WEAK THINGS
Go deeper
Gethsemane0/7

Scripture Story Sketch Notes · Luke 22:39–51; Matthew 26:36–46; John 18:1–11

The Garden of
Gethsemane

“Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42

An olive garden at night, three tired friends, an angel from heaven, and a prayer that changed everything. Walk quietly, and watch with Him.

Walk the garden ↓ Read Luke 22:39–46 first
Hand-drawn doodle map of the night in Gethsemane: the disciples following the Savior, shown only as soft glowing light, across a brook to the Mount of Olives; the light speaking to disciples seated at the garden’s edge; the light with Peter, James and John among olive trees; the light kneeling alone in prayer a stone’s throw away; an angel in white facing Him to strengthen Him; the light bowed low in deep prayer beside an old stone olive press; the light gently waking three sleeping disciples; and the light reaching out to heal a kneeling servant by lantern light.

Before you begin

The story in brief

After the Last Supper, Jesus went out with His disciples over the brook Cedron to the Mount of Olives, to a garden called Gethsemane where He often went to pray. He told most of them, “Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.” He took Peter, James and John a little further, told them His soul was exceeding sorrowful, and asked them to watch with Him. Then He went about a stone’s cast away, kneeled down, and prayed: “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” An angel came from heaven, strengthening Him, and He prayed more earnestly.

Three times He came back and found His disciples asleep, “sleeping for sorrow.” He told them, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Then lanterns and torches came through the trees. Judas led a band of men to arrest Him, and Peter cut off the right ear of the high priest’s servant. Jesus said, “Suffer ye thus far,” and He touched the man’s ear and healed him. What the Savior suffered in Gethsemane, He suffered for every one of us.

Who’s who

  • Jesus: who goes to the garden to pray to His Father for us all
  • Peter, James and John: the three friends He asks to watch with Him
  • An angel: sent from heaven to strengthen Him

Where and when

A garden of olive trees called Gethsemane, across the brook Cedron on the Mount of Olives, late at night after the Last Supper.

Watch for the Savior

Watch how, in His hardest hour, He still prays to His Father, still cares for His tired friends, and still heals.

Read it yourself: Luke 22:39–46

Part 1 of 7

The garden, mapped

Eight quiet stops, from the brook Cedron to the healing touch. Scroll, or tap a number on the map.

    Part 2 of 7

    The story, plainly

    Four scenes: the watch, the prayer, the angel, and the healing. Look for the Savior’s love in each one.

    Read it plainly

    The words that trip people up

    Tap any dotted word for its meaning. The scripture stays exactly as written.1

    1. Luke 22:39 “and went, , to the mount of Olives”
    2. Matthew 26:37 “began to be sorrowful and ”
    3. Matthew 26:38 “ ye here, and watch with me”
    4. Luke 22:41 “withdrawn from them about a ”
    5. Luke 22:42 “remove this from me”
    6. Luke 22:44 “he prayed more ”
    7. Luke 22:51 “”

    Part 3 of 7

    Look closer

    Small details tell the story. Some cards are details in the text; others share insights from prophets. Each card says which.

    0 of 9 turned

    Part 4 of 7

    Where are you today?

    Some of us feel alone, some are tired, some are praying for something hard to pass, and some are carrying something heavy. Which feels most like you right now?

    A quiet minute

    Watch with Him

    No score and no rush. Find a still moment, press begin, and let His words come slowly.

    “tarry ye here, and watch with me.” Matthew 26:38

    Part 5 of 7

    Their world, their words

    A little background helps us see the garden the disciples knew. Outside sources are labeled.

    Apostle · Nelson

    A garden with an oil press

    Elder Russell M. Nelson: the name Gethsemane means “oil press.” There “olives had been beaten and pressed to provide oil and food”.9

    In a place where olives were pressed, He bore the weight for us.

    Scripture

    A place He often prayed

    John tells us, “Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.” It was a familiar place, and He went there to pray.2

    He went where He had prayed many times before.

    Apostle · McConkie

    Heaven sent help

    Elder McConkie: “an angel came from the courts of glory to strengthen him in his ordeal”.6

    Heavenly Father did not leave His Son without help.

    Apostle · Talmage

    Only He could do it

    Elder Talmage: it was “a spiritual agony of soul such as only God was capable of experiencing”.5

    No one else could carry this for us. He did.

    Word study · Greek

    Gethsēmanē Γεθσημανῆ · “Gethsemane” (Matthew 26:36)

    Bible Hub: “oil-press; Gethsemane, a garden near Jerusalem.”10 Outside · lexicon

    The Guide to the Scriptures says that in Aramaic the word gethsemane means “olive press”.8 Church study help

    Word study · Greek

    Abba Ἀββά · “Abba” (Mark 14:36)

    Bible Hub: “Father,” “also used as the term of tender endearment by a beloved child”.11 Outside · lexicon

    In His hardest hour, He spoke to His Father as a child who trusts: “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee”.1

    What the text does not say

    The text does not say the disciples did not care. Luke says Jesus found them “sleeping for sorrow”. And the scriptures do not tell us everything He felt. Elder Talmage wrote that “Christ’s agony in the garden is unfathomable by the finite mind”. We are given enough to know that He did it, and that He did it for us.5

    Part 6 of 7

    Look to Him

    He is the Son who prayed “not my will, but thine,” the Friend who came back to His sleeping disciples, and the Healer who reached out even as He was taken.

    Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: “because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so”.

    Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “None Were with Him,” April 20094
    “But Jesus held on. He pressed on.”
    Elder Jeffrey R. Holland4
    “the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He has felt and borne our individual burdens”
    Elder David A. Bednar7
    “He is our Lord, our God, and our King.”
    Elder Bruce R. McConkie6

    In His own words

    For all

    “I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent” Doctrine and Covenants 19:16

    He was not alone

    The Father with Him

    “and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.” John 16:32

    Part 7 of 7

    Seek Him today

    A question to ask yourself

    “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42

    What is one thing you can give to Heavenly Father’s will this week, even if it is hard?

    Try it today

    One quiet way to watch with Him each day. It saves on this device, one day at a time.

    0 of 7 today

    This week:0 of 7 days

    A quiet moment

    “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.”

    Read Luke 22:39–46 slowly, in a quiet place. Then sit still for one minute and think about what He did there for you. Write one word that describes how you feel about Him. Luke 22:39–46

    A verse to hold

    Talk about it

    1. Why do you think Jesus went to a place where He had prayed many times before?
    2. What does “not my will, but thine, be done” teach us about how to pray?
    3. Heavenly Father sent an angel to strengthen His Son. How has He strengthened you?
    4. Even while He was being arrested, Jesus healed someone. What does that show about Him?
    Open

    For adults and deeper study

    Go deeper

    Longer readings, harder questions, and where to study next. Each one says what it is before you click.
    Apostle

    Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “None Were with Him” (2009)

    The Savior’s lonely path from Gethsemane to the cross, and why it means we never have to walk alone.4

    Read the talk →
    Apostle

    Elder Talmage, Jesus the Christ, chapter 33

    The walk to the garden, the three prayers, the angel, the sleeping disciples, and the healing of Malchus.5

    Read chapter 33 →
    Apostle

    Elder Bruce R. McConkie, “The Purifying Power of Gethsemane” (1985)

    His final testimony of the Atonement, given days before his death: “I am one of his witnesses.”6

    Read the talk →
    Apostle

    Elder David A. Bednar, “Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease” (2014)

    How the Savior’s suffering reaches our pains, weaknesses and sorrows, not only our sins, and how He helps us carry them.7

    Read the talk →
    To ponder

    Harder questions

    • Jesus asked if the cup could pass, and then accepted His Father’s will. What can that teach us when our prayers are not answered the way we hoped?
    • Elder Bednar says the Savior felt our pains and weaknesses, not only our sins. How might that change the way you pray when you are hurting?
    • Peter, James and John fell asleep, yet Jesus still called them to be His Apostles. What does that teach about how He sees our weakness?

    Sources

    Every quotation, gloss, and piece of background on this page is listed here: scripture first, then Church sources, then outside scholarship (labeled).

    Scripture

    1. Luke 22:39–46, Matthew 26:36–46 and Mark 14:32–42: “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”
    2. John 18:1–11 and Luke 22:47–51: “And he touched his ear, and healed him.”
    3. Doctrine and Covenants 19:16–19, Alma 7:11–12 and John 16:32: “I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.”

    Church leaders and Church resources

    1. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “None Were with Him”, general conference, April 2009.
    2. Elder James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, chapter 33, Gospel Library.
    3. Elder Bruce R. McConkie, “The Purifying Power of Gethsemane”, general conference, April 1985.
    4. Elder David A. Bednar, “Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease”, general conference, April 2014.
    5. Guide to the Scriptures, “Gethsemane”, Church study help, Gospel Library.
    6. Elder Russell M. Nelson, “The Atonement”, general conference, October 1996.

    Outside sources (labeled on the page)

    1. Strong’s 1068, Gethsēmanē, Bible Hub lexicon.
    2. Strong’s 5, Abba, Bible Hub lexicon.

    Quotations checked against the linked pages on October 7, 2026. Scripture is quoted from the King James Version as published in the Gospel Library.

    “Not my will, but thine”

    In the garden He chose His Father’s will, and in choosing it He chose you. Because He went there alone, you never have to. Luke 22:42

    Back to this week: June 7–13 Earlier: The Vine and the Branches Next story: The Crucifixion All New Testament Story Sketch Notes
    Inside pages of the Gethsemane printable sketch notes

    Printable sketch notes

    Gethsemane, ready to print $3.99

    Everything on this page as an 11-page letter-size PDF: the map, scenes, cards, activity, word studies, tracker, Go deeper and sources. For home, class or a quiet Sunday.

    See the printable · $3.99All New Testament sketch notes

    Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. This story is told in the words of Luke, Matthew, Mark and John; the insights in “Look closer” are labeled by source.