8. THE AGONY IN Mark 14:32-42 (Matthew 26:36-46; Luke 22:39-46; John 18:1) 32 And they come unto a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith unto his disciples,--"Gethsemane" means a place of oil presses, and doubtless this place had once been used for pressing out olive oil, but it was at this time a garden. (John 18:1.) Sit ye here, while I pray.--[He was approaching the last fearful trial--his betrayal and crucifixion. As it came nearer and nearer, he felt it the more keenly and sensitively. He dreaded the trial and the pangs of the crucifixion with more than human sensitiveness. He felt all the weakness of humanity in the temptation. He knew Judas was then gone to bring the band to arrest him. He dreaded the conflict, and besought help from his Father in prayer. All through his ministry, when questions of importance pressed upon him, he went to his Father in prayer. So he said to the disciples, "Sit ye here, while I pray." Matthew (Matthew 26:36) says: "While I go yonder and pray," showing he would go away from them to pray alone.] 33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John.--[He left the eight, we may suppose, near the entrance to the garden, and took these three apostles that seem to have been favorites with him--at least, he several times chose them to be with him on special occasions, while the others were not. He carried these only a short distance, and left them to watch for the coming of the soldiers while he went alone to pray.] and began to be greatly amazed, and sore troubled. --[Struck or overcome with horror and dread at the fate that was awaiting him. He wrestled with this dread, and was oppressed with a great sorrow. His feelings as a human being prevailed and in the anguish of his soul he was "sore troubled"--depressed in soul and heart.] 34 And he saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death:--[He told the disciples that went with him that the sorrows that were oppressing him were such as to produce death, or that he would prefer to die rather than bear them, they were so heavy. Mental dread of impending evil is often more excruciating than the suffering of physical pain when it comes. When the resolution is once formed that we will submit to or go through the ordeal of trial, a composure of mind and heart comes that strips the ordeal of more than half its terrors. Jesus was human, with our fleshly weaknesses and temptations, with its dread of suffering intensified by the recoil of the divine element within him from sin and its consequences. We may imagine the divine element, with its hatred and horror of sin, drew back from the public manifestation before the world as a sin offering, as though God had sinned.] abide ye here, and watch.--[He told them to tarry there and watch while he went still forward in prayer. He did not wish to be surprised in his devotions by the coming of his enemies, so he asked them to watch while he prayed. Matthew (26 :38) says: "Abide ye here, and watch with me." In this hour of agony Jesus desired human sympathy. He had encouraged and comforted his disciples in every hour of trouble and weakness, but now he desired them to watch with him that he might not be disturbed by the traitor and the mob in his hour of communion with God.] 35 And he went forward a little,--[Luke (22:41) says: "He was parted from them about a stone's cast." He went a little distance from them, so that they could not hear or see his wrestling with God. The fact that they slept while he was undergoing these sorrows shows he was not in hearing or sight of them. When beyond their reach, in agony of soul he threw himself prostrate on the ground.] and fell on the ground, and prayed--[Kneeling is the ordinary attitude of prayer to God, but in deep distress, and in his helplessness, man throws himself prostrate before his maker as a bodily expression of the complete helplessness of soul he feels, and of his throwing himself upon God as his only help.] that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him.--[In the above attitude he prayed this prayer. Matthew records it: "He went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." The human dread of death was drawing back with terror from the suffering he was to endure, intensified by the divine horror of being held up before the universe as a sinner. Jesus died as a sinner. He died for sins not his own. His prayer was that the cup of suffering--the horror of woe that was rapidly coming upon him--might pass from him. This was the fleshly element of his nature pleading for exemption from the suffering that is coming upon him. While God heard him, he did not grant the prayer as Jesus asked it should be granted. God hears prayer that he does not grant. It is not sinful to make prayers God cannot grant. The prayer of Jesus was answered by his being strengthened to bear the suffering.] 36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee;--["Abba" means "father." It is the Hebrew word preserved here, with its translation, "Father," given. He calls him Father, and tells him all things are possible to him. All power is in his hands; therefore he asks him to so use that power that he may escape the sufferings that would come upon him in that hour, or to pass this cup of suffering from him.] remove this cup from me:--[He means the cup of suffering he was then to drink. The flesh seemed to get the upper hand of him for a moment. He shrank back from the suffering and he prayed that God would take it away. But he recovered his faith and added: "Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."] howbeit not what I will, but what thou wilt.