When they reached a place called Gethsemane, he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." And he took Peter and James and John with him. Horror and dismay came over him, and he said to them, "My heart is ready to break with grief; stop here, and stay awake."
Then he went forward a little, threw himself on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, this hour might pass him by. "Abba, Father," he said, "All things are possible to thee; take this cup away from me. Yet not what I will, but what thou wilt."
He came back and found them asleep; and he said to Peter, "Asleep, Simon? Were you not able to keep awake for one hour? Stay awake, all of you, and pray that you may be spared the test: The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Once more he went away and prayed. On his return he found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy, and they did not know how to answer him.
The third time he came and said to them, "Still sleeping? Still taking your ease? Enough! The hour has come. The son of man is betrayed to sinful men. Up, let us go forward! My betrayer is upon us."
1 comment:
Suddenly finding myself in an allegorical mood I reflect that this is the perpetual condition of the Christian faith.
Jesus prays for another way while his disciples sleep. Meanwhile one his own followers betrays him into the hands of religious and secular authorities. Jesus gets crucified all over again.
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