After the last Passover, Jesus takes His followers to a garden called Gethsemane. He prays three times to be released from the required suffering. Jesus has faced all death threats with calmness and courage. Yet this death holds much more terror than any other possible death.
Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:38-39).
An angel strengthens Him, but brings no message of relief. So Jesus prays “more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44). Jesus then arises to meet the police, led by the betrayer, Judas. Peter strikes out to stop the arrest.
“Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” (Matthew 26:52-54).