The Sources of the Events of the Story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

Chapter III

The Sources of the Gospels and the Way of Writing Them

Section VI

The Texts which were quoted from the Old Testament, but they have not been attributed directly to it

In this section will examine the texts which were quoted from the Old Testament, but they have not been attributed directly to it, as is the case in the previous sections, which I call it Storyline or Plot-story or screenplay of the Gospels, where we will review the most of the events and stories and sayings that mentioned in the Gospels, and comparing them with the Old Testament and with Jesus as was portrayed in the Gospels, and his attributes in the laws of the faith of the churches as well.

The Sources of the Events of the Story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

13 - The Source of the Story of Disciples' Sleeping in the Night before the Crucifixion of Jesus

After the Last Supper; Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, then he went away and prayed, and the Gospels pointed out a strange position concerning the disciples, which is that they were asleep, even though he had ordered them to watch and pray with him, which made Jesus astonished of them, as in the following texts:

Matthew 26:36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there."

Matthew 26:37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.

Matthew 26:38 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me."

Matthew 26:39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."

Matthew 26:40 Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, "What? Could you not watch with Me one hour?

Mat 26:41 "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Matthew 26:42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done."

Matthew 26:43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.

Matthew 26:44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Matthew 26:45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 

Mark 14:32 Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, "Sit here while I pray."

Mark 14:33 And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed.

Mark 14:34 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch."

Mark 14:35 He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.

Mark 14:36 And He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will."

Mark 14:37 Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour?

Mark 14:38 "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Mark 14:39 Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words.

Mark 14:40 And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him.

Mark 14:41 Then He came the third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 

Luke 22:39 Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.

Luke 22:40 When He came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."

Luke 22:41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed,

Luke 22:42 saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."

Luke 22:43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.

Luke 22:44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Luke 22:45 When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.

Luke 22:46 Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."

These texts say that the disciples; Peter and James and John were asleep when Jesus was praying to his father to take this cup away from him, i.e., the crucifixion.

The first thing we notice is that John did not mention this story in his Gospel, and this raises doubts about the reality of it, and its source. Because how he did not mention the last night, which he spent with Jesus!

So what is the source of the story of the disciples' sleeping?

Let's read the following text:

1 Samuel 26:11 "The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD’S anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head, and let us go."

1 Samuel 26:12 So David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul’s head, and they got away; and no man saw it or knew it or awoke. For they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.

This text is part of the story of the conflict between David and Saul, and when David was able to kill Saul, because the men who were with Saul were asleep, for a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them. So the Gospels authors tried to quote this story and saying it happened with the disciples, as is their method and approach of writing the Gospels, as is shown in the book, and they did not care about the status of Peter, James and John, with their knowledge that this story will call into a questioning of the faith of the disciples, because the least followers of the churches will be ready to pray with Jesus for a month in order not to be crucified by the Jews, and probably this is the reason for why John did not write this story in his Gospel, and has diverted it to another direction, and focus on Jesus' keenness to protect the disciples as an expression of his love for them, as is written in his Gospel, (John 18:1-8).

14 - The Sources of the Ways of Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane

In the previous texts we note the difference in the way of Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane, Matthew wrote "and fell on His face, and prayed", and Mark wrote "and fell on the ground, and prayed", while Luke wrote "and He knelt down and prayed".

Matthew 26:39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."

Mark 14:35 He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.

Luke 22:41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed.

Luke 22:39 Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.

Luke 22:40 When He came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."

Luke 22:41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed.

This difference in the way of prayer is puzzling if we agree with the churches on their saying that the Gospels have been written by the revelation and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, because how was the Holy Spirit unable to determine exactly the way of how Jesus prayed?!

But if we say that these Gospels have been written through quoting the texts from the Old Testament and reformulating in their stories, as is actually the method and approach of writing them, as is shown in this book, then we will get responses to the most contradictions and errors that listed in the Gospels, including these paragraphs. Hence, Matthew and Mark probably had relied upon the following texts to write how Jesus prayed:

Gen 18:2 So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground,

Genesis 19:1 Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.

While Luke has relied upon the following text:

Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

Hence, we see that the main reason of the differences between the accounts of the Gospels is the variety of sources of the quoting from the Old Testament, and reformulating them by the Gospels authors in their narratives away from the historical events, and also away from the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit does not fall in such as these differences or discrepancies and contradictions or errors, which indicates that our law "do not accept the lying and false" applies to Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane.

15 - The Source of the Saying of Luke that an Angel has appeared to Jesus from Heaven for strengthening him

In this story Luke alone said that an angel has appeared to Jesus from heaven for strengthening him, as in the following text:

Luke 22:43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.

The appearance of this angel did not make any effect in the course of story of the Crucifixion of Jesus, because when Jesus was on the cross cried out in a loud voice my God, my God why have you forsaken me, which means that he was dissatisfied of his crucifixion!

And the lack of effectiveness for the appearance of the angel for strengthening Jesus indicates that Luke has quoted it from the Old Testament, as is the Gospels authors' method and approach of writing the Gospels, so what is the source of this narrative?

Let's read the following text:

Genesis 22:10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

Genesis 22:11 But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am."

Genesis 22:12 And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."

Genesis 22:13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

As we read that the angel has appeared to Abraham from heaven and ended the temptation, which Abraham has done to prove that he worships the Lord alone, and he is ready to implement any order from Him, even if He ordered him to slay his only son.

