Mark 14:32-42
32 Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. 34 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.”
35 He went a little farther, and fell on 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.”
37 Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
39 Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. 40 And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him.
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. 42 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
As Jesus’ human nature succumbs to the reality of the weight of the worlds sins about to be fully paid for by Him, He is crushed and beaten down. His humanity’s only constant? His Father and prayer (which He will faithfully offer). Jesus takes the same three disciples who saw His glorious transfiguration, but now they witness how He is exceedingly sorrowful.
In the setting of such sorrow His disciples, rather than watching and praying, fall asleep, therefore, not lending any nearby comfort to Jesus. But the battle that Jesus fights in this hour He must of necessity fight alone. He alone must now will “to lay down His life” (Jn. 10:17-18), “to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28), to be made sin and a curse for us (2 For. 5:21; Gal. 3:13).
Yet, again, Jesus reveals what is impossible for man on his own, namely, trust in the Father’s will no matter what the outcome. With man, the flesh is always right there to resist or think that it can bend God toward man’s will. But with Jesus, He faithfully submits to His Father’s will for us! The disciples falling asleep reveals the weakness of man’s flesh. The two-natures of a Christian (Spirit & fallen flesh) will ever be at battle. The two-natures of Christ (God & perfect flesh) win the victory for us!
Think of it, Jesus knew exactly what the Old Testament said was going happen to the Messiah. The beatings, the stripes, the disfigurement to the point of no recognition (see Isaiah 50:6 and Isaiah 53). Only the strength of God could press on through such a horrific, inescapable outcome. And yet, Christ was not forced to do any of it, but He did it in submission to his Father’s will — and He did it for you!
Let us pray: Almighty God, grant that in the midst of our failures and weaknesses we may be restored through the passion and intersession of Your only-begotten Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
