Mark 14:32-52
The text before us details interactions which took place in the garden of Gethsemane following the supper at which Jesus announced that He would be betrayed and that the disciples would be offended because of Him (v. 18, 27). Jesus stated that these things would transpire “for it is written.” The prophet Zechariah wrote of the scattering of the sheep some 500 years before the day on which the shepherd would be slain and the sheep scattered (Zech. 13:7).
“Sit ye here, while I shall pray” (v. 32). The “ye” whom Jesus addressed did not include Peter, James, and John. Those whom Jesus directed to sit while He prayed also did not include Judas who would betray Him. The “ye” who were instructed to sit were, at a minimum, the remaining eight disciples who partook of the bread and the cup at the supper. There is a possibility that unnamed individuals, other than the eight, were present. Verse 51 reveals the presence of a certain young man who followed Jesus but was not of the twelve who partook of the supper. Discussion of the presence of this certain young man will wait until after a review the text which precedes.
Jesus instructed Peter, James, and John to accompany Him further into the garden. The three looked upon Jesus and observed that He “began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy” (v. 33). The Greek word which is translated as “sore amazed” is used to convey great distress. Likewise, “very heavy” means to display extreme anxiety. Distress and anxiety are experiences common to all who are being tested. Peter, James and John had been close to Jesus for the duration of His earthly ministry. The three had witnessed incidents in which Jesus had walked away from life-threatening situations without distress or anxiety. Now, in the garden, the three witnessed that which they had never seen before.
“My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto to death . . .” (v. 34). Now, with their ears, Peter, James and John heard that which their eyes had revealed to them. The time for “my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mk. 1:11) to be made an offering for sin (Isa. 53:10) had arrived. The time had come in which He would pour out “his soul unto death” (Isa. 53:12). Peter, James and John saw and heard His distress.
“. . . tarry ye here, and watch.” The three watched as Jesus prayed. They heard the Son call out to the Father, saying, “all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt” (v. 36). It would seem that the will of the Son was different from that of the Father. There is, however, no conflict between wills. The Son acknowledged the power of the Father to “take away this cup” but then asked that the Father’s will be done. The Father’s will was stated in Genesis 3:15 when God said the heel of the seed of woman should be bruised by the serpent and the promised seed would bruise the serpent’s head. God’s plan of salvation was ordained before the foundation of the earth was in place (I Pet. 1:19-20). The Son did not ask the Father to change the plan which He had ordained from the beginning or to undo that which He made known in Genesis 3:15. The Son was totally submissive to the Father.
“And he cometh, and findeth them asleep . . .” (v. 37). The picture of the Son addressing the Father in prayer is replaced by a scene in which Jesus reacts to His slumbering followers. Jesus had instructed the three to watch while He prayed (v. 34). He, literally, instructed them to keep their eyes upon Him. They did not do it; they fell asleep. While Jesus found all asleep, He chose to respond only to Peter’s failure. Peter had vehemently proclaimed that he would not deny Jesus (v. 31). Jesus asked “Simon, sleepest thou?” a question that received no answer. His question was a gentle rebuke to Peter’s failure to watch as he had been directed.
In verse 38, Jesus repeated His earlier command to “ye” to watch and added the instruction to pray. Peter was a third part of this “ye.” The prayer which the three was instructed to pray was that they not enter into temptation. “The spirit is truly ready, but the flesh is weak” (v. 38b). The three had just affirmed the weakness of the flesh by slumbering. The spirit and the flesh war within all men (see Rom. 7:18-23). Jesus countered temptation to yield to the flesh with prayer (v. 35, 39). Jesus, in instructing the three to pray, directed them to resist temptation in the same manner as He did. That which was true in Gethsemane two thousand years ago is true today. Believers are to do as Jesus directs. We are to resist temptation through prayer.
The next scene to unfold at Gethsemane is the betrayal. “Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand” (v. 42). Jesus did not instruct His disciples to flee. They were to go forward to meet Judas, the betrayer, and the armed multitude sent from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. They were to allow the evil in the hearts of the religious leaders to be manifested. Peter (the one who cut off the servant’s ear) attempted to intervene. His intervention was contrary to the scriptures which must be fulfilled. His intervention was for naught. The promised seed was to be rejected by men and seemingly smitten for offenses against God (Isa. 53:4).
“And they all forsook him, and fled” (v. 50). All forsook and fled. Not one of them who partook of the supper remained. There was, however, a certain young man who did not flee (v. 51). This young man was clothed in a linen cloth (sleeping attire). He sought to follow Jesus but fled when the young men of the high priests attempted to take him. The identity of this young man is believed by Bible scholars to be Mark, the human author of this gospel. Some believe that the site of the supper was the home of Mark’s mother, the home mentioned in Acts 12:12. We do not know that Mark awoke from sleep and followed Jesus and the disciples to Gethsemane. We do know, however, that this young man saw every disciple flee, leaving Jesus in the hands of them who would place Him upon the cross. The picture is of Jesus alone. There is one name alone, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Jesus, alone, was smitten to save all.
