The complete story of Jesus’ so-called “Prayer in the Garden” requires some scriptural detective work to piece together-- with the indispensable guidance of the Holy Spirit of course, because each Gospel writer described a different set of events & circumstances than the other writers. And none of the four described all of them….
In “a large, furnished upper room”, as described in (LU 22:12), or “a large upper room, furnished and prepared” according to (MK 14:15), Jesus shared a last earthly supper with His twelve chosen disciples. Afterward "when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives”, according to (MT 26:30) & (MK 14:26). They went “over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden.” (JN 18:1) A “place called Gethsemane” in (MT 26:36) & (MK 14:32), and simply “the place” in (LU 22:40).
In the garden they separated. Jesus ordered them to "sit here and pray" (MK 14:32), more specifically “to watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation” (MK 14:38). He continued on “a little farther,” according to (MT 26:39) & (MK 14:35), or “about a stone’s throw” as recorded in (LK 22:41). I suspect the stone Luke referred to would be one large enough and heavy enough to be effective when used to stone someone to death. That was what “throwing stones” meant in those times. Such a stone could be thrown only “a little farther” from where the thrower’s standing, in order to accomplish the gruesome job effectively. John didn’t even mention in his Gospel that Jesus separated from His disciples. Perhaps he wasn't led to because the distance of separation was minimal. In any case, I believe that all four Gospels purposefully hint that there was not enough space between them to prevent the disciples from hearing Jesus pray—
BECAUSE HE PRAYED OUT LOUD!
Amazingly, Jesus saw this personally agonizing time as a teaching moment. Jesus prayed aloud because He knew this would be the last time that He could speak teaching to the twelve before a “great multitude with swords and clubs”— a mob!—“laid hands on Him and took Him,” (MK 14:43-46), and His disciples “all fled,” (MK 14:50).
Wow. That revelation cleared up a whole mess of confusion I’d always had about this portion of the Gospels. I wondered why Jesus charged them to watch and pray lest you enter into temptation. Temptation to do what exactly? Watch what exactly? I thought He probably meant for them to “keep watch.” But He didn’t tell them what to watch for, and besides He made it clear when Peter struck one with a sword later that they weren’t even supposed to react to opposition. (MT 26:52-54) & (JN 18:10-11) Finally, why did Jesus repeatedly interrupt His prayers and walk back to check on the disciples anyway? Just why was He disappointed when He found them sleeping?? After all, it was night (JN 13:30) and they’d had a troubling, emotional day. I had though that they were probably thinking Jesus was just reaching out to His Father for comfort and guidance.
Oh-- much more than that. I see now: JESUS THE TEACHER WANTED THEM TO WATCH HIM, TO HEAR HIM AND NOT BE TEMPTED TO NOD OFF! By “enter into temptation” He’d meant to succumb to it. "A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands…” (PR 24:33) and they would miss their Messiah’s passionate last lesson!