Gethsemane and the Arrest

After the meal, Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives, to a place called Gethsemane. He takes Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him: “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; stay here, and watch with me.” Falling on his face, he prays: “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me! Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Three times he prays, and three times he finds his disciples asleep: “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Then Judas arrives with a crowd armed with swords and clubs and gives the agreed-upon signal: a kiss. One of the disciples cuts off the ear of the high priest’s servant — it was Peter, John tells us (John 18:10) — but Jesus stops him: “All who take the sword will perish by the sword.” Then all the disciples abandon him and run away.