The Garden
READ
Gethsemane reveals Jesus at his most human. The confident teacher who spoke with authority now admits, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death."
Let’s take a moment to read Mark 14:32-52:
They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
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? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.
Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.”Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him. Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
“Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” Then everyone deserted him and fled.
A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
REFLECT
Three times Jesus prays for the cup of suffering to be taken from him. Three times he returns to find his disciples sleeping. His struggle is solitary; even his closest friends cannot stay awake in his hour of need.
Yet in this garden of agony, we witness not only Jesus's humanity but his perfect obedience: "Not what I will, but what you will." The cup will not pass; he will drink it to its dregs. This is the supreme moment of Jesus's surrender—not a passive resignation but an active entrusting of himself to the Father's purpose.
The betrayal that follows is swift and brutal. Judas arrives with an armed crowd. The identifying sign is a kiss—an intimate gesture turned inside out, transformed from affection to treachery. A disciple (whom John identifies as Peter) lashes out violently, cutting off a servant's ear. But Jesus halts this misguided defense. His kingdom will not advance through violence.
Then comes the final abandonment: "Everyone deserted him and fled." The disciples who had promised to die with Jