When Jesus and his disciples came
to a certain place called Gethsemane, he said to them, "Sit here
while I pray"; but he took with him Peter and James and John. And as
he suffered greatly from deep sorrow, he said to them, "My heart is
heavy with sadness. Stay here and watch." Then he went forward a
short distance and threw himself on the ground and prayed that if
possible he might be spared this agony, saying, "Father, with thee
all things are possible. Take away this cup of agony from me. Yet
not my will, but thy will be done."
When he came back, he found his disciples asleep; and he said to
Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch for one hour?
Watch and pray that you may overcome temptation. The spirit indeed
is willing, but the body is weak." Again he went away and prayed the
same prayer. And when he returned, again he found them asleep, for
they were very drowsy; and they did not know what to say to him.
Then he came the third time and said to them, "Sleep on now and take
your rest. It is enough; the hour has come; already the Son of Man
has been betrayed into the hands of wicked men. Rise, let us go; for
here is the one who has betrayed me."
While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came up,
followed by a mob with swords and clubs, who had come from the high
priests and the scribes and the elders. Judas had arranged a signal:
"He whom I shall kiss," he said, "is the man. Take him, and lead him
away without letting him escape." As soon as he came, he went up to
Jesus, saying, "Master," and kissed him. Then they seized Jesus and
took him; but one of those who were with him drew his sword, and,
striking the servant of the high priest, cut off his ear. Jesus
turned and said, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to seize
me as you would a robber? Day after day I have been with you
teaching in the Temple, yet you never seized me."
Then Jesus' disciples left him and fled. One young man, however,
followed him with only a linen sheet thrown about him; but when the
men tried to seize him, he left the linen sheet and fled away naked.
The mob led Jesus away and brought him to the house of the high
priest. Peter followed at a distance, and when they had kindled a
fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, he too
sat down among them. A certain maid, seeing him there by the
firelight, looked at him closely and said, "This man also was with
him." But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know him." After a
little while another person who saw Peter said, "You too are one of
them"; but he said, "Man, I am not."
About an hour later another man said, "Certainly this fellow also
was with Jesus, for he is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do
not know what you are talking about." Immediately while he was still
speaking, the cock crowed. And Jesus turned and looked straight at
Peter. Then Peter remembered how the Lord had said to him, "Before
the cock crows to-day you will deny me three times." And Peter went
out and wept bitterly.