--He dreaded the sufferings, and would like to escape them, he yet had rather endure them than that God's will should not be performed, or that his purposes should not he carried out. On the day previous, looking forward to this hour, he said "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this cause came I unto this hour." (John 12:27.) This shows the dread of the hour--the drawing back of the flesh from the hour--yet he adds: "For this cause (to suffer) came I unto this hour." Luke (Luke 22:44) says: "Being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became as it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground." The anguish was so deep and excruciating that it wrung from his face great drops of bloody sweat that in their abundance fell to the ground. This suffering of the soul was greater than bodily suffering.] 37 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping,--[They were poor watchers; yet they understood but little of the wonderful occurrences passing before them, or of the fearful struggles going on in the soul of Jesus. They had undergone the excitement and labors of the eventful day. It is now far into the night. Luke says he "found them sleeping for sorrow." (22 :45.) While they did not understand the full meaning of what was going forward, they saw Jesus was oppressed--that things were not going well. They were disappointed and downcast in spirit. That, added to their bodily weariness, caused them to sink into a heavy sleep.] and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou?--[Jesus addressed Peter. He was more forward than the others in asserting he would die with him before he would deny him.] couldest thou not watch one hour--Wast thou unable--not strong enough to watch as short a period as sixty minutes? 38 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation :--That ye be not overcome and oppressed with these trials of your faith, so as to deny me. The word "temptation" here properly means what would try their faith in the approaching calamities, his rejection and death. the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.-- [He followed up the reproof of their failing to watch with and for him with the admonition that they should both watch and pray for themselves, lest they enter into temptation, while this conveys a general lesson to all to watch themselves, to watch their surroundings, to watch the influences that control them, to watch lest they have too much self-confidence (this was Peter's weakness and the occasion of his downfall), lest they run into temptations that they cannot bear, it had a special reference to the temptations that would soon be upon them by virtue of his trial and crucifixion. The reason he gives is, "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." He recognizes the two elements in man--the spirit and the flesh.] 39 And again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words.--[He left and went again, and made the same earnest prayer. He repeated the prayer to God earnestly and fervently in the same words. He was not afraid of worrying his Father with his petitions and repetitions.] 40 And again he came, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they knew not what to answer him. --[They had lost much sleep; they were worn and wearied. They understood enough to know dark clouds hung around the pathway of their Master. The earthly prospects failed, their eyes were heavy, and after Jesus left them they quickly fell asleep again: and they did not know what response to make him or excuse to give him for sleep. But clearly Jesus, as he returns each time, is growing in composure and resignation. His prayer is not answered by releasing him from the hour, but he is becoming resigned and submissive to it as the will of his Father. To become resigned and submissive to any fate is to take away its bitterness--is to prepare to meet it. The angels watched over him, and when he was tired they readily gave the help needed to enable him to bear the burdens laid upon him by God. God answered him not by taking the trial from him, but by strengthening him to bear it. God so treats every child that humbly, trustingly, and faithfully seeks to do his will. He will not always take from us our burdens, but he will give us strength to bear them.] 41 And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough; the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.-- [When he returns from his prayer the third time he finds them asleep again. But the struggle is over with him. The spirit has overcome the flesh. He can without a struggle now submit to the will of his Father, even by going to the cross and the grave. So he says to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest." He knew their bodies needed rest.] 42 Arise, let us be going: behold, he that betrayeth me is at hand.--["While he yet spake, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords, and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people." (Matthew 26:47.) He is betrayed into their hands, and willingly now gives himself a ransom for the sins of the world.]