Stay Awake and Pray!

INTRO

In the Gospel of Matthew, we looked at Jesus as the King. In the Gospel of Mark, we looked at Jesus as the Servant. Everything Jesus said in Mark shows that in order to be the King, He had to come as the Servant (Psalm 78:70-72). Mark 10:45 is the theme verse of the entire book of Mark and supports this understanding of Jesus as the Servant: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many.” Jesus Christ, the Servant, gave up His life for you and for me. In chapters 14-16, we’ll be looking at how we can serve Jesus.

TEACHING

Mark 14:1-26: Verses 1-2 reveal the plot to kill Jesus, and verses 3-11 describe Jesus’ anointing in Bethany. Verses 12-16 describe the preparations that were made for the Passover feast. Verses 17-21 give the account of Jesus foretelling that one of the disciples would betray Him by turning Him over to the opposition. Then in verses 22-26, the disciples share the Lord’s Supper with Jesus. That’s the backdrop for today’s study.

Mark 14:27-31: After the supper was concluded, Jesus and the disciples headed to the Mount of Olives. While they walked, Jesus told them, “All of you will run away, because it is written: “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered” (v. 27). Jesus emphasized that all the disciples would run away when trouble came. Then, He told them, “But after I have been resurrected, I will go ahead of you to Galilee” (v. 28). He was telling them that after they scattered and ran away, they would be able to meet Him in Galilee. Peter denied that he would ever flee, “even if everyone runs away” (v. 29). Jesus said, “I assure you, today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times!” (v. 30). But Peter kept insisting that he’d die with Jesus before he left Him, and the other disciples agreed (v. 31). So, how did the servants of the ultimate Servant serve Him?

Mark 14:32-36: The name “Gethsemane” is only mentioned twice in Scripture, here and in Matthew 26:36. This was Jesus’ regular place to go (John 18:1). Judas also knew where Jesus would be. The name “Gethsemane” means “olive press.” Rodney Cooper wrote that, “Symbolically, Jesus would now be pressed hard concerning the fulfillment of His mission as the ‘sacrifice’ for our sins.”¹Jesus told His disciples to stay and pray. Then He took Peter, James, and John with Him further into the garden (vv. 32-33). Jesus’ humanity is clearly seen here, as He was “deeply distressed and horrified” (v. 33b). He needed the emotional and physical support of His inner circle. He needed moral support. Jesus knew exactly what He was about to experience. Peter, James, and John were alone with Jesus three times: on the Mount of Transfiguration, at the healing of Jairus’ daughter, and in Gethsemane (Philippians 3:10).

MacArthur explains the word “horrified” (NIV “troubled”) “refers to a feeling of terrified amazement. In the face of the dreadful prospect of bearing God’s full fury against sin, Jesus was in the grip of terror.”²In verse 34, Jesus said, “My soul is swallowed up in sorrow––to the point of death.” I think Jesus was distraught because He was about to bear the sin of the world (2 Corinthians 5:21). MacArthur says that “Jesus’ sorrow was so severe that it threatened to cause His death at that moment.”³(Luke 22:44). He was taking on everything—all past, present, and future sin. All He asked of His friends was to stay awake with Him (v. 34). In verse 36, Jesus wasn’t asking if He could get out of what was to come, “but if it were possible in God’s plan.”⁴Jesus was asking if there was another way to fulfill God’s plan. “The hour” (v. 35) refers to “the time of His sacrificial death as decreed by God. It included everything from the betrayal, to Jesus’ trials, the mockery, and His crucifixion.”⁵(Jesus used “the hour” throughout His ministry: John 2:4; 7:30.) Jesus had waited on this hour to come and now asked God if there was another way (v. 35b). This intercession is mentioned in Hebrews 5:7: “During His earthly life, He offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the One who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.” Abba was the term for Daddy or Father. Jesus may not have liked what He was required to do, but He willingly did what He was asked (v. 36).

Mark 14:37-43: Jesus returned for the first of three times and found His closest friends asleep. They were unable to stay awake even for one hour (v. 37). Jesus told them again to pray and emphasized that “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (v. 38). MacArthur pointed out that “the disciples needed to learn that spiritual victory goes to those who are alert in prayer and who depend on God and that self-confidence and spiritual unpreparedness lead to spiritual disaster.”⁶When we are so confident that we don’t feel we need to turn to God, we are headed toward spiritual disaster.

Jesus prayed a second time, voicing the same concerns to God, and then came back to find the disciples asleep again. Jesus went a third time to pray and again found the disciples still asleep. Jesus said, “the time has come. Look, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners” (v. 41). The predictions were not the reality. Jesus told His disciples to get up and go with Him to meet His betrayer (v. 42). While Jesus was speaking to His disciples, Judas arrived with the chief priests, scribes, and elders (v. 43).

CLOSING

As servants of the Most High God, we need to learn how to pray and to be on watch.

Colossians 4:2-4: “Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the message, to speak the mystery of the Messiah, for which I am in prison, so that I may reveal it as I am required to speak” (Luke 11:8; 18:4-5).

1 Thessalonians 5:17: “Pray without ceasing” (NASB 1995).

Romans 13:11: “Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.”

How do we get ready? Stay awake and pray!