R.A. Torrey explores the profound agony of Jesus in Gethsemane, emphasizing His deep sorrow and the need for prayer amidst temptation. He contrasts Jesus' earnest prayers with the disciples' failure to stay awake and support Him, highlighting the human struggle against spiritual lethargy. Torrey reflects on the significance of Jesus' submission to the Father's will, even in the face of impending suffering, and the importance of vigilance in prayer for believers. The sermon serves as a reminder of the necessity of seeking God's strength in times of trial and the consequences of neglecting spiritual responsibilities.

DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS 1. Jesus Praying—The Disciples Sleeping, vv. 36–41 Who entered the garden with Jesus? What direction did He give to His disciples? Why did He wish them to sit there? What did He tell them He was going to do? Did He tell them to pray also? (Luke 22:40.) Whom did He take with Him? For what purpose did He take them (v. 38)? On what other occasions had He taken them with Him? (Mark 5:37; Matt. 17:1.) If Christ takes us with Him into the Mount of Transfiguration where else may we expect him to take us? Which is the more needful experience, the mount of vision or the garden of agony? Why did He take them and not the others also? Did the sequel show them to be very well fitted for that to which He called them? In what state of mind was Jesus? What words does Mark use in describing His mental condition? (Mark 14:33.) What was the cause of this awful storm of bewilderment and agony that swept over the Saviour’s soul? Had He ever before been troubled at the thought of the approaching trial? (John 12:27.) How did Jesus Himself describe to His disciples His state of feeling? What did He mean by the expression “even unto death”? What detail added by Luke shows that He was actually at the very point of death? (Luke 22:44.) Why did Jesus suffer thus? (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18.) For whose sake did He suffer this awful agony? (Is. 53:4.) What did He tell the three to do? Why did He want them to watch with Him? What did He Himself then do? Why did He go a little forward? How far did He go? (Luke 22:41.) What attitude did He take before God? (Compare Gen. 17:3; Ezek. 1:28; Num. 16:20–22.) Why? Have we any occasion to take that attitude before God? What did Jesus do as He lay upon His face before God? In what three different ways is Jesus’ prayer recorded? (Compare Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42.) How are these three accounts to be reconciled? In what do the three accounts agree? What reason have we for supposing the cup which Jesus wished removed was the crucifixion? (Matt. 20:22; John 18:11.) What reasons have we for supposing it was not? (v. 38; Mark 14:35; Heb. 5:7; John 11:41–42; 1 John 5:15.) Supposing that it was the cross from which He asked to be delivered, did Jesus really expect or desire to be delivered from the cross? (c. 20:22; John 12:27; 10:17, 18.) Is there, even in that case, any ground in this incident for the inference that is so often drawn from it that God may not give, even to His most trusting and obedient child, the things he actually desires and expects? Is there any warrant in the Bible for saying that God will always give to His child that is abiding in Him what He desires and asks for? (1 John 3:22; John 15:7.) If Christ’s prayer was that He might be spared from the death that threatened Him in the garden, how was it answered? (Luke 22:43.) Ought we to insert, “If it be Thy will,” into all our prayers? While Jesus was praying what were the disciples doing? Had they fallen asleep at once? What was the cause of their sleeping? (Luke 22:45.) Sorrow about what? Was their sleeping excusable? Of what prophecy about Christ was it a fulfillment? (Ps. 69:20.) What will best help us to understand this startling insensibility to Christ’s agony on the part of His disciples? What did Jesus say to them? What was the intention of those words? Does this rebuke ever apply to us? To whom particularly was the rebuke addressed? Why (v. 35)? What warning did He take occasion to give them? What does “watch” mean? What was to be the purpose of their watching? What does “that ye enter not into temptation” mean? How much of the time does one need to be watching? Why? (1 Peter 5:8; Matt. 24:42.) What should always go with and be the outcome of watching? (1 Peter 4:7.) Why is it that so many Christians feel so little the need of earnest prayer? (Eph. 6:18.) Why has the watchful Christian no need to fear the outcome of the temptations that do come? (1 Cor. 10:12, 13; 2 Peter 2:9.) Has the careless Christian any right to rest upon those promises? What special reason did Jesus give for watching and prayer? Where in the Bible is the opposition between flesh and Spirit most fully developed? (Ro. 7:18–25.) Where are we told to conquer the weakness of the flesh? (Gal. 5:16.) What has the Christian done with the flesh? (Gal. 5:24.) What illustration had Peter just given of the willingness of the Spirit? (Compare v. 35.) 2. Jesus Praying the Second Time, and the Third Time—The Disciples Still Sleeping, vv. 42–46 After this warning what did Jesus do? What did the disciples do this time while He prayed? What especial reason that they be praying at that time? What was the result of their sleeping when they ought to have been praying? (vv. 56, 72.) Had they any excuse to offer? (Mark 14:40.) Suppose we should be called to account by Jesus for our sleepiness, what excuse would we have to offer? What did Jesus then do? How does this tally with c. 6:7? What did He say to the disciples then? What did He mean by “Sleep on now”? What happened just at that moment? What did Jesus then say? Did He want to run away? (Luke 9:51.) In what two different ways did Christ and His disciples meet sorrow? CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS 1. Jesus (1). His nature, human, 38, 39, 42, 44, 45 . (2). His relation to our temptations: Tempted in all points like as we are, 38–44; compare Heb. 4:15; 2:18. Conquered temptations in the same way we may, by prayer, 39 cf. 41. (3). What He suffered: Betrayed by Judas, 45, 46: sorrow even unto death, 38. (4). How He prepared for the coming trial and met present agony, by prayer, 36–42. (5). His longing for human sympathy: “Sit ye here,” 36; “Took with Him Peter,” etc., 37; “Watch with Me,” 38; “Cometh unto His disciples,” 40; “Could ye not watch with Me,” 40; “Came again,” 43, R. V. (6). His desire to be alone with God: He went forward a little, 39, R. V. (7). His bitter disappointment: He looked for sympathizers and found none, 36–38, 40; compare Ps. 69:20. (8). His prayer: Where He prayed; in solitude, 36, 39; in the garden on the mountain side, 30, 36; in the accustomed place, 36; compare Luke 22:39; John 18:2. When He prayed: In His great extremity, 38. For what He prayed: The cup or hour to pass along, 39; compare Mark 14:35; Heb. 5:7; 1 John 5:15. How He prayed: On His face, 39; With great earnestness, 39–44; compare Luke 22:44; Heb. 5:7; with filial trust, 39; in submission to the Father’s will, 39; importunately, 39–44. 2. Peter (1). His privileges: Taken to the scene of Christ’s temptation and victory, 37; the beginnings of failure pointed out by the Saviour, 40; instructed by the Saviour to meet and conquer temptation by watching and prayer, 41. (2). His mistakes: Slept when he should have prayed, 40, 41. (3). His failures: Could not watch with Christ one hour while he had boasted he could die with Him, 35, 40; fell asleep again and again after the Saviour had plead for his wakeful sympathy, 40–45. 3. The Disciples (1). Their likeness to one another: All highly favored, 36. (2). Slept: When they should have watched and prayed, 40, 41; while Jesus agonized, 38–40; after being rebuked for sleeping, 43; while Jesus prayed, 40; failed while Jesus triumphed, 31. (3). The cause of failure: “The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak,” 41; neglect of God’s way of victory over the weakness of the flesh—prayer, 41–44.