John Calvin Commentary Matthew 26:36

"Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go yonder and pray." — Matthew 26:36 (ASV)

Then Jesus cometh with them. Luke mentions the mountain of Olives only. Mark and Matthew add a more detailed description of the place. But Luke expresses what is even more to the point: that Christ came there according to his custom. From this, we infer that he did not seek retirement for the purpose of concealing himself, but, as if he had made an appointment with his enemies, he presented himself to death. For this reason, John says (John 18:2) that the place was known to the traitor, because Jesus was accustomed to come there frequently. In this passage, therefore, his obedience is again described to us, because he could not have appeased the Father except by a voluntary death.

Sit here. By leaving the disciples at a distance, he spares their weakness; as if a man, perceiving that he would soon be in extreme danger in battle, were to leave his wife and children in a situation of safety. But though he intended to place them all beyond arrow-shot, yet he took three of them who accompanied him more closely than the rest, and these were the select best, who possessed greater strength. And yet he did not take them as if he believed that they would be able to sustain the attack, but so that they might provide proof of the weakness that was common to them all.