The King in Agony (Good Friday)

Iron Works Church Phoenixville

Matthew 26:36-42 (NIV) (synthesis with Mark, Luke and John)

Matthew 26:36-42 (NIV) (synthesis with Mark, Luke and John)

Then Jesus went out across the Kidron valley as usual to the Mount of Olives with his disciples following Him to a place called Gethsemane where there was a garden, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray,” and “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”

He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee James and John along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Going a little farther, he withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father Abba Father, everything is possible for you. If it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.

And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Then he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon, Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

He went away a second time and prayed the same thing, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”