His face clouded momentarily. “He did. We had completed the Passover supper at the house of my sister and nephew, Mary and Mark, and the twelve of us had departed from the house singing hymns. Young Mark accompanied us as far as the city gate before I sent him home.”

“All of you believed you were returning to your beds in Bethany?”

“Yes, but as we walked, Jesus told us certain things that slowed our steps. He said that we would fall away from him that very night, for it was written that the shepherd would be smitten and the sheep of the flock would be scattered abroad. We crowded around him in the dark, pleading for an explanation, but all he would tell us was that after he was risen he would go before us into Galilee. Some thought he planned to awake before us, in the morning, and travel north by himself until we joined him later, but I could not accept his words so I spoke out, again to my everlasting sorrow.”

Peter’s eyes were moist and his voice trembled. The interrogation was beginning to take its toll. “What did you say?” I asked softly.

“First, I placed my arm around him as if to protect him. Then I boasted that though all the others should fall away from him I would never desert him. He pulled my face close to his until I could feel the tears that covered his cheeks, and he whispered in my ear, ‘Verily, I say unto you, that this night, before the cock crows you will deny me three times.’ I replied, ‘Never! Even though I die with you I will not deny you!’ He kissed my cheek and smiled sadly.”

“He led you and the others to Gethsemane?”

“Yes. A small path crosses through the garden and goes up the Mount of Olives and down the other side to Bethany. We had walked it often, rather than circle around the mount on a much longer route.”

“I’ve seen it, Peter. Were you surprised when Jesus said he wanted to stop in the garden to pray?”

“I was, especially after his prophecy of terrible things to come that very night. Bethany seemed a much safer place to be than a dark garden if he was in any danger. It was also very late and cold, and all of us were drowsy from the food and wine. Still, we always did his bidding, and when he asked James and John and me to remain near him, the others moved farther into the garden up the path toward a large cave that had sheltered us on many other occasions. Then Jesus said, ‘My soul is heavy with sorrow, even unto death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’ ”

“For what were you watching?”