a small but faithful band, David had made his way across that same brook as a rejected king.
But there, the similarities seem to end. Note how different it was for the Saviour. David crossed the brook to escape danger. The Lord Jesus, in crossing the brook and making His way to Gethsemane, was going to a place where He would be available for Judas to find Him.
When David crossed the brook, one of the many who met him was Ittai the Gittite. His wonderful expression of devotion to David still ranks as high praise throughout the centuries. “And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be” (2 Sam 15:21). In contrast — though there may have been professions of fidelity to the Lord, everyone forsook Him and fled.
As David crossed the brook, three faithful friends met him and provided all that was needed to refresh a weary people. Barzillai, Shobi, and Ammon, though likely not Israelites, displayed their loyalty through their abundant provision. Had Absalom been successful, the lives of these men would have been of little worth. What of our Saviour? His closest three fell asleep, failing to provide companionship or solace.
At a crucial moment in the drama, God provided David with a true and courageous friend, Hushai, the Archite (2 Sam 15:32). “David’s friend” – what a title to wear! And he was a true friend, returning to the court of Absalom and representing David’s interest in a hostile atmosphere, moving in the palace confines. The Lord Jesus had someone who moved in the palace court but denied Him. Peter had every intention of dying for his Lord, but when confronted with the danger, did not own Him. To the Lord’s “I am” (John 18:6) was added Peter’s “I am not” (v 17).
Finally, when the enemy was approaching, David was prevented from going out to battle. This time, it was the people who forestalled him by saying, “But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us” (2 Sam 18:3). In effect they said, you stay, and we will go. As the enemy came to apprehend Christ, His words were, “Take Me and let these go.” He gave Himself and shielded them —a faint picture of the work He would accomplish on the cross when He gave Himself to save us. The One Who is truly the Chiefest among Ten Thousand offered Himself.
David was a sufferer, a rejected king, and unjustly hounded. But David’s woes pale before the greater than David, Who suffered greater indignities, even before the cross, over the brook Cedron.
Consider
Can you find other contrast with Old Testament figures? For example, can you contrast the binding of the Lord Jesus (John 18:12), with the binding of an Old Testament Judge?