5. The Garden of Gethsemane

From the nursing home we moved back out into Carriage Drive and crossed the road to a small piece of park with several shady trees. Here our actors presented the Garden of Gethsemane scene.

After supper, Jesus and His followers left the city and went out to the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus and His followers gathered under the trees and He asked them to watch while He prayed.



He moved a little way and prayed to His Father, that this fate might be taken away from Him, but then accepting that whatever the Father willed must be so.

He returns to His followers to find them all asleep, wakes them and berates them (gently), asking that they stay awake while He prays a little more.

But they fall asleep again. Jesus comes back and voices His disappointment once again, that they could not stay with Him.

Jesus predicts that even Peter will deny Him that very night, before the cock has crowed twice.

Peter vehemently denies this could ever happen.

The musicians play the Taize song "Watch and pray".

It's all a poignant reminder that even those closest to Jesus could not support Him as he wished and needed, and a sobering thought for us today, that we too have a duty to watch and pray.

[Click pictures to see larger version]