He was very, very sorrowful, so He bade them wait near Him and watch. Then He went a little further on, and fell on the ground and prayed to His Father that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from Him.
He knew that all things were possible with God, but He did not want to have His own will, if His dear Father in Heaven wished anything different. He had come to earth to do His will perfectly.
Then after His prayer, He rose and went to His disciples. But he found them asleep! They had not watched as He bade them.
So He said to Peter, "Simon, sleepest thou? couldest thou not watch one hour?"
And then He told them to watch and pray lest they should enter into temptation.
He said He knew they were willing to do it, but they had tired bodies, and this made it the more necessary to be watchful.
So He went away again and prayed to His Father in an agony that the bitter cup might pass from Him.
We cannot fully understand all that is meant by that bitter cup. It is enough for us to know that our blessed Lord dreaded it above everything.
But even in the midst of that misery, He could say, "Oh, My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me except I drink it, Thy will be done!"
And there appeared an angel from heaven, strengthening Him.