Gethsemane and the Arrest
After the meal they cross the Kidron to an olive grove. Jesus takes Peter, James and John further in and tells them his soul is overwhelmed to the point of death, then goes a little further and prays face down that the cup might pass — adding, three times, yet not what I will but what you will. Luke records sweat like drops of blood.
He comes back to find them asleep, three times. The rebuke is gentle: the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
Judas arrives with an armed detachment and identifies him with a kiss. Peter draws a sword and cuts off the ear of the high priest's servant — named in John as Malchus — and is told to put it away; Luke has Jesus heal the man. Then all the disciples desert him and run, one of them, in Mark, leaving his clothes behind.
Where in scripture
[36] Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go there and pray.” [37] He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled. [38] Then he said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me.” [39] He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.” [40] He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What, couldn’t you watch with me for one hour? [41] Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” …
Matthew 26:36–56 — opening verses
[32] They came to a place which was named Gethsemane. He said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I pray.” [33] He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be greatly troubled and distressed. [34] He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch.” [35] He went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him. [36] He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire.” [37] He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you watch one hour? [38] Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” …
Mark 14:32–52 — opening verses
[39] He came out, and went, as his custom was, to the Mount of Olives. His disciples also followed him. [40] When he was at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you don’t enter into temptation.” [41] He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and he knelt down and prayed, [42] saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” [43] An angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. [44] Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. [45] When he rose up from his prayer, he came to the disciples, and found them sleeping because of grief, [46] and said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” …
Luke 22:39–53 — opening verses
[1] When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. [2] Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. [3] Judas then, having taken a detachment of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. [4] Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were happening to him, went out, and said to them, “Who are you looking for?” [5] They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas also, who betrayed him, was standing with them. [6] When therefore he said to them, “I am he,” they went backward, and fell to the ground. …
John 18:1–11 — opening verses
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
