Gethsemane
Jesus prays, and Judas betrays him
This story includes an arrest and a sword wound.
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- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Story
What happened?
Tap a verse number, like , to read the Bible’s exact words.
Who’s who and what came beforePeople, places, and the story so far. Open it anytime.
Scene Card
Cast
- Jesus: The one the Gospels present as the promised Messiah and the Son of God. He has come to Jerusalem for the Passover feast.
- Peter, James, and John: Three of Jesus's closest disciples. James and John are brothers, the sons of Zebedee (4:21).
- The other disciples: Jesus's followers who ate the Last Supper with him that night.
- Judas Iscariot: One of the Twelve, the disciples Jesus chose to be closest to him.
- The crowd: Armed men sent by the chief priests and the elders of the people.
Setting
- Gethsemane, an olive garden on the Mount of Olives, outside the city walls of Jerusalem.
When
- Late at night, after the Last Supper, about 2,000 years ago. Jesus will be crucified the next day.
Before the Story
The Last Supper had ended. Jesus shared bread and a cup with his disciples. They sang a hymn and walked out to the Mount of Olives (26:26-30).
Jesus warned his disciples. He said they would all fall away that night. Peter said he never would. All the others said the same (26:31-35).
Judas had already made a deal. He asked the chief priests what they would give him to hand Jesus over. They paid him thirty pieces of silver (26:14-16).
Here's what you know that almost nobody in this story knows: this night is not the end. Jesus also made his disciples a promise: "But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee" (26:32). They heard it. You know it came true (28:7).
Map of the Story
| Scene | Verses | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The garden | 26:36-38 | Jesus is overwhelmed with sorrow and asks three disciples to keep watch |
| 2. The first prayer | 26:39 | Jesus asks his Father for another way |
| 3. Asleep | 26:40-41 | Jesus finds the disciples sleeping |
| 4. Three times | 26:42-44 | Jesus prays again. The disciples sleep again |
| 5. The betrayer arrives | 26:45-47 | Judas comes with an armed crowd |
| 6. The kiss | 26:48-50 | Judas greets Jesus with a kiss. Jesus is arrested |
| 7. The sword | 26:51-54 | A disciple cuts off a servant's ear. Jesus stops him |
| 8. Everyone ran | 26:55-56 | Jesus speaks to the crowd. All the disciples run away |
Plain Retelling
Scene 1 of 8The Garden
It was night. Olive trees grew on the side of a hill. Jesus and his disciples came to this place, called Gethsemane.
Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray" (26:36).
He took three of them farther with him: Peter, and James and John, the two sons of Zebedee.
Then Jesus began to be "sorrowful and deeply distressed" (26:37). Sorrowful means full of sadness. Distressed means very upset and troubled.
Jesus told the three disciples how he felt. "My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death" (26:38). He meant that the sadness was so heavy that it felt like it could kill him.
Then he asked them for help. "Stay here and keep watch with Me" (26:38).
Scene 2 of 8The First Prayer
Jesus went a little farther. He fell with his face to the ground and prayed.
"My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will" (26:39).
This is a comparison. The cup stands for the suffering and death that were coming to Jesus.
Jesus asked his Father honestly for another way. He also trusted his Father. He said both things in the same prayer.
Scene 3 of 8Asleep
Jesus came back to the disciples. They were asleep.
He spoke to Peter. "Were you not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?" (26:40).
Earlier that night, Peter had promised he would never fall away (26:33). Now he could not stay awake.
Jesus said, "Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation" (26:41). Here temptation means a hard test that could pull them away from God.
Then he said, "For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak" (26:41). Jesus meant that they wanted to do the right thing. But they were worn out. Luke says they were "exhausted from sorrow" (Luke 22:45).
Scene 4 of 8Three Times
Jesus went away a second time and prayed. "My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done" (26:42).
He came back. The disciples were sleeping again. Matthew says "their eyes were heavy" (26:43). This means they were very sleepy.
So Jesus left them. He went away a third time and prayed the same prayer again.
Jesus prayed alone. Peter, James, and John were only a short walk away, but they were asleep.
Halfway thereThis is a good place for a break. Your spot is saved on this device.
Scene 5 of 8The Betrayer Arrives
Jesus came back to them one more time. "Are you still sleeping and resting?" he asked (26:45).
"Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners" (26:45). "The hour" means the time for this to happen. "Son of Man" is a name Jesus used for himself. To betray means to turn against someone who trusted you.
Then Jesus told them to get up. "See, My betrayer is approaching" (26:46).
