'ABBA, FATHER'

Passage: Mark 14:27-42

Key verse: 36

NIV

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial(A)

27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:

“‘I will strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep will be scattered.’[a](B)

28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”(C)

29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”

30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice[b] you yourself will disown me three times.”(D)

31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you,(E) I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.

Gethsemane(F)

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

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.(M) The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”(N)

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(O) 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 14:27 Zech. 13:7
  2. Mark 14:30 Some early manuscripts do not have twice.
  3. 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

27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will (A)strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I am raised up, (B)I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 (C)Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” 30 And (D)Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before (E)the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But (F)he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

32 (G)And they went (H)to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And he took with him (I)Peter and James and John, and began (J)to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, (K)“My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and (L)watch.”[a] 35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground (M)and prayed that, if it were possible, (N)the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, (O)“Abba, Father, (P)all things are possible for you. Remove (Q)this cup from me. (R)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 (S)Watch and (T)pray that you may not (U)enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again he went away and prayed, (V)saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for (W)their eyes were very heavy, and (X)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? (Y)It is enough; (Z)the hour has come. (AA)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. Jesus predicts Peter's denial (27-31) Jesus' prediction about his disciples to fall away was not just out of his assumption. He believed the word of God absolutely. As it was written he believed his disciples would fall away. But Peter trusted his willpower more than the word of God saying, "Even though all fall away, I would never." He also rejected Jesus' word of his denial three times. But Jesus gave hope of his resurrection. He would meet them in Galilee as he predicted. 2. "Yet not what I will but your will!" (32-42) Jesus is the perfect God but also totally a human being. In his weak humanity, his soul was overwhelmed with great anguish to the point of death before his crucifixion. He asked God his Father, like a child with crying tears deeply distressed and troubled, "Abba, Father!" He prayed till his sweat became like blood dripping. He prayed that God might take away the cup of suffering. His persistent prayer was, "Yet not what I will but what you will!" He prayed three times till he won the victory, asking God not to change His will but to obey His will. Meanwhile, Jesus' disciples could not pray for even an hour because though their spirit was willing, their flesh was weak. Here Jesus showed through prayer that we can and must overcome temptation and win the victory before fighting.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your victory in prayer to submit yourself to God's will. Let me not sleep but pray even though my flesh is weak.

One Word: Pray until you submit to God's will!