Then Jesus came with them into a country place which is called Gethsemani. And he said to his disciples: Sit you here, till I go yonder and pray.
τοτε ερχεται μετ αυτων ο ιησους εις χωριον λεγομενον γεθσημανη και λεγει τοις μαθηταις καθισατε αυτου εως ου απελθων προσευξωμαι εκει
9 Church Fathers comment on this verse
As the disciples remained closely connected to Christ, He instructed them, ‘Stay here while I go to pray.’ He often prayed in their absence, demonstrating how to quiet ourselves and achieve tranquility during prayer. Only three of His followers accompanied Him.
Gethsemane translates to "the most fruitful valley." It is the place where He instructed His disciples to remain seated for a time, awaiting His return, while He, the Lord, prayed earnestly for numerous intentions.
He withdrew to pray by himself, exemplifying that those who desire to pray sincerely should do so in solitude. He prayed as a human being, instructing others in their moments of distress to direct their minds toward God and to earnestly seek assistance.
Where are You going in haste at night, Lord? Not long ago, You advised Your disciples to journey during daylight and avoid the darkness: ‘He who walks by day does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world; but he who walks by night stumbles, because there is no light with him’ (John 11:9-10). I am concerned that any stumbling might befall You, that You might fall: ‘Let not when Your foot stumbles over a stone stumble’ (Ps. 90:12). ‘Thou stretchest out the darkness, and night cometh’ (Psalm 103:20). I anxiously ponder whether You, O Lamb of God, might encounter ravenous beasts, for ‘in it’ (in the night) ‘walk all the beasts of the forest, young lions roaring for prey’ (Psalm 103:21).
I worry You might succumb to some weakness, some illness, and then declare: ‘Sorrow and sickness have I acquired’ (Psalm 114:3). Thieves and wicked men move in the dark, and I am deeply fearful, Lord, lest You be wrongly perceived as one of them and say, ‘If He were not a villain, we would not have delivered Him to you’ (John 18:30), lest You be mistaken for a thief and placed among two robbers. But ‘blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ (Matt. 21:7). As You make Your journey, I greet You with the words the angel spoke to Gideon: ‘The Lord be with You, strong man! Go in this by your strength and save Israel’ (Judges 6:12, 14). Jesus enters the Garden of Gethsemane on a mission to uproot, to cleanse, and to eradicate the sinful thorns left by the first man in the original garden of Eden. Once, King Equir, weary of a feast, ventured into the garden to alleviate his boredom by admiring the lovely pathways, abundant vineyards, and fragrant gardens. Similarly, Christ the Savior rose from the supper where He had just imparted His most cherished Body and Blood to His disciples, already burdened with sorrow—‘Jesus was troubled in spirit’ (John 13:21)—and He proceeded into the garden. However, He found no solace there; instead of comfort, He faced even deeper anguish: ‘He began to grieve and to yearn.’
It was common for the Savior to commune with the Father in heaven through prayer. However, at this moment, He is preparing for a significant event. He leaves eight of His disciples in Gethsemane and takes only three—Peter, James, and John—into the garden to pray. These are the same disciples who witnessed His glory on the mount (Matt. 17:2) and to whom He disclosed His deeper mysteries more than to the others (Matt. 26:37; Matt. 10:3). The choice to bring only these three close to Him as He faces this monumental challenge highlights that this undertaking is a profound mystery, one whose complete understanding we cannot fully attain. Therefore, we must approach the meaning behind the few words shared by the Evangelists with reverence, seeking insights for our hearts and minds.
The Evangelists describe the Savior's anguish in Gethsemane with powerful language. According to St. Matthew, He began to experience deep sorrow and distress; St. Mark describes how He became overwhelmed and mournful; while St. Luke recounts His struggle, noting that His sweat was like great drops of blood falling to the ground (Luke 22:44).
To the east of Jerusalem lies a deep valley where the Kidron Stream flows, the very stream that the sorrowful David crossed while fleeing from his son Absalom. On the other side of this stream, at the base of the Mount of Olives, is the garden of Gethsemane. A few ancient olive trees remain, now enclosed by a humble stone boundary. This was a favored retreat for our Lord Jesus Christ and His disciples, a place where He frequently engaged in prayer with His Heavenly Father. After sharing the Last Supper with His apostles, He came here the night before His Passion: THEN COMES JESUS WITH THEM TO A PLACE CALLED GETHSEMANE.
In the paradise of delight, the garden of Eden witnessed the downfall brought about by the first Adam; conversely, the garden of Gethsemane marks the commencement of the redemptive sufferings of the second Adam, our Lord Jesus. The depth of His inner turmoil and mental anguish here was profound, preceding the physical torment He would endure in the courts of Annas and Caiaphas, in Pilate's Praetorium, and ultimately on Golgotha, upon the cross. Indeed, this was a night unparalleled in human history, characterized by the agonizing sufferings of the Saviour of the world, sufferings most intense and excruciating.... AND HE SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES, ‘SIT HERE WHILE I GO AND PRAY OVER THERE.'
The garden where Jesus and His disciples gathered was a cherished refuge for Him, a place He often sought for solitude away from Jerusalem. Mark the Evangelist records that this garden was located in a village known as Gethsemane (Mark 14:32), which is how the garden came to bear that name. Upon entering, Jesus instructed the Apostles to remain there, saying to them, "Sit here while I go and pray there."
Following this, Christ departed the city with His disciples and descended into the valley of the Kidron stream, making His way to the garden of Gethsemane. A portion of this garden still remains between the stream and the Mount of Olives, identified by several ancient olive trees, at least eight of which are believed to be over two thousand years old, serving as silent witnesses to the pivotal moments in the spiritual journey of Christ. Presently, the entire garden measures no more than fifty paces, but in earlier times it was much larger and renowned for its plentiful olives, which inspired its name (Gethsemane means the oil press). The trees, adorned with fresh, spring foliage, were illuminated by the moonlight casting its gentle rays through the branches.
An atmosphere of solemnity and peace enveloped the surroundings; even the birds rested contentedly among the lush branches beneath the starry heavens, where their heavenly Father watched over them. Rising behind was Mount Moriah, with its cultivated terraces ascending to the grand facade of the temple, while ahead, beyond the garden’s boundary, lay the slopes of Mount Olivet, concealing the cherished home of Bethany from sight. Christ was deeply contemplative about the trials ahead, longing for solitude to pour out His soul in prayer to God the Father.
The location known as Gethsemane was a garden situated on the eastern bank of the Kedar Stream, on the western slope of the Mount of Olives, overlooking Jerusalem. The term ‘Gethsemane’ translates to ‘oil press,’ likely due to the garden being an olive grove where olives and oil were processed. It is reasonable to believe that this garden was owned by someone who had the Lord’s favor. Christ instructed His disciples to remain there as He went off to pray, remarking, “Sit here, while I go and pray there.” Since the disciples were always in His company, He often withdrew to pray alone, teaching us the importance of silence and stillness in our own prayers (Chrysostom).
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 21 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS