Jesus' Gethsemane Prayers

Matthew 26:36-46

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane and said to the disciples, “Sit here, while I go and pray over there.” And he took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him, growing increasingly sad and depressed.

He said to them, “My soul is anguished, almost to death. Stay here and watch with me.” And he went a little beyond them, fell on his face, and prayed. He said, “O my Father, if it is possible, let me avoid this cup. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you desire.”

And he came to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me one hour? Watch, and pray that you don’t fall for temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

He left them the second time and prayed, saying, “O my Father, if this cup can’t be avoided and I must drink it, your will be done.”

And he came back again and found them asleep, for they were sleepy. He left them undisturbed, went away again, and prayed the same prayer a third time. Then he returned to his disciples and said to them, “Sleep on and take your rest. Look, the hour is here and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

“Get up. Let’s go. Look, my betrayer is here.”

Mark 14:32-42

And they came to the place named Gethsemane. He said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go pray.” He then took Peter, James, and John with him, as he began to be very sad and depressed. He said to them, “My soul is anguished, almost to death. Stay here and watch with me.”

And he went a little distance from them, fell on the ground and prayed, asking that if it were possible, he might avoid the hour at hand. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you want.”

And he came back, found them asleep, and said to son Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you stay alert one hour? Stay awake and pray, so you don’t fall into temptation. Truly, the spirit is ready, but the flesh is weak.”

And again, he left and prayed, making the same request. When he returned, he found them asleep again—for they were sleepy—and they were embarrassed and didn’t know what to say.

When he came back a third time, he said to them, “Sleep on now and take your rest. It’s enough. The hour has come. Look, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

“Get up; let’s go. Sure enough, the betrayer is here.”

Luke 22:40-46

And when he arrived, he said to them, “Pray that you don’t fall into temptation.”

And he went about a stone's throw away, kneeled down, and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will but your will be done.”

And an angel appeared to him from heaven, strengthening him. Agonizing, he prayed more earnestly and great drops of blood fell to the ground like sweat.

When he finished and came back to his disciples, he found them asleep because of their sadness, and said to them, “Why are you asleep? Get up and pray or you will fall into temptation.”