227 Jesus Praying in Gethsemane

Matthew 26:3645; Mark 14:3241; Luke 22:4046; John 18:1
Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. Luke 22:42

Jesus led His disciples to a garden of olive trees called Gethsemane, where He instructed them, "Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder" (Matthew 26:36). Then He went farther into the garden, taking Peter, James, and John, whom He asked to wait nearby and watch while He withdrew to pray (see Matthew 26:3738; Mark 14:3233; Luke 22:4041; John 18:1).

Jesus' soul was filled with sorrow. Knowing that the time had come when He must suffer great agony to atone for the sins of the world, Jesus fell to the ground and prayed, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" (Matthew 26:39; see also Matthew 26:38; Mark 14:3436; Luke 22:4142).

An angel from heaven appeared to Jesus, "strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground" (Luke 22:4344).

Then Jesus arose from prayer and went back to Peter, James, and John, who were sleeping. He said to Peter, "What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation" (Matthew 26:4041; see also Mark 14:3738; Luke 22:4546).

Again Jesus went to pray, and again He returned to the three Apostles and found them asleep (see Matthew 26:4243; Mark 14:3940). "[Then] he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time. ... Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners" (Matthew 26:4445; see also Mark 14:41).

In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus suffered for our sins.

Summary

Following the Last Supper, Jesus and His Apostles went to the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus went off by Himself to pray. He knew that the time had come for Him to suffer for the sins of the world. He prayed that He might not have to experience such suffering but told Heavenly Father that He would do the Father's will. Jesus prayed more earnestly, and He sweat great drops of blood as He atoned for our sins. Jesus had asked Peter, James, and John to wait nearby and watch while He prayed, but they were unable to stay awake. When Jesus finished praying, He came to them and told them that He was about to be taken away by wicked men.

Artist, Harry Anderson

© 2002 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA