In the Garden
This is where Jesus went after the last supper. He took some of his disciples with him and told them to keep watch because he knew he was going to be arrested.
However, the disciples slept while Jesus prayed.
More
The Garden of Gethsemane is at the foot of the Mount of Olives. It is more of an orchard than a garden and looks back at the eastern wall of the City of Jerusalem. In Jesus’ day it was a busy olive press. The word Gethsemane comes from the Hebrew word ‘gat’, meaning ‘press’, and ‘semane’, meaning oil.
Today it still contains olive trees that date back to 2000 years ago when Jesus was there.
The struggle
How would you feel if you knew that you were about to die a terrible death? You would try anything to avoid it.
Jesus knew what was going to happen to him and he asked God his Father to let him avoid it if possible.
However, the most amazing statement he said next was ‘Yet not what I will, but what you will.’
Dig deeper
Jesus told his disciples to keep a look out while he prayed. But they fell asleep! They were not aware of what was about to happen.
Jesus was distressed as he prayed to his Father, God, but he was willing to go through with it for our sake. It was the only way we could be forgiven.
The Bible says
Mark 14:32-37; 39-42
They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,’ he said to them. ‘Stay here and keep watch.’
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping.
Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
Returning the third time, he said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!’