After the Last Supper, Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the Mount of Olives to pray, knowing that in a few hours his mission and God’s plan of salvation would be fulfilled by his passion and death. Previously Peter, James, and John had been privileged to witness Jesus’ glory at his transfiguration (see Matthew 17:1-18; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36), perhaps to strengthen their faith so that they would be prepared to now witness his harrowing anguish in Gethsemane. But like Job’s three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who provided little comfort for Job because they couldn’t grasp the “why” of his suffering, Peter and the sons of Zebedee gave Jesus no consolation during his hours of agony. Rather, they fell asleep as they had done before on the mount of the transfiguration, this time overcome and fatigued by their grief (see Luke 9:32; 22:45). 

Jesus had urged his companions to stay awake and pray not to come into the time of trial (see Mark 14:38a), yet they failed to be vigilant—and thus they later lacked strength when tested and fled.  Scripture scholar George Montague notes that when Jesus addressed the drowsy Peter, he used the apostle’s  name [Simon], evoking his human weakness.” Jesus was saddened by his friends’ failure but not surprised. Sharing in our humanness, he understood the weakness of the flesh even when the spirit is willing (see 14:38b).

Jesus’ experience in Gethsemane was a critical point in his determination to hold fast to his call. In ancient times, the Greek word agonia was a technical term used to describe the sweat athletes produced as they did “warm-up” exercises to loosen up and ready their muscles for competing in the Olympic games. Seen in this light, Jesus’ agony in the garden was a warm-up for his coming passion and crucifixion. 

A costly battle
When, at the outset of this public ministry, Jesus had resisted Satan’s attempts to deter him from his mission, the devil had “departed from him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13). Now Jesus entered into a battle that would ultimately deliver all humankind from the power of Satan. It would be a costly battle. Jesus would have to bear not only physical tortures and suffering but also “our sins in his body on the cross” (1 Peter 2:24). He would experience in his humanity a sense of abandonment by the Father (see Matthew 72:46). So great was this battle that, Luke the physician tells us, bloody sweat fell from him as he prayed. Yet, he had not been abandoned by his Father. Just as Jesus had been ministered to by angels after his encounter with Satan in the wilderness, an angel came to strengthen him (see Luke 22:43-44; Matthew 4:11; Mark 1:13).

Jesus wrestled with the human dread of his impending torments, yet he submitted to the Father’s will without any word of mistrust or rebellion: “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want” (Mark 14:36). As Benedictine Sister Maria Boulding notes, 

Gethsemane was the death-struggle between all that was less than his vocation, yet still had power to attract him, and the purer, freer will in him that could be content with nothing less than abandonment to the utter mysteriousness of the Father’s love. He died in this abandonment, believing in the love of the Father who delivered him to death and seemed to be silent. His act of surrender as he said, “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit” was the breakthrough, the leap beyond all limitations; such obedient love could be vindicated only on the other side of death. St. Paul says that Christ was obedient unto death, but this inevitably meant obedient unto life: the unlimited life, love, freedom and joy of his resurrection. (Prayer: Our Journey Home)

Grow!

1.  When have you been tempted, like Peter, James, and John, to “fall asleep,” turning a blind eye to someone who is in distress or struggling to follow God’s will? What attitudes (such as complacency, reluctance to get involved, feelings of inadequacy) might have held you back? What would help you to be more open to offering support in the future?

2.  Recall a time when it required great effort for you to accept God’s will. Why was acceptance difficult for you? Fear of what God was asking of you? Reluctance to give up your own desires or plans? What was your prayer like then? What did you learn about yourself through this experience? 

3. Do you address God as “Abba, Father” (Mark 14:36) as freely—and as honestly—as Jesus did? What have you learned from the way Jesus prayed in Gethsemane? 

4. To what specific area of your life do Jesus’ words “the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38) apply right now? What impact does knowing that Jesus understands your weakness have on you? Recast Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane in your own words to help you surrender this area to God.

5. What are some dangers to your spiritual wellbeing and relationship with the Lord that you should be vigilant against? How might Jesus’ admonition “Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial” (Mark 14:38)” help you?

Excerpt from Jesus’ Journey to the Cross: A Love unto Death (The Word Among Us Press, 2008). Copyright © 2008 Jeanne Kun. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

This book can be ordered online at www.wau.org.