In Garden of Gethsemane
Mark 14:32-52
Read the passage in your Bible (Mark 14:32-52) Read
through the notes below, referring to the Bible passage. Answer
the questions.
Notes
Jesus at prayer (14:32-42)
Jesus and his disciples go to the Garden of Gethsemane, which
is an olive grove on the Mount of Olives, immediately after they
have celebrated the Last Supper. The Mount of Olives is a hill a
short walk from Jerusalem, across the Kidron Valley.
Jesus prays in the garden. It seems that he is genuinely
terrified by death: the passage is sometimes called 'the agony'
of Jesus. In the saying of the Rosary, 'The Agony in the Garden'
is the first of the Sorrowful Mysteries. This time of prayer is
also remembered after the Mass of the Last Supper on Maundy
Thursday, when a 'Watch of Prayer' is kept in Churches, usually
before a special altar decorated like a garden. People pray in
front of the altar until midnight, as if they were disciples
praying in the garden with him.
He is truly alone. In his prayers he uses the word 'Abba' for
God. The word means 'Dear Father' and is a word a child would use
for his father: it is a bit like saying 'Daddy'. The first
Christians used this word in their worship, but the Jews usually
did not, because it was too informal.
Jesus asks for the 'cup' to be taken from him. Drinking a cup
is a symbol for sharing in suffering. Jesus uses the same phrase
when James and John approach him asking for seats in his kingdom.
Three times Jesus prayed and three times the disciples fell
asleep: even though they had said that they would die for him!
When Jesus approached them, they didn't know what to say to him
(verse 40).
The arrest (14:43-50)
Judas brings a gang of men with him to Jesus. They are
probably temple guards, sent by the Sanhedrin. it is unlikely
that the Roman soldiers get involved yet. It is dark, so Judas
identifies Jesus with a kiss. This was the way in which a
disciple would normally greet a teacher. It is meant to be a sign
of respect and loyalty. Judas makes it a sign of treachery.
Jesus does not allow his follows to fight. He is not a
Zealot. He stops the scuffle. The disciples lose all their
courage and run away. In Mark's account, the only disciples to
see Jesus again before his resurrection are the women.
The Young Man (14:51-52)
The detail of the young man is a strange one. Some have
suggested that he is an eyewitness to what happened, or even Mark
himself.
Questions
Copy out these questions, and answer them in your files.
Knowledge
These questions test your knowledge of the passage. Only
short answers are required to these questions.
- What and where is Gethsemane? Who did Jesus take with him
when he went to pray? What did Jesus call God in his
prayer? What did Jesus ask God to do? What were the
disciples doing while Jesus was praying? How many times
did Jesus find them like this? Who did Judas arrive with?
What sign did Judas give to identify Jesus to the crowd?
Who attacked whom? Who ran away naked?
Understanding
These questions refer to the passage and the Notes.
- When, and in what ways, is the story of Jesus in the
Garden of Gethsemane remembered by the Church? What is
the meaning of the name which Jesus uses for God when he
prays in the Garden? A young man is mentioned in
14:51-52. Who might he be? What sort of picture of Jesus
is given in the description of his prayer in the Garden?
What sort of person does Jesus appear to be in the way he
reacts to his arrest?
Evaluation Activities
These questions ask for your own opinions or feelings on
the passage.
Use your imagination
16. Do one of the following activities.
- Imagine you are one of the disciples. Write a diary entry
describing the events of the evening and your feelings.
or
- You are asked to lead a meditation for the saying of the
Rosary. Write what you would say for mystery of the Agony
in the Garden.
or
- Write a poem describing the feelings of Jesus during
these events.
What do you think?
The following questions require quite detailed answers. It
is better to answer one fully, than to answer all of them
superficially.
- When Mark recorded the story of Gethsemane, we know he
believed that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. What
kind of Son of God does Mark seem believe Jesus to
be? Take into account the way Jesus prays and what
happens when he was arrested. What is surprising about
this picture?
- Should Jesus have encouraged his followers to fight? Give
reasons for your answer?
- The early Christians were often persecuted for their
belief in Jesus. Do you think this story would have been
any help or encouragement to them? Do you think it is any
encouragement to Christians today? Give reasons for your
answer.
|