14:32-42 After their Passover meal, Jesus and his disciples came to a place which was named Gethsemane. The hour was very late, and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. Taking along Peter, James and John, 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." New International Version. The King James Version reads: "And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; and saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch." His friends' recent boasting about their unwavering loyalty to him, about their readiness to share his fate, will now be tested.
And Jesus went ahead, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He knew what lay ahead. With reverent tenderness, he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me. Yet despite his strong lament, he affirmed, Nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt, thereby proclaiming his obedience to God's will.
Going back to his disciples, Jesus found them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? Peter, who had been so vocal and confident about his loyalty, had not been able to "watch." The urgency of the moment is underscored as Jesus states, Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation, knowing that the spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
