CHRIST AGAIN FORETELLS PETER'S THREE DENIALS

IN GETHSEMANE PRAYS WHILE APOSTLES SLEEP—THE SPIRIT WILLING, THE FLESH WEAK —JUDAS AND CROWD WITH WEAPONS FIND JESUS

A.D. 30. Age 33. Mount of Olives. Gethsemane.

Matthew 26:30-47; Mark 14:26-43; Luke 22:39-47; John 18:1-9.

+ WHEN they had sung a hymn, Jesus came out; and he went as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples followed him. Then saith Jesus unto them,

All ye shall be offended † because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

But after that I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

Peter answered, Although all shall be offended because of thee, yet will not I. I will never be offended. Jesus saith unto him,

Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.

But Peter spake the more vehemently, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee in any wise. Likewise said they all.

They came to a place named Gethsemane, over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which Jesus entered and his disciples. And he said unto them,

Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

He was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast; with him Peter, James, and John. Then saith he unto them,

My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

He went forward a little, and kneeled, and prayed,

Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee: Father, if it be possible, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. ‡

Being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood.

And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping. He saith unto Peter,

Simon, sleepest thou? What, couldest not thou watch with me one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Jesus went away the second time, and prayed,

O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

When he rose up, and was come to the disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said unto them,

Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

He went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words,

Father, take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

And he cometh the third time, and again he found the disciples asleep; and he saith,

Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough: behold, the hour is come; behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise up, let us be going: lo, he is at hand that doth betray me.

Judas knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.

Immediately, while Jesus yet spake, cometh Judas, and with him a multitude: a band of men from the chief priests and Pharisees; and the scribes and elders of the people, with lanterns and torches, and weapons: swords and staves.

Jesus knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them,

Whom seek ye?

They answered, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith,

I am he.

They went backward, and fell to the ground. Then asked he them again,

Whom seek ye?

They said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered,

I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way.

That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake,

Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

Footnotes

+ Much of interest can be gleaned from a comparison, paragraph by paragraph, of the texts of the several narrators, from this point to the end (Matthew 26:30 . .. Mark 14:26 . . .: Luke 22:39 . . .: John 18:1 . . .; and so on).

† . . . be offended: fall away, desert.

‡ Mark has it, ". . . nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt."

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