Jesus in Gethsemane

Going a little further, Jesus falls to the ground and prays that, if possible, the coming ‘hour’ might pass from him. Here, the hour means the approaching time of suffering, not simply a period of sixty minutes.

He addresses God as ‘Abba, Father’. Abba is Aramaic for ‘Father’, and Christians understand this address as expressing Jesus’ close relationship with God. Even in distress, he turns towards his Father and acknowledges that everything is possible for him.

Jesus asks God to take ‘this cup’ away. The cup is a metaphor for the suffering and death ahead, rather than a drink. His request expresses his desire to avoid that suffering. However, he ends with the words, ‘Yet not what I will, but what you will’ (Mark 14:36).

These words hold together two important Christian beliefs. Jesus’ distress reveals his genuine humanity: he experiences fear and sorrow. His willingness to accept God’s will reveals his obedience and trust. Accepting his mission does not mean that he feels no anguish; it means that anguish does not prevent him from remaining faithful.

For Christians today, this prayer provides an example of speaking honestly to God about suffering while still trusting him. Jesus asks for what he desires without making his own wishes the final authority.

The disciples fail to keep watch

When Jesus returns, he finds the disciples asleep. He addresses Peter as Simon and asks whether he could not keep watch for one hour. Jesus tells them to ‘Watch and pray’ so that they will not fall into temptation, adding, ‘The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak’ (Mark 14:38).

The distinction is between good intentions and human weakness. A person may sincerely want to remain faithful but still struggle with tiredness, fear or pressure. The disciples’ heavy eyes prevent them from providing the support Jesus requested.

Jesus goes away and prays the same thing again. On returning, he again finds them sleeping, and they do not know what to say. When he returns a third time, he announces that the hour has come: the Son of Man is being delivered into the hands of sinners. He tells them to rise because his betrayer is approaching.

For Jesus’ early followers, this was a warning that commitment needed more than confident intentions. Christians today may similarly understand watching and praying as remaining spiritually alert and seeking God’s help when loyalty is tested. The scene also encourages practical support for people in distress: Jesus asked his closest followers to stay with him.

Judas identifies Jesus

While Jesus is still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrives with a crowd carrying swords and clubs. They have been sent by the chief priests, teachers of the law and elders.

Judas has arranged a signal: the man he kisses is the person they should arrest and lead away under guard. He approaches Jesus, calls him ‘Rabbi’, meaning teacher, and kisses him. The greeting appears respectful, but its purpose is betrayal. Judas uses the closeness of a trusted disciple to identify Jesus to his enemies.

The men seize Jesus. Someone standing nearby draws a sword and cuts off the ear of the high priest’s servant. This shows an attempt at armed resistance, contrasting with the fear that soon causes the followers to run away.

Jesus accepts arrest while his followers flee

Jesus challenges the crowd’s treatment of him: are they capturing someone who is leading a rebellion? He points out that he had taught openly in the temple courts every day, yet they had not arrested him there. Their swords and clubs contrast with his public activity as a teacher.

He then declares that ‘the Scriptures must be fulfilled’ (Mark 14:49). Christians understand this as placing his arrest and coming suffering within God’s purpose, rather than treating them simply as the defeat of his mission. Jesus does not respond by leading a violent escape. His response can therefore support a Christian understanding of his mission as different from an armed rebellion.

Everyone deserts him and flees. A young man wearing only a linen garment is also following Jesus. When people seize him, he leaves the garment behind and escapes naked. This striking final detail reinforces the atmosphere of panic and abandonment.

Some Christians suggest that the young man may have been Mark himself, which could point to eyewitness involvement in the account. However, the passage does not identify him, so this remains a possibility rather than a certainty.

The ending leaves Jesus isolated. His followers’ failure contrasts with his continuing obedience. For Christians, the passage is both a revelation of Jesus’ faithful acceptance of suffering and a challenge to remain loyal, prayerful and supportive when following him becomes difficult.

• Jesus takes Peter, James and John with him and asks them to keep watch.
• Deep distress shows his humanity; ‘Abba, Father’ expresses closeness to God.
• Cup = approaching suffering and death; hour = the time of that suffering.
• ‘Not what I will, but what you will’ shows obedience and trust.
• The disciples repeatedly sleep. ‘The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak’ contrasts good intentions with human weakness.
• On his third return, Jesus announces that his betrayal is at hand.

Arrest: Mark 14:43–52

• Judas identifies Jesus with a kiss; an armed crowd sent by the religious leaders arrests him.
• Someone nearby cuts off the high priest’s servant’s ear.
• Jesus challenges being treated as a rebel: he had taught openly in the temple.
• ‘The Scriptures must be fulfilled’ connects his suffering with God’s purpose.
• Everyone flees; a young follower escapes naked, leaving his linen garment behind.

Main significance

Jesus: anguish alongside faithful acceptance of God’s will.

Followers: sleep, attempted resistance and flight reveal weakness and failed support.

Christians today: pray honestly, trust God, remain alert to temptation and support those who suffer.