Session 11
Mark 14:32-42
Memory Verse: Mark 14:36
Anyone who lives in a region that’s prone to hurricanes knows about foreboding apprehension. Storm warnings prompt wise residents to prepare, even if that means evacuating. An approaching storm can also take people through a wide range of emotions. Frustration and anxiety kick in before it arrives. Once it makes landfall, worry shifts into sheer determination to endure and to tackle whatever may happen. After the storm has passed, one might experience grief for what was lost or gratitude for what wasn’t.
As the time of His arrest and crucifixion drew closer, Jesus faced an agonizing storm that swirled around Him. He prepared for it by praying in Gethsemane. As you study Mark 14:32-42, note the details about how Jesus prepared to be our sacrifice for sin. Look for principles from His example that you can apply to the storms you face in life.
In 2008, a New Zealand man refused to submit to the seat belt law and received tickets 32 times over a five-year period. Rather than buckle his seat belt, he created a fake seatbelt to give the illusion he was safely buckled into the driver’s seat. The belt worked to stem the flood of tickets, but it was of no value when he hit another car head-on and died from the injuries. (PSG, p. 100)
Throughout Mark 13, Jesus warned His disciples about being alert for false teachers and to be ready for tribulations and suffering. In Mark 14, the reasons for His warnings become clearer. The religious leaders had finally had enough. They were determined to destroy Jesus. And while they were hesitant to do it during Passover (14:1-2), they were preparing behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, Jesus was still spending time in Bethany, a few miles beyond the walls of Jerusalem. At one meal, a woman anointed Him with an expensive perfume (14:3-9). While some of His followers questioned her actions, Jesus affirmed her worship. This event may have finally pushed one disciple over the brink, as Mark recorded how Judas Iscariot joined forces with Jesus’s enemies in a plot to betray Him (14:10-11).
As Passover approached, Jesus and His disciples began preparing for what would be their last meal together. Following Jesus’s instructions, the disciples readied the room for the feast (14:12-16). But during dinner, Jesus told them that the end was near and that one of them would betray Him (14:17-21).
Later, while walking to the Mount of Olives, Jesus also warned His disciples—especially Simon Peter—to avoid being arrogant with claims of loyalty. While Peter was sure that he would stand with Jesus through any storm, Jesus said that Peter would deny knowing Him three times before the sun came up (14:27-31, a predication that was fulfilled in Mark 14:66-72).
In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus encouraged His followers to pray for Him and for themselves. He knew the challenges that the night would hold, and He wanted His friends to be strong in the face of uncertainty and fear. He also wanted to be sure that He was ready to take the final step in fulfilling His Father’s plan for salvation. Distressed beyond comprehension, Jesus poured out His heart to the Father. Meanwhile, as Jesus submitted to God’s will, the disciples struggled to stay awake (14:32-42).
Not long after that, Judas and a small army sent by the religious leaders arrived to arrest Jesus and to put the wheels of their plan into motion (14:43-49). Ironically, Judas carried out his betrayal with a kiss—a sign of friendship and fellowship. One disciple—identified elsewhere as Peter—took matters into his own hands by injuring a nearby servant. But Jesus healed the man and allowed Himself to be arrested.
At that, the disciples scattered, just as Jesus had said they would. Mark ended that portion of the account by mentioning a young man who had been wearing nothing but a sheet. In the chaos, he ran off naked, leaving the sheet behind (14:50-52). Most scholars believe this young man was Mark, who wrote himself into the narrative to let readers know that he was an eyewitness to this part of the story.Read Mark 14:32-42. What words and phrases demonstrate Jesus’s resolve to submit to God’s will? What parts of the passage demonstrate the disciples’ reluctance to accept God’s plan?
EXPLORE THE TEXT
32 Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.”
(v. 32) Gethsemane: The word Gethsemane is derived from a Hebrew word and literally means “press of oils.” An oil press was where olives would be squeezed to retrieve their oil. We know that this particular press (along with its garden, which was probably an olive grove) was located somewhere on the lower slope of the Mount of Olives across the Kidron Valley from Jerusalem. This garden was used by Jesus frequently as one of His favorite retreats. Since it was also a place where Jesus often took his disciples, Judas would have been familiar with it.
