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disciples and CROSSED THE KIDRON VALLEY. On the other side [on the Mount of Olives]
there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it." (18:1)

Whatever the EXACT location of the garden, the New Testament reveals that Christ was
arrested on the MOUNT OF OLIVES; and we have just seen that Roman custom was to crucify a
criminal AT THE PLACE OF HIS ARREST!

Furthermore, the Garden of Gethsemane was also the SCENE OF A "CRIME"! Notice
Luke 22:

He [Jesus] said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you
don't have a SWORD, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: 'And he was numbered
with the transgressors'; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is writ-
ten about me is reaching its fulfillment." The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are TWO
SWORDS." "That is enough," he replied. -- Verses 36-38.

Christ always forbade the carrying of weapons by His disciples; but when He was arrested
in the Garden of Gethsemane they had at least two swords in their possession. Why? To make
Christ appear as though He were indeed a "criminal," and by so doing the Garden became the
"scene of a crime" -- the crime of SEDITION against the Roman authorities.

We must also realize that there was a more serious charge against Christ than that of sedi-
tion -- TREASON!

Christ allowed Himself to be proclaimed king at the time of His triumphal entry into Jeru-
salem on what is now known as "Palm Sunday." And WHERE did He allow this to occur? ON
THE MOUNT OF OLIVES! Notice what Mark says: "As they approached Jerusalem and came to
Bethphage and Bethany AT THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, Jesus sent two of His disciples, saying to
them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which
NO ONE has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here"...When they brought the colt to Jesus and
threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others
spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
"Hosanna!" Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the COMING KING-
DOM OF OUR FATHER DAVID!" (11:1-2, 7-10).

Christ left no stone unturned to ensure that His death would occur AT THE SCENE of His
alleged criminal acts!

The final requirement according to Roman Law was also met. He was put to death at a
PROMINENT LOCATION for all to see. At that time of year, just prior to the Passover, the road
leading into the EAST GATE of the Temple from the villages of Bethphage and Bethany, was
probably the busiest in all of Jerusalem. Countless numbers of people were passing by with their
Passover lambs under their arms or over their shoulders as they headed to the Temple for the ritual
slaughter.

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