客西马尼 means "oil press". The current garden contains over half a dozen ancient olive trees. Josephus tells us that Titus had all trees in and around Jerusalem cut down in 70 A.D. Did these trees escape the ax or did they grow again from the trunk that remained? Either way, it is a fitting image for the Christian faith in such significant place. For it was here we remember how Jesus prayed on the night he was arrested (Matthew 26:36-56; Mark 14:32-49; Luke 22:39-53).

Matthew 26:36-56
36: Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called 客西马尼, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 
37: And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 
38: Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 
39: And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. 
40: And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 
41: Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 
42: He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. 
43: And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. 
44: And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 
45: Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take 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: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. 
47: And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 
48: Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. 
49: And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. 
50: And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. 
51: And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. 
52: Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. 
53: Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? 
54: But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? 
55: In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. 
56: But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. 

Mark 14:32-52
32: And they came to a place which was named 客西马尼: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. 
33: And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; 
34: And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. 
35: And he went forward a little, and 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 unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. 
37: And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? 
38: Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. 
39: And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. 
40: And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. 
41: And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 
42: Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand. 
43: And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 
44: And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely. 
45: And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him. 
46: And they laid their hands on him, and took him. 
47: And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 
48: And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me? 
49: I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled. 
50: And they all forsook him, and fled. 
51: And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: 
52: And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked. 

Luke 22:39-53
39: And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. 
40: And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 
41: And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 
42: Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 
43: And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 
44: And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 
45: And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, 
46: And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. 
47: And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. 
48: But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? 
49: When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? 
50: And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. 
51: And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. 
52: Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? 
53: When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. 

客西马尼园——守望祷告

当耶稣在客西马尼园回到他们身边时，他命令他的门徒儆醒祷告，却发现他们睡着了。基督徒有多频繁地发现他的防御降低了，进入了睡眠（身体上的和隐喻上的）。保罗在以弗所书中提醒教会，他们面对的不是无能的敌人，而是统治者、权势和属灵的邪恶。因此，要与敌人作战，基督徒应该穿上神所赐的全副军装，祷告，并对敌人保持警惕。马太福音26:41你们要儆醒祷告，免得入了迷惑。你们心灵固然愿意，肉体却软弱了。以弗所书6:10-20最后，我的弟兄们，你们要靠着主，倚靠他大能的能力作刚强的人。要穿上神所赐的全副军装，就能抵挡魔鬼的诡计。因为我们不是与属血气的争战，乃是与执政的，掌权的，这世上黑暗的掌权者，和高处属灵的邪恶争战。所以要拿起神所赐的全副军装，好在患难的日子，抵挡住，成就了一切，还能站立得住。所以要站稳，用真理束腰，用公义当护心镜遮胸。你们脚上又穿了豫备平安福音的鞋。最重要的是拿着信德作盾牌，可以扑灭恶人一切的火把。拿着救恩的头盔，拿着圣灵的宝剑，就是神的道。在圣灵里常常祷告祈求，为众圣徒儆醒，凡事忍耐祈求。我为这福音作了捆锁的使者，使我可以放胆开口，把福音的奥秘讲出来，使我可以放胆讲论，照我所当讲的讲。