Reading Luke this story that says that Abraham had sacrificed his son; stimulated him to write this narrative in the story of the crucifixion of Jesus by quoting that a father sacrifices his son, and forgotten in the midst of his attempts to prove that Jesus was crucified; that he does not write about a humanity event, but about a divine event as say the various churches, because this event was between the second Person and the first Person who are supposed to be one and have the same nature and essence. Yet there is nothing wrong to take an example and lesson from human beings in the sacrifice and devotion and redemption from the point of view of the Gospels authors and the churches! So, if the Lord had sent an angel to Abraham to stop the temptation because it accomplished its purpose, why does Luke not try to compose a narrative about the appearance of an angel in his Gospel, particularly the Abraham's son is not the greatest of one of the Trinity, but what should the angel do?!

If Luke said that the angel has saved Jesus from the death; which he should do as did the angel who was sent to Abraham; the whole story failed, for this Luke wrote that an angel has appeared to Jesus for strengthening him, so what is the meaning of strengthening him?

Was the angel unable to save Jesus?!

It does not matter any questions here, but the important thing is that Luke wrote about the appearance of an angel for strengthening Jesus, as has appeared an angel to Abraham, as is their method and approach of writing the Gospels, as is shown in this book, which means that our law "do not accept the lying and false" applies to this story.

16 - The Source of the Saying of Jesus that Satan has asked for the Disciples, that he may sift them as Wheat

Then after that prayer; also Luke alone wrote the following text:

Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.

Luke 22:32 "But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."

This text has been written by Luke alone, and this is not a big matter if an author alone mentions some stories or sayings that have not been written by other authors if they include true information, and are consistent with other Gospels and the laws of the faith of the churches, yet if it's inconsistent and contradictory with them, this indicates that those stories and sayings have not been written through the revelation or the inspiration of the Holy Spirit like this text, which inconsistent and contradictory with the laws of the faith of the churches!

Because when Jesus says "I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail", who is this whom Jesus had prayed to him, while the laws of the faith of the churches say that Jesus is one of three Persons who are one and have the same nature and essence, which means that Jesus has prayed to himself?!

Moreover, and the most important, has this one, whom Jesus has prayed to him, responded to what he asked him, or has not responded to him?

As it is written in the Gospels, including the Gospel of Luke itself, that Peter after this saying has disowned Jesus and cursed him, which indicates that his faith has failed.

Furthermore, Peter did not strengthen the rest of the disciples; because all of them disowned Jesus and deserted him and fled, and all of them did not believe that he rose from the dead! As in the following texts:

Mark 14:71 Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know this Man of whom you speak!"

Mark 14:50 Then they all forsook Him and fled.

Matthew 26:56 "But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

Mark 16:11 And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

Luke 24:9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.

Luke 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.

Luke 24:11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.

This indicates that the one, whom Jesus has prayed to him, did not hear Jesus' prayer, which is inconsistent with the words of Jesus that his father hears him always, as in the following text:

John 11:41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.

John 11:42 "And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me."

These contradictions and errors indicate that Luke wrote the text away from the Holy Spirit and the revelation, so what is the source of this saying?

Let's read the following text:

Amos 9:9 "For surely I will command, And will sift the house of Israel among all nations, As grain is sifted in a sieve; Yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground.

This text talks about the sifting of the house of Israel among all nations, which is what happened actually as is written in the Old Testament, unlike the text of Luke as shown previously.

17 - The Source of the Saying of John that the Soldiers who arrested Jesus drew back and fell to the Ground

John 18:6 Now when He said to them, "I am He", they drew back and fell to the ground.

John 18:7 Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."

John 18:8 Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,"

John 18:9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, "Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none."

This text is part of the story of the arrest of Jesus in the Gospel of John, who wrote a story is completely different from what the other writers wrote, and unrelated with it, and this difference is not the only problem in his story, because the paragraph "that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, of those whom You gave Me I have lost none", is definitely wrong, whether it was attributed to the Old Testament or to Jesus himself, because in addition that it's not written in the Old Testament, it indeed has not been fulfilled, because all the disciples disowned Jesus and deserted him and fled, and all of them did not believe that he rose from the dead, which means that those whom were given to him have been lost! For this, we can say that this saying was not written by the revelation or the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so what is the source of it?

Let's read the following texts:

Psalm 9:3 When my enemies turn back, They shall fall and perish at Your presence.

Psalm 27:2 When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell.

Psalm 35:4 Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor Who seek after my life; Let those be turned back and brought to confusion Who plot my hurt.

Psalm 40:13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; O LORD, make haste to help me!

Psalm 40:14 Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion Who seek to destroy my life; Let them be driven backward and brought to dishonor Who wish me evil.

Psalm 40:15 Let them be confounded because of their shame, Who say to me, "Aha, aha!"

Psalm 56:9 When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me.

Psalm 56:10 In God (I will praise His word), In the LORD (I will praise His word),

Psalm 56:11 In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

I do think that John quoted the content of his narrative from these texts, as is the method and approach of the Gospels authors to write their accounts, otherwise, he will not write the story of the arrest of Jesus completely different from the story of the other Gospels, and writes the words that have not been fulfilled, and this indicates that our law "do not accept the lying and false" applies to this story.

18 - The Source of the Story of the Naked Disciple

Mark 14:50 Then they all forsook Him and fled.

Mark 14:51 Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him,

Mark 14:52 and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.

This story has been mentioned by Mark alone, which is inconsistent with the previous text of John that says "of those whom You gave me I have lost none", because this flee shows that this disciple was lost, and this means that this story is not a revelation or inspiration or even real, thus what is the source of this story?

Let's read the following text:

Amos 2:16 The most courageous men of might Shall flee naked in that day," Says the LORD.

This text says that in that day the most courageous men will flee naked, Which prompted Mark to write his story about the naked disciple according to this text as is their method and approach of writing the Gospels, as is shown in this book, but without attributing it directly to the Old Testament, as is the method and approach of the Gospels authors in this section. However, the most surprising thing than this quoting, is the saying of some churches that the naked disciple was Mark himself, and this indicates that the law "do not accept the lying and false" applies to this story!