About Mark: In this section we probably have Mark's anonymous signature appearance; the young man whose curiosity compels him to stay a little longer after the disciples have "deserted" Jesus.
Mark was known in the early church as "stump-fingered", and some have speculated that in the dark encounter with the Roman soldiers he suffered injury to a hand.
The dominating figure is Jesus. The steadfast determination is reiterated by the repeated prayer of submission to God's will. We probably owe the record of this to Mark, concealed and watching in the garden, having followed the group from the upper room to Gethsemane.
Bible: Mark 14:32-52, Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
32 They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." 33 He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. 34 And said to them, "I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake." 35 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 He said, "Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want." 37 He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? 38 Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. 41 He came a third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand."
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
43 Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard." 45 So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. 46 Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. 47 But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 48 Then Jesus said to them, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? 49 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled." 50 All of them deserted him and fled.
43 Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard." 45 So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. 46 Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. 47 But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 48 Then Jesus said to them, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? 49 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled." 50 All of them deserted him and fled.
Comment: THE STRONG AND THE WEAK
HIS IMPENDING DEATH grips Jesus with "distress" and "agitation" (33). He is "deeply grieved - even to death" (34). Throwing himself to the ground (35) he prays that if it is possible this hour would pass from him (35). For with God "all things are possible" - but there is no way around this. Jesus prays, "Remove this cup from me," then those magisterial words of self-denial to do the will of God, "yet not what I want but what you want" (36). Such prayers are not said easily; their reality must grow by a repeated cycle of thinking the thought, forming the commitment, declaring oneself, then reflecting on what it means and going through the cycle again ... and again ... and again!
This is a lesson to Peter (sleepy "Simon" in 37) that brave words and good resolutions quickly spoken mean nothing compared to commitments that come hard and slow, again and again. For this is how Jesus prayed (39, 41).
Many picture Jesus entering a period of isolation from God during the cross! This does not conform to Mark's story. Jesus' closeness to God is not only conveyed by his commitment to his mission as Messiah, which is why the cup cannot pass from him, but it is also in the intimacy of the reported relationship that Jesus has with God. He said, "Abba, Father ...." (36). No more powerful intimacy of relationship can be expressed than this. How soon the disciples' vows of support are broken, and not by a frontal attack of swords (to which they respond with willing spirit, 47) but by the weakness of the flesh (38). Their mistake, and frequently ours, is in not taking sufficient account of the weakness of our flesh. It is a first tenet of Christian faith that we are sinners, frail, prone to stumbling. Indeed that's why we need a Saviour, who through the ultimate frailty of death opens the path to eventual recovery. We should not talk as if we are already recovered; but rather as those on the path to recovery, who have a willing spirit.
The scene seems set for battle. They are armed with swords and clubs (43), and Jesus' disciples seem ready to fight. One of them, Peter according to John 18:10, wounds the high priest's servant. Jesus is reported by the doctor Luke to heal it (Luke 22:51). And Jesus rejects the violence, refusing to be labelled a bandit (Mark 14:48). He had always taught openly and blamelessly in the temple. There is nothing secret or subversive or surreptitious about Christianity. Even this incident in the darkness of the garden is made public by Mark's pen.
Discipleship today: The distance between Jesus and his disciples is obvious. He is in mortal agony, while they have so little to occupy their thoughts, they fall asleep. Repeatedly! We can fail to recognise that God is concerned for us, acting for us, grieving for us. We may be oblivious to the costs of our redemption. And sleep while He is awake.
Then when the mob appears with swords, the disciples' response is typically adrenalin-driven to meet violence with violence. But this is not Jesus' way, and when the support of merely standing with him and by him in his hour of trial is called for, it seems much harder than fighting, and they desert. These scenes should challenge you and me. There are times when God is at work, when there is nothing more that we should do but wait upon him. While urgent action might give us relief, it does nothing to advance the work of God.
Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
Psalm 31:24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD.
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