(v. 32) Sit here: This wouldn’t have been the first time that Jesus told his disciples to sit in a certain spot in the garden, probably near the entrance. His instructions suggest that He wanted them to stay there until he was finished praying. He also hoped that they would use the time to pray, as well (Luke 22:40). After the group was settled, He took Peter, James, and John deeper into the garden with Him.
Peter, James, and John
These three disciples have sometimes been referred to as Jesus’s “inner circle.” In addition to this incident in Gethsemane, they were also separated from the larger group to share other unique experiences with Jesus. For example, they alone were present when Jesus raised Jairus’s daughter from the dead (Mark 5:35-43). They also were the only disciples who accompanied Jesus to the transfiguration (9:2-8).
(v. 33) Deeply distressed and troubled: As Jesus started praying, the full weight of what was about to take place set in. Jesus wrestled with the agony associated with His impending death, including the sense of abandonment He would experience upon taking humanity’s sin on His shoulders.
Mark is the only Gospel writer who used the Greek term translated distressed to describe the emotions of Jesus, though Matthew does use wording that emphasizes His intense sorrow (Matt. 26:37). He also used troubled, which indicates extreme anguish. This was not a typical prayer time for Jesus. It was an extremely emotional experience that served as a prologue to what He would be going through over the next several hours.
(v. 34) Deeply grieved: The close relationship that Jesus shared with Peter, James, and John can be seen in the way that He spoke candidly with them about what He was feeling. The emotional torture coupled with the responsibility associated with His messianic mission took a huge toll on Him in that moment. He would lay down His life in order to provide the gift of salvation.
The Greek word for deeply grieved (perilupos) paints a picture of drowning in sadness. The grief flooded Him with unspeakable agony. Borrowing the psalmist’s words, the waves of sorrow had “swept over” Him to the point where they threatened to drown Him (Ps. 42:7). Jesus felt like He was going to die long before He faced the cross.
(v. 34) Stay awake: Flooded by sorrow, Jesus urged the three disciples to stay alert as he went to pray. The other gospels indicate that Jesus asked them to pray as well while they waited. If they could stay awake and pray with Him, the disciples could have provided a measure of comfort and encouragement, even if they could not share the burden He was carrying.
35 He went a little farther, fell to 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 for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.”
(v. 35) Fell to the ground: Alone with the Father in the garden, Jesus experienced an incredibly intense prayer time. His death, which was now only hours away, would be unlike any other. It wouldn’t be a martyr’s death based on some just cause. It would be a substitutionary sacrifice based on voluntary submission. Jesus would be carrying the weight of sin for the entire world: past, present, and future. The heaviness of this burden was so great that Jesus prostrated Himself in prayer.
(v. 36) Abba: The word Abba comes from the Aramaic language and has been described as a very intimate term used by children toward their father. It is used only two other times in Scripture (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6). But while Jewish children would have used it for their fathers, no Jew would ever use it to address God in prayer. That would have been disrespectful. For Jesus, though, it was an appropriate way for Him to refer to His Father. In addition, Jesus provided a great example of how much God longs for an intimate relationship with His people. Like Him, we can approach the Father as “Abba.”
(v. 36) All things are possible: If there had been another way, God would have followed that path. But since the price for sin is death (Gen. 2:16-17; Rom. 6:23) and since there is no forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood (Heb. 9:22), the cross was necessary for Jesus to provide redemption and hope for humanity. He would face death, but He would also experience victory over death.
(v. 36) Take this cup: During an earlier conversation with James and John, Jesus had referred to the cup in terms of God’s wrath (Mark 10:38-39). The same interpretation fits this context. In the Old Testament, a cup was a metaphorical allusion to judgment and punishment. The cup that Jesus would be drinking included God’s wrath against sin and would ultimately cost Him His life. It is synonymous with the “hour” that Jesus had long been anticipating.
