Matthew 26:36-38: Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, Sit here while I go and pray over there. And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.
Christ had apparently met frequently with the disciples at Gethsemane, a garden less than ten-minutes walk from Jerusalem's Golden Gate. Still there today, the Gethsemane which means "oil press" was a place of ancient olive trees. Probably an oline oil press was in that location at the bottom of the Mount of Olives. The trees today have a large iron fence protecting them from tourists. The Church of All Nations, as was mentioned earlier, is on the right side of Gethsemane.
Jesus took with him the inner circle of disciples (Peter, James, John) who had also been at the Transfiguration. He left the others in the Garden, and with them in a nearby location the immensity of the Cross caused Him to be sorrowful and distressed in His soul. He asks the disciples to stay with him as the sorrow seemed like death itself. He wanted them to watch with Him.
I receive daily reports on a dear friend and fellow member of the Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions who is gravely ill. His wife, who has served for years in nursing, is at his side. She is so thankful for those who watch with her during this extremely difficult time. You can read the tears through the daily reports that are often written in medical terminology, yet express the pathos of the moment. It is a comfort to have others watch with you during a time of great sorrow. Jesus wanted that comfort from Peter, James, and John, yet He was to be denied any sort of resource for the task that would be completed by His death on the Cross. Look ahead to verse 40--they fell asleep at this crucial moment!
Jesus truly bore our sins alone. Rise up and shout Hallelujah to our Great Savior!
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