Jesus Prays Alone^(A)

³² Jesus and his followers went to a place named Gethsemane. He said to them, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ But he told Peter, James, and John to come with him. He began to be very distressed and troubled, ³⁴ and he said to them, “My heart is so heavy with grief, I feel as if I am dying. Wait here and stay awake.”

³⁵ Jesus went on a little farther away from them, fell to the ground, and prayed. He asked that, if possible, he would not have this time of suffering. ³⁶ He said, “ Abba,^[a] Father! You can do all things. Don’t make me drink from this cup.^[b] But do what you want, not what I want.”

³⁷ Then he went back to his followers and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, why are you sleeping? Could you not stay awake with me for one hour? ³⁸ Stay awake and pray for strength against temptation. Your spirit wants to do what is right, but your body is weak.”

³⁹ Again Jesus went away and prayed the same thing. ⁴⁰ Then he went back to the followers and again found them sleeping. They could not stay awake. They did not know what they should say to him.

⁴¹ After Jesus prayed a third time, he went back to his followers. He said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? That’s enough! The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to the control of sinful men. ⁴² Stand up! We must go. Here comes the man who is handing me over to them.”

Jesus Prays Alone^(A)

^39-40 Jesus left the city and went to the Mount of Olives. His followers went with him. (He went there often.) He said to his followers, “Pray for strength against temptation.”

⁴¹ Then Jesus went about 50 steps away from them. He knelt down and prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, please don’t make me drink from this cup.^[a] But do what you want, not what I want.” ⁴³ Then an angel from heaven came to help him. ⁴⁴ Jesus was full of pain; he struggled hard in prayer. Sweat dripped from his face like drops of blood falling to the ground.^{[b] 45} When he finished praying, he went to his followers. He found them asleep, worn out from their grieving. ⁴⁶ Jesus said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray for strength against temptation.”