While the physical aspects of Jesus’s death are certainly horrifying, the cup represented something even worse. Dying on the cross would lead to a period of separation from His Father—something Jesus had never experienced. He had always enjoyed unity within the Godhead, but that was about to change. The physical pain and torture paled in comparison to the anguish of feeling abandoned by God.
(v. 36) What you will: Jesus never tried to persuade God to change the plan. Instead, His prayer demonstrated the fullness of His humanity. Despite the impending pain and agony, Jesus gave Himself completely over to the will of the Father. While His humanity may have wrestled with the cup, He did not allow anything to hinder His determination to complete His mission. Jesus would make sure the will of His Father was done.
Will of God
The will of God represents His plans and purposes for every aspect of His creation, including humans. As sovereign, God does what He pleases (because what He pleases is always best), and no human or supernatural force can thwart His will. However, individuals can participate in discovering and following God’s will for their lives. Sometimes, His will leads to suffering, but believers can rest in the fact that even suffering leads to spiritual growth.
37 Then he came and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you stay awake one hour? 38 Stay awake and pray so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 Once again he went away and prayed, saying the same thing.
(v. 37) Found them sleeping: Jesus returned to the three disciples after spending time with the Father. In His anguish, He needed their support and their fellowship. Even more important, He wanted them to be spiritually prepared for what was soon to come. He knew that the events that were about to unfold would be difficult for them, so He had challenged them to pray for Him and for themselves.
When He approached them, He could see they had fallen asleep. The long day, the eventful night, the emotional meal, and the late hour had taken a toll.
(v. 37) Simon: While the other disciples had been sleeping, Jesus singled out Peter for a rebuke. However, He didn’t call the disciple by the name that He had given him. Instead, He referred to him as Simon. Jesus had not called him by that name since the beginning of His ministry (Mark 3:16).
In a sense Peter had reverted to the person he had been before he began following Christ. Jesus’s two questions suggest that He had not forgotten Peter’s proud boast from earlier in the evening (vv. 29-31). Peter had bragged about the depth of his loyalty, arguing that he would never forsake Jesus—even to the point of death. Now, Jesus called Peter’s pledge into question, noting that the proud disciple could not even stay awake to pray.
(v. 37) One hour: Jesus had referred to the time of His arrest and death as His “hour.” However, the context here indicates that He was probably talking about a literal sixty minutes. While Mark’s synopsis of Jesus’s prayers is brief, it is reasonable to think that He spent about an hour in prayer each time He returned to His spot in the garden. From Jesus’s perspective, this was a basic request, but it was still apparently more than the disciples could manage.
(v. 38) Stay awake and pray: After calling out Peter, Jesus addressed all three of the disciples, urging them to stay alert. This idea of watching went beyond physical awareness. Jesus emphasized spiritual readiness, as well. The Greek wording here (gregoreo) conveys the idea of staying alert and keeping your eyes open so you can clearly see what is going on around you.
In other words, the disciples needed to remain vigilant. That would be the key for them later when the situation became really stressful for them.
(v. 38) The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak: Jesus acknowledged that the disciples certainly had good intentions, but they simply did not grasp the significance of what Jesus was doing and asking them to do. Their hearts and motives might have been in the right place, but they did not possess the moral or spiritual discipline to do what was right in that moment.
Falling asleep meant giving in to the desires of their flesh instead of leaning into the power of the Spirit. This left them vulnerable to temptation and fear when the chaos erupted.
(v. 39) Saying the same thing: After confronting the disciples and challenging them to do better, Jesus went back to His spot and prayed again. His situation had not changed, so His prayer did not change. Mark’s wording suggests that Jesus again spent time asking God to remove the cup of suffering from Him, if possible; but He was still committed to following through with the Father’s plan regardless of the cost.
Jesus’s Humanity
Perhaps nothing in Scripture underscores the humanity of Jesus better than Mark 14:37-39 and its parallel passages. The Baptist Faith and Message (2000) states that Christ took “upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin” (Article II, B). So, while Jesus was a real man—fully human—He was also a unique man. His virgin birth (Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38) and His sinless life (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:14-16) set Him apart from any other person who has ever lived. Still, He experienced the agony and pain of human emotions in the garden. As a result, He understands what we experience in our darkest moments.
