Crossing the Kidron
- Asher Intrater
- Jul 31
- 2 min read
Tikkun Global
Jerusalem, Israel

Did you ever notice the word “garden” in John 18:1? – “After He finished saying these words, Yeshua went out with His disciples across the Kidron stream and entered… into a garden.”
Which garden was this? – The Garden of Gethsemane.
What “words” had Yeshua just finished saying? – The prayer of John 17.
Yeshua prayed for His disciples to be unified, glorified and protected in this world, since He was leaving to return heavenward.
Yeshua prayed this magnificent prayer for His disciples, presumably on Mount Zion, and then crossed the Kidron valley to pray the blood-sweating prayer of Gethsemane. The two prayers were approximately an hour apart. There is a spiritual connection between them.
The prayer of Gethsemane, “Not My will but Your will be done” – Matthew 26:39, was a response to the prayer of John 17. He dedicated Himself to obedience, even unto death on the cross and descent into hell, in order that His prayer for His disciples would be fulfilled.
This most intense evening included:
Arriving at Mount Zion upper room
Eating the Passover together
Cutting the Lord’s Supper covenant
Praying the John 17 prayer
Crossing the Kidron
Entering garden of Gethsemane
Praying the “Not My will” prayer
Being arrested
Taken before the High Priest
Taken before Pilate
Let’s shorten this to:
Passover
Lord’s Supper
John 17
Gethsemane
Crucifixion
Yeshua was crucified in order to fulfill all the glorious things He prayed for His disciples in John 17. In Gethsemane He prayed to be willing to sacrifice Himself in order to fulfill the John 17 prayer. His prayer for our glorious destiny demanded His prayer for total dedication, which led to His being crucified for us.
Immediately after this prayer, the soldiers came to arrest Him. He was so filled with holiness and power, that when He said to them, “I am He,” the soldiers fell down backwards (John 18:6). When we pray together with Yeshua the prayers of John 17 and Gethsemane, in dedication and love, great power will be released for the kingdom of God as well.