Religious Education
The GCSE Course: Mark’s Gospel
In Garden of Gethsemane
Text
Mark 14:32-52
They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch." 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
41 Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!" 43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. 44
Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard." 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
48 "Am I leading a rebellion," said Jesus, "that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled."
50 Then everyone deserted him and fled. 51
A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
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.
General Information
The complete text of Mark's Gospel
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