d the eleven apostles went forth from the house in which they
had eaten, passed through the city gate, which was usually left open at
night during a public festival, crossed the ravine of the Cedron, or
more accurately Kidron, brook, and entered an olive orchard known as
Gethsemane,[1232] on the slope of Mount Olivet. Eight of the apostles He
left at or near the entrance, with the instruction: "Sit ye here, while
I go and pray yonder"; and with the earnest injunction: "Pray that ye
enter not into temptation." Accompanied by Peter, James and John, He
went farther; and was soon enveloped by deep sorrow, which appears to
have been, in a measure, surprizing to Himself, for we read that He
"began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy." He was impelled to deny
Himself the companionship of even the chosen three; and, "Saith he unto
them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here,
and watch with me. And he went a little farther, 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." Mark's version
of the prayer is: "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take
away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou
wilt."[1233]

This part of His impassioned supplication was heard by at least one of
the waiting three; but all of them soon yielded to weariness and ceased
to watch. As on the Mount of Transfiguration, when the Lord appeared in
glory, so now in the hour of His deepest humiliation, these three
slumbered. Returning to them in an agony of soul Jesus found them
sleeping; and addressing Peter, who so short a time before had loudly
proclaimed his readiness to follow the Lord even to prison and death,
Jesus exclaimed: "What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and
pray, that ye enter not into temptation"; but in tenderness added, "the
spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." The admonition to the
apostles to pray at that time lest they be led into temptation may have
been prompted by the exigencies of the hour, under which, if left to
themselves, they would be tempted to prematurely desert their Lord.

Aroused from slumber the three apostles saw the Lord again retire, and
heard Him pleading in agony: "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away
from me, except I drink it, thy will be done." Returning a second time
He found those whom He had so sorrowfully requested to watch