THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN

'Agony' is the spiritual struggle between the two sides of Jesus' nature, the human that feared suffering and wanted to avoid it, in conflict with the divine that gave him strength: 'Father, if it be thy will, take this cup away from me. Yet not my will but thine be done.'
In early examples we may see instead of the angel the head of God the Father or his symbol, a right hand pointing out of a cloud.
Gat Shemanim (Gethsemene) means in Hebrew 'oil press'. The 'garden' was an olive grove.
When Jesus returned to the disciples he found them asleep and reproached them for their lack of resolve. Other variants may show Christ either kneeling (as in Luke) or prostrate on his face (as in Matthew and Mark).
Peter is shown as grey-haired with a curly beard and perhaps a sword (in anticipation of his cutting off the servant's ear); James who has dark hair and a beard; John, the youngest, with long hair sometimes down to his shoulders.
Many paintings merge the Agony with the Betrayal - look for a group of approaching figures. These are the soldiers led by Judas.
Paintings of the Agony sometimes show an angel, or angels, appearing before Jesus bearing the instruments of the Passion, or the angel offering the chalice and wafer.

Christ in the Garden of Gethsemene, Heinrich Hofmann, 1890

Christ in the Garden of Gethsemene, Heinrich Hofmann, 1890

The Agony in the Garden, Ambrogio Bergognone, 1501

The Agony in the Garden, Ambrogio Bergognone, 1501

The Agony in the Garden, Giovanni Bellini, 1459

The Agony in the Garden, El Greco, 1590-1600

The Agony in the Garden, El Greco, 1590-1600

The Agony in the Garden, Fra Angelico, fresco, 1450

The Agony in the Garden, Fra Angelico, fresco, 1450

Gethsemane, Carl Bloch

Gethsemane, Carl Bloch

The Agony in the Garden, Hans Holbein the Elder, 1505

The Agony in the Garden, Hans Holbein the Elder, 1505

The Agony in the Garden, Jan Gossaert

The Agony in the Garden, Jan Gossaert

The Agony in the Garden, Lo Spagna

The Agony in the Garden, Lo Spagna

The Agony in the Garden, Andrea Mantegna, 1431

The Agony in the Garden, Andrea Mantegna, 1431

Christ and the disciples going out into the Garden, Nikolai Gay

Christ and the disciples going out into the Garden, Nikolai Gay

The Grotto of the Agony, James Tissot

The Grotto of the Agony, James Tissot

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The Bible text - the Agony in the Garden

Matt. 26:36-46

36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsem'ane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go yonder and pray." 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zeb'edee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, thy will be done." 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand."

Mark 14:32-42

32 And they went to a place which was called Gethsem'ane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I pray." 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch." 35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what thou wilt." 37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer him. 41 And he came the third time, and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come; the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand."

Luke 22:39-46

39 And he came out, and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place he said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 "Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." 43 * [No text] 44 * [No text] 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation."

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Bible Art: Paintings and Artworks from the Old and New Testament: Jesus' Agony in the Garden

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