While Jesus was still speaking, Judas arrived. Matthew calls him "one of the Twelve" (26:47). A large crowd came with him, carrying swords and clubs. The chief priests and the elders of the people had sent them. Elders were older leaders of the community.
Scene 6 of 8The Kiss
Judas had set up a signal with the crowd. The man he kissed would be the one to arrest. One likely reason: it was night, and the crowd needed to know which man was Jesus.
Judas went straight to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi" (26:49). Rabbi means teacher. Then Judas kissed him. Back then, a kiss was a normal way to greet someone.
Jesus answered him. "Friend... do what you came for" (26:50).
Then the men stepped forward. They grabbed Jesus and arrested him.
The Bible doesn't tell us all of Judas's reasons. But remember: earlier, Judas had asked the chief priests what they would pay him. They gave him silver (26:14-15).
Scene 7 of 8The Sword
One of Jesus's disciples pulled out a sword. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off the servant's ear. The high priest was the chief leader of the temple in Jerusalem.
John's Gospel says the man with the sword was Peter. It says the servant's name was Malchus (John 18:10). Luke says Jesus touched the man's ear and healed him (Luke 22:51).
Jesus told the disciple, "Put your sword back in its place" (26:52). He warned, "For all who draw the sword will die by the sword" (26:52).
Then Jesus said he could ask his Father for help. His Father would send "more than twelve legions of angels" (26:53). A Roman legion was a large unit of soldiers, often about 6,000 men (Easton's Bible Dictionary). Twelve legions would be a huge army.
But Jesus did not call for them. He asked, "But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?" (26:54). The Scriptures were the holy writings of Israel. Jesus meant that the Scriptures said this must happen, so he would not stop it. He chose the way he had prayed about three times.
Scene 8 of 8Everyone Ran
Jesus turned to the crowd. "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw?" (26:55). An outlaw is a dangerous criminal. Jesus meant that he was not one.
Jesus said he had sat and taught in the temple courts every day. They had not arrested him there.
"But this has all happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled" (26:56).
Then the disciples ran.
"Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled" (26:56).
Earlier that night, Jesus had told them this would happen (26:31). Now it came true. None of his disciples stayed beside him.
But Jesus had also made them a promise. After he rose, he would go ahead of them into Galilee (26:32). His disciples had run away from him. But Jesus would meet them again.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "Sorrowful and deeply distressed" (26:37) | Jesus felt real sadness and distress. He was truly human. Feeling this way was not a sin (Hebrews 4:15). |
| "Let this cup pass from Me" (26:39) | The cup is a comparison. In the Old Testament, a cup sometimes stood for God's judgment on sin (Isaiah 51:17). Jesus was about to suffer and die. |
| "Not as I will, but as You will" (26:39) | Jesus told his Father what he wanted. Then he trusted his Father's plan. |
| "The spirit is willing, but the body is weak" (26:41) | Older Bibles say "the flesh is weak." Wanting to do right is not the same as having the strength to do it. Jesus named their weakness plainly and did not send them away. |
| "Friend... do what you came for" (26:50) | Jesus called Judas "friend," even as Judas betrayed him. Jesus did not fight back. |
| "Put your sword back in its place" (26:52) | Jesus would not let anyone fight to stop his arrest. He stopped the violence done for his sake. |
| "All the disciples deserted Him and fled" (26:56) | Every one of them ran away. Jesus faced the cross without his disciples. |
Back Then
Gethsemane means "oil press." It was an olive garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives (Easton's Bible Dictionary). To get there from Jerusalem, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley (John 18:1). John says Jesus often met there with his disciples, so Judas knew the place (John 18:2).
A legion was a unit of the Roman army. Its size changed over time. In Jesus's day it was about 6,000 soldiers (Easton's Bible Dictionary). So "more than twelve legions" would be more than about 72,000 angels.
A kiss was a common greeting. Friends and family greeted each other this way (Easton's Bible Dictionary).
Jesus and all his disciples were Jewish. So were Judas and the leaders who sent the crowd. John's Gospel says soldiers and their commander came too (John 18:3, 18:12). This story is not about Jewish people against Jesus's followers. It is about a few leaders, at one time and place, and about disciples who ran.
Literal Reader Alert
Was it wrong for Jesus to feel so upset? No. Sadness, fear, and distress are feelings, not sins. Jesus felt them fully. The letter to the Hebrews says Jesus prayed "with loud cries and tears" (Hebrews 5:7). It also says he "was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). If you feel overwhelmed, you are not a bad Christian. Jesus felt this way too.
