Jesus went to the garden to pray
After the Passover meal, Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He took Peter, James, and John with him further into the garden, while the other disciples remained nearby. Then he withdrew to pray (Matthew 26:36-37).
Jesus was not calm or detached as he faced what was coming. He told his friends that he was overwhelmed with sorrow, then prayed alone. Gethsemane shows his real humanity. He knew pain, dread, and grief, and he brought all of it honestly before the Father (Matthew 26:38-39).
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
He submitted to the Father’s will
Jesus spoke of the coming suffering as a cup and asked whether, if it were possible, it might pass from him. In Scripture, a cup can picture suffering or judgement. But Jesus did not turn away from the Father’s purpose. He placed the Father’s will above his own desire to avoid the cross (Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42).
This was not helpless resignation. Jesus faced the cross knowingly and willingly, even while the cost weighed heavily on him. Luke records that an angel strengthened him during this intense time of prayer (Luke 22:43-44).
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
The disciples fell asleep
Jesus asked Peter, James, and John to stay awake and pray, but each time he returned, he found them sleeping. They were exhausted and did not grasp how quickly the night would change. Jesus warned them to watch and pray because people can sincerely want to do what is right while still being weak (Matthew 26:40-41).
It is a painfully human scene. Jesus was carrying unbearable sorrow, and his friends could not remain awake beside him. Yet their failure was not the end of their story. Peter later denied Jesus, but the risen Jesus restored him and gave him work to do (John 21:15-17).
Judas betrayed Jesus and he was arrested
While Jesus was still speaking, Judas arrived with a crowd carrying swords and clubs. Judas identified Jesus with a kiss, a gesture of friendship used here for betrayal. Jesus did not answer betrayal with violence. When one of his followers struck the high priest’s servant, Jesus stopped the attack and healed the injured man (Matthew 26:47-50; Luke 22:50-51).
John’s Gospel says Jesus stepped forward and identified himself to those who had come to arrest him. The soldiers drew back and fell to the ground. Jesus was not taken because he lacked power, but because he chose to fulfil the Father’s saving purpose (John 18:4-6).
Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.