Daily Devotional – Monday, June 29, 2026
Jesus, therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”
John 18:4 (NKJV)
We normally remember places because of the events that happened in them. A courtroom where justice was done. A hospital room where life began. A quiet cemetery where tears were shed. Now, two gardens are recorded in the Bible that forever changed the course of human history. The first was Eden, where sin entered the world. The second was Gethsemane, where Jesus willingly accepted the path that would lead Him to the cross. The questions asked in these two gardens reveal both humanity’s greatest need and God’s gracious answer.
From Eden to Gethsemane
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they hid among the trees they had once enjoyed without fear. Then the Lord called out, “Where are you?” God was not seeking information. He knew exactly where Adam was. The question invited Adam to step out of hiding and face the reality of what sin had done. Fellowship had been broken, fear had replaced peace, and shame had taken the place of innocence. The first garden reminds us that sin always damages our relationship with God and leaves us unable to restore it by our own efforts.
Centuries later, another garden became the setting for another question. Judas arrived with soldiers and officers to arrest Jesus. Knowing everything that was about to happen, Jesus did not retreat into the shadows or wait for anyone to discover him. He went forward and asked, “Whom are you seeking?” In Eden, humanity hid among the trees. In Gethsemane, among the trees, the Saviour stepped forward. Adam sought to escape the consequences of sin. Jesus, in total submission to the Father’s will, set out on the last leg of the race that would finish at Calvary, where the full price for sin would be paid.
A Tale of Two Gardens That Changed the World
Together, these two gardens tell one remarkable story. In Eden, God sought sinful humanity. In Gethsemane, it was sinful humanity that came looking for the sinless Son of God. The One who once called, “Where are you?” now stood before those who had come to seize Him. His arrest was no tragic interruption of God’s plan but a necessary part of it. Every step that followed took Him closer to the cross, where justice was met, mercy was extended, and the way back to God was opened for all who believe.
We cannot remain hidden among our failures when Christ has already stepped forward on our behalf. We cannot continue carrying guilt that He came to bear or keep our distance from the God who has taken the initiative to reconcile us to Himself. Today is a good day to leave behind whatever has kept us from wholehearted fellowship with God and gratefully embrace the salvation Christ secured for us through His death and resurrection.
Prayer
Dear Father, thank You for not leaving us without hope after what happened in Eden. Thank You for Jesus, who willingly stepped forward in Gethsemane and continued all the way to the cross for my salvation. Help me to always appreciate that love. Help me to trust You more and more each day and to live with a grateful heart for all You have done for me.
