VICTORY IN PRAYER

Passage: Mark 14:32-42

Key verse: 36

NIV

Gethsemane(A)

32 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(B) along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,”(C) 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(D) might pass from him. 36 “Abba,[a] Father,”(E) he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup(F) from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”(G)

37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.(H) The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”(I)

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(J) has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 14:36 Aramaic for father
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

32 (A)And they went (B)to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And he took with him (C)Peter and James and John, and began (D)to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, (E)“My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and (F)watch.”[a] 35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground (G)and prayed that, if it were possible, (H)the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, (I)“Abba, Father, (J)all things are possible for you. Remove (K)this cup from me. (L)Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 (M)Watch and (N)pray that you may not (O)enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again he went away and prayed, (P)saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for (Q)their eyes were very heavy, and (R)they did not know what to answer him. 41 And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? (S)It is enough; (T)the hour has come. (U)The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 14:34 Or keep awake; also verses 37, 38
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. The cup (32-34) The burden our Lord was about to bear was very real. Jesus was overcome with sorrow to the point of death. Not only did he face the horrors of crucifixion, but the full extent of God's wrath for the sin of the whole world. He would be separated from the Father and, as the Bible says, actually become sin. Such a thing was completely repulsive to the pure and holy Son of God. No doubt, this was also the moment of Satan's fiercest temptations. We can envision him whispering in Jesus' ear that certainly there must be an easier way. How could Jesus bear such a burden? He turned to the Father in prayer. 2. God's will, not ours (35-42) Jesus prayed, "Yet not what I will, but what you will." Prayer is a struggle for God's will to win out over our own will. By accepting our Father's will, we put our trust and faith in Him and His strength becomes our strength. Look at our Lord's courage after prayer! He did not run or hide. Instead, he said "Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!" This is what happens when we place our lives in the Father's hands. Jesus told his disciples to "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." As Jesus demonstrated, this is the path to victory.

Prayer: Father, may your will be done in our lives as well.

One Word: Not my will, but God's will