Peter's Story
A painting of Jesus finding Peter, James and John asleep in Gethsemane

Peter's Story · Event 17 of 38

Asleep in Gethsemane

The Last Night · Gethsemane

3 accounts of this passage

Mark 14:32–42

32They came to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus told his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." 33He took Peter, James, and John with him, and began to be greatly amazed and deeply distressed; 34He said to them, "My soul is crushed with grief — to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch." 35Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible, this hour might pass him by. 36"Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want." 37He came back and found them sleeping. "Simon, are you asleep?" he said to Peter. "Couldn't you keep watch for just one hour? 38Stay awake and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. 39He went away again and prayed, saying the same words. 40When he returned, he found them sleeping again — their eyes were so heavy they couldn't keep them open. They didn't know what to say to him. 41He came the third time and said to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest. It is enough; the hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners." 42Get up, let's go! My betrayer is here."

Read Mark 14
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About this event

What happened?

At a place called Gethsemane, Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and told them to keep watch while he prayed. He went a little farther and prayed that, if possible, the hour might pass from him. When he came back, he found them sleeping. “Simon, are you asleep?” he said. “Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” He came back a second time and found them sleeping again. The third time he said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? That is enough! The hour has come.”

Who is here?

Where did this happen?

Gethsemane

A place with a garden across the Kidron brook, at the Mount of Olives, where Jesus often went with his disciples.

Where this fits

Event 4 of 6 in The Last Night: Peter promises to die with Jesus, falls asleep in the garden, and denies him three times.

Good to know

The KJV reads “Sleep on now, and take your rest.” Luke tells this more briefly and does not name Peter.

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