If you feel this heavy a lot: You can pray about it, like Jesus did. Your prayer can be one word, like "Help." Talking to someone you trust helps too. A doctor or counselor can help if sadness or worry is making it hard to sleep, eat, or get through the day. Getting help is not a lack of faith. If this story brings up big feelings, talk with a parent, pastor, or trusted adult. If you are in danger right now, call 911 or your local emergency number. In the United States, you can also call or text 988 any time, day or night. Outside the United States, findahelpline.com lists free helplines.
Did God say no to Jesus's prayer? Jesus asked for another way, and the cross still came. Hebrews says Jesus "was heard" (Hebrews 5:7). Christians believe God's answer came three days later, when God raised Jesus from the dead. It's okay to notice things like this. Careful readers have asked about it for centuries.
Why did Judas do it? The Bible doesn't say everything. It tells us Judas asked the chief priests for money (26:14-16). We should not guess beyond that. For centuries, some Christians used Judas and this story to insult and blame Jewish people. That was wrong. The ELCA has said so and rejected it (1994 Declaration to the Jewish Community). Christians confess that Jesus went to the cross because of everyone's sins, including ours.
Does "all who draw the sword will die by the sword" mean every soldier or police officer will die violently? No. It is a warning that violence leads to more violence. Christians have thought about this line for a long time. Some believe Christians should never use violence. Lutherans have taught that governments may use force to protect people (Romans 13:4, Augsburg Confession, Article 16). But in the garden, Jesus would not let his disciples fight to stop the cross.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Jesus | Sorrowful and distressed | He knew suffering and death were coming (26:37-38) |
| Jesus | Alone | Peter, James, and John slept while he prayed (26:40, 26:43) |
| The disciples | Exhausted | They were worn out from sorrow (26:43, Luke 22:45) |
| The disciples | Likely afraid | Armed men arrested Jesus, and they all ran away (26:56) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
Which part of this story feels closest to you? Tap one.
Overwhelmed and scared
Jesus felt overwhelmed too. He told his disciples, and he told his Father. You can tell him too. He knows how that feels.
Let down by friends
Jesus's disciples fell asleep and then ran. He knows what that loneliness feels like. He promised, "I am with you always" (28:20).
I let someone down
The disciples ran away from Jesus. After he rose, he called them "My brothers" (28:10). He came back for them.
Prayers feel unanswered
Jesus prayed three times, and the cross still came. God heard him and raised him up. Keep telling God the truth.
It's really bad right now
Jesus told the truth about how he felt. You can too. Please tell a trusted adult today. If you are in danger, call 911 or your local emergency number. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 any time. Outside the U.S., findahelpline.com lists free helplines.
You Might Have Heard
"Don't be like the sleeping disciples. Try harder to stay faithful to Jesus."
What's true: Jesus did ask his disciples to watch and pray. Prayer matters, and he wants us close to him.
What the story is mainly about: Jesus stayed faithful when everyone else failed. His disciples slept, and he prayed. His disciples ran, and he stayed. The story does not end with better disciples. It ends with Jesus going to the cross for the ones who ran.
Where Jesus is: At the center of the story. He chose the cup, the suffering and death that were coming. "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
Good News
Jesus knows what it is like to be overwhelmed, sad, and alone. The letter to the Hebrews says Jesus understands our weakness because he lived a human life too (Hebrews 4:15). So we can "approach the throne of grace with confidence" (Hebrews 4:16). This means we can come to God in prayer without fear.
His disciples ran away. Jesus did not. After he rose, he did not call them failures. He called them "My brothers" (Matthew 28:10).
Jesus stayed when everyone else ran, and he did it for them and for you.
Big Idea
In Gethsemane, God's Son told his Father the truth about his sorrow, then chose the cross for disciples who slept and ran.
If this story brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
In the Small Catechism, Luther explains the prayer "Your will be done." He teaches that God's good and gracious will happens even without our prayer. We pray that it will happen among us too. Luther also says how this happens. God breaks and stops every evil plan that would keep us from honoring his name and from his kingdom. And God keeps us strong in his Word and in faith until the end of our lives. In Gethsemane, Jesus prayed the same words, "may Your will be done" (26:42), and trusted his Father.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. In Year A, it reads Matthew's story of Jesus's suffering and death on the Sunday of the Passion. That Sunday is also called Palm Sunday. The reading starts at Matthew 26:14. Mark's and Luke's tellings are read on that Sunday in Years B and C. Some churches use a shorter reading that starts at Matthew 27:11 and leaves out Gethsemane.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Yet not as I will, but as You will.
How did that feel?