The brook Cedron

 

18-19 The Deity of Christ dignified in suffering

Chapter 18   Christ arrested and charged unlawfully

·      18v1-11   Arrest in the garden

·      18v12-27 Arraignment before authorities

·      18v28-40 Accusations by tormentors

Arrest in the garden   18v1-11

1-2)  “When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered and his disciples.  And Judas also, which betrayed Him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with His disciples.”

We first focus on the phrase “Jesus went forth…”; this indicates purpose, yet another step on His mission.  He strides forth with resolve, as has been true of His entire life on earth, to carry out the will of His Father.  In chapter 14v31, He said with purpose, “…and as the Father gave me commandment, even so do I, arise let us go hence.”  Where He was going would be the first step of a series of events that would lead to the cross.  It begins here with the arrest in the garden.  He went with His disciples over the brook Cedron.  We know that names in the bible have very significant meaning and this is no different.  There are a number of references to Kidron (same word) in the Old Testament.  It means dark, dusky, gloomy, and has connotations of eerie darkness.  The tribe called Kedar were descended from Ishmael (Genesis 25v13); it was known that they were nomadic and that they dwelt in dark tents (Canticles 1v5).  They are referred to in Isaiah 21v16; 42v11; 60v7; Ezekiel 27v21. 

In Psalm 120v5, to dwell in the tents of Kedar was to be cut off from the presence of God.  All of this relates to the purpose of Christ as He moves over the brook, so called after the tribe of Kedar.  Associated with darkness, dwelling distant from God, this was the reason He must go forth, to dispel darkness, and to reconcile men to God.

The brook was associated with the destruction of idols: 1^st Kings 15v13 and 2^nd Kings 23v 6 and 12.  Kidron was the place where idols were crushed, and we know that Calvary was the place where all idolatry, including heart idolatry would receive the death blow.

2^nd Chronicles 29v16 it was the place where all the filth removed for cleansing was cast, into the turbulent fast flowing brook which emptied into the Dead Sea, and we can relate this to the work of the cross. 

By far, however, the most important connection comes from the law of first mention in 2^nd Samuel 15v23 when the treachery of Absalom toward his father was revealed, when King David was forced to flee over the Kidron to the mount of Olives and beyond.  Here we have a Son, in absolute loyalty and devotion to the will of His Father crossing the brook with purpose at His Father’s request.  They went into the garden-elsewhere called Gethsemane.  This was a favourite place of Jesus as He rested with His disciples, and Judas the traitor knew it well.  Jesus was no longer avoiding His enemies for the time had come, and He met it with courage.

Jeremiah 31v40  Kidron is associated with the permanent holiness of the people of God.

Psalm 110v7 He shall cross the brook again on His way to the east gate to enter the city as the Lord of glory.  It says there, “therefore shall He lift up the head”.  As He crossed the brook here, His head was down, not in discouragement, but in determined devotion.  When He comes in glory, He shall drink of the brook in satisfaction of a work well done, and He shall lift up the head, and symbolically the everlasting gates will lift up their heads to receive Him.