DAY #78: March 19, 2009 - Mark 14:32-52

After eating the meal, the disciples left Jerusalem and went out to Gethsemane. The garden was in the Kidron Valley just outside the eastern wall of Jerusalem and just below the Mount of Olives. Jesus told eight of the disciples to sit down while he went farther in to pray. The disciples must also have been physically and emotionally exhausted from trying to comprehend what would transpire. Instead of watching, they gave in to their exhaustion and fell asleep.

Jesus asked Peter, James, and John to stay and watch with him. Jesus knew Judas would soon arrive, and Jesus wanted to devote himself to prayer until that time came. Jesus went still farther into the garden to be alone with God. His agony was such that he threw himself on the ground before God in deep spiritual anguish, praying that if possible the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by—that his mission might be accomplished some other way. Hour figuratively refers to the entire event Jesus was facing. The “hour” and the “cup” were used synonymously. Yet Jesus humbly submitted to the Father’s will.

The physical suffering would be horrible enough, but what God’s Son feared most was the cup of spiritual suffering—taking on sin and being separated from God (Hebrews 5:7-9). Yet Jesus reaffirmed his desire to do what God wanted by saying, “Yet I want your will, not mine.”

Jesus got up from his prayer to return to the three disciples, who had fallen asleep. Jesus told the disciples that this was the time to keep alert and pray. Their inner desires and intentions would be, as they had previously boasted, to never deny Jesus and to die with him. Yet with all their human inadequacies, fears, and failures, the disciples would have difficulty carrying out those good intentions.

Jesus went away to pray a third time, only to come back and find the disciples had fallen asleep once more. The disciples had not taken the opportunity to pray, and there would be no more time to do so—His time had come. Even as Jesus spoke to his disciples to rouse them from their sleep, Judas arrived. The leading priests had issued the warrant for Jesus’ arrest, and Judas was acting as Jesus’ official accuser. The mob, armed with swords and clubs, came in the middle of the night when most of the people were asleep and they could arrest Jesus without commotion. Although there were no crowds to worry about, Jesus was surrounded by eleven loyal followers who the Temple guards feared might put up a fight.

Although it looked as if Satan were getting the upper hand, everything was proceeding according to God’s plan. It was time for Jesus to die. Peter didn’t realize that Jesus had to die in order to gain victory. But Jesus demonstrated perfect commitment to his Father’s will. His Kingdom would not be advanced with swords, but with faith and obedience.


Judas’s kiss marked a turning point for the disciples and Jesus’ loyal disciples deserted him and ran away. The teacher who had held forth in the Temple was now under arrest. The treasurer had become a traitor. The garden sanctuary that had always been “safe” was turned into the place of confrontation. What confusion! The disciples’ primary loyalty to Jesus should have kept them from running. But fear took its toll.

Only Mark records the incident of the young man who also fled the scene. Tradition says that this young man may have been John Mark, the writer of this Gospel, in whose home the Last Supper may have taken place. If that is true, at some point Mark had awakened from sleep and had followed the disciples to the garden. Perhaps soldiers had come to the house looking for Jesus and this young man had attempted to warn Jesus before the soldiers reached him. But in Gethsemane, Jesus had already been arrested and the disciples had fled. Someone grabbed this young man, perhaps hoping to use him as a witness. At that, the young man broke free from his captors grasp, escaped and ran away naked.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Stay alert. Don't fall asleep at the switch. Keep your head on a swivel, always on guard, always on duty and always ready. I am reminded on the admonition of Peter in his first book (1 Peter 5:8-9).

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."

Peter must have thought back to that night in the Garden when he penned these words. I can imagine the regret and remorse at succumbing to the desire to sleep, rather than stay awake and be there for Jesus in His greatest hour of need.

Lord, it has been on my heart for some time now to get back in shape. Once again I will give my full effort to this task. If you are a reader of this blog, I ask you to pray for me and hold me accountable. I want to set the pace and I want/need to be the example of self control/self discipline and alertness. Track my progress in the "Read the New Testament in a Year" section of our Sunday bulletin. (At the bottom right hand side of the bulletin, there will be a circle with my current weight. That number should be dropping from week to week)

Now, let me ask you, what area of self - discipline do you need to grow in your life? The life of Jesus teaches us that we need to continually grow in four key disciplines of life. The intellectual , physical , spiritual and social arenas of life.

"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." Luke 2:52 (NIV)

Take a risk. Put your hide on the wall. Step out of the shadows and share. I dare you.