Prayer, betrayal and the refusal of violence
Mark records that Jesus took Peter, James and John apart from the other disciples and asked them to watch and pray (Mark 14:32–38). Matthew describes his deep sorrow and his request that they remain with him. Yet they fell asleep while he prayed, and he returned to urge them to pray against temptation (Matthew 26:36–46). [1]
Jesus asked the Father to take away the approaching ordeal, while submitting his own desire to the Father's will. Luke describes him kneeling to pray; Matthew records his repeated prayer as the disciples struggled to stay awake (Luke 22:39–46; Matthew 26:36–46). His submission came through an anguished prayer, with the suffering ahead still before him.
Judas, one of the Twelve, led the crowd to Jesus. Luke names chief priests, officers of the temple guard and elders among those who came against him. Matthew records the kiss as Judas' agreed signal identifying whom to arrest; Luke records Jesus challenging Judas about betraying him with a kiss (Matthew 26:47–50; Luke 22:47–53).
John records Jesus stepping forward to ask whom the arresting party wanted. After identifying himself, he asked them to let his disciples go. John also names the disciple who drew a sword: Simon Peter struck Malchus, the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. Jesus ordered Peter to put the sword away and spoke of accepting the cup the Father had given him (John 18:2–11). [2]
Luke adds what happened to the wounded servant: Jesus stopped the violence, touched the man's ear and healed him. Jesus then challenged the chief priests, temple officers and elders for coming with swords and clubs, although they had not seized him during his daily presence in the temple (Luke 22:49–53). [3]
Jesus stopped his followers' resistance and was taken into custody (Luke 22:49–54). Luke records that the arresting party seized him, led him away and brought him into the high priest's house, while Peter followed at a distance (Luke 22:54).