40 And again he came and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. They did not know what to say to him. 41 Then he came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The time has come. See, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Get up; let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.”
(v. 40) Found them sleeping: Jesus went back to the Father, repeating His earlier prayer. Mark did not share how long Jesus prayed; but he did note that He found the disciples sleeping again. Mark’s wording is almost identical to verse 37. The phrase could not keep their eyes open literally means they were weighted down in sleep. Their eyes were heavy because of their exhaustion.
(v. 40) Did not know what to say to him: When Jesus woke them up again, the disciples had no excuses. Actually, any attempt at offering explanations would have been useless. Their action of sleeping—or rather their inaction in trying to stay awake—spoke for itself.
This is not the first time the disciples were at a loss for words. When they had seen Jesus transfigured and speaking with Moses and Elijah, they did not know what to say about the scene before them (Mark 9:6)—though both Matthew and Luke indicate Peter started talking even though he had nothing of significance to say (Matt. 17:4; Luke 9:32-33).
(v. 41) Enough: The Greek term (apechei) does not translate easily into English, but it does convey the idea that something has been settled or a course has been determined. In the context of Jesus’s prayers to the Father, He may have been declaring He had spent enough time wrestling with “the cup.” In addition, He may have been affirming that the necessity of His sacrificial death had been settled. His path forward was set and the time of His sacrifice had come.
As He woke up His disciples yet again, Jesus also may have been expressing a degree of exasperation. Despite repeated pleas to stay awake and pray, the disciples had failed to honor His request or heed His warnings about avoiding temptation. Now, the opportunity had passed. The time had come for the next act in the drama to begin.
(v. 41) Son of Man: While Jesus’s prayers in the garden highlighted His humanity, this title emphasized His deity. While it had been used in Hebrew poetry and prophecy as a general term to identify members of the human race (Pss. 8:4; 80:17; Ezek. 2:1,3), it also carried a messianic connotation. In Daniel 7, the prophet saw the Ancient of Days give authority to one called the “son of man” (7:13-14). It was in this sense that Jesus took the title for Himself, both here and throughout the Gospels.
(v. 41) Hands of sinners: The religious elite were fond of labeling individuals as sinners, especially those they viewed with contempt. In their eyes, Jesus fit into that category because He refused to follow their interpretation of the law (John 9:24-25). But, here, Jesus turned the spiritual tables on them. The chief priests and the elders, along with Judas and the guards, were labeled sinners in this verse.
Despite their self-righteous exterior, the religious leaders were spiritually corrupt on the inside (Matt. 23:27-28). In God’s economy, the worst sinners were not those who made mistakes and sought forgiveness, but the ones who claimed a special relationship with God while providing no evidence that they wanted to follow His teachings.
(v. 42) Let’s go: The disciples were apparently still lying down as Jesus’s enemies approached. Jesus told them to get up because the betrayer was closing in. Jesus had no intention of running away. He was fully committed to completing His Father’s will.
Judas
While Mark did not name Jesus’s betrayer in verse 42, he did identify Judas in verse 43. Little is known about Judas, and almost all of what we know is negative. Whenever He is mentioned in the Gospels, he is usually associated with his betrayal of the Lord. Some commentators suggest that he betrayed Jesus in an effort to rouse Christ to act like he felt the Messiah should act. However, Jesus made it clear that, while his defection was part of God’s plan, he was still cursed for his deceit and traitorous actions (Matt. 26:24).
God’s Purpose of Grace
Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. (See 1 Corinthians 10:12-13; 1 Peter 1:13.)
Use other Scripture to help understand a Bible passage.
Using Matthew 26:36-46; Luke 22:39-46; and John 18:1, study the account of Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane. Write down notes on the different accounts. What are the notable differences between the four accounts? What do all four Gospels include that are the same? How is it helpful to have all four accounts in giving you a clearer picture of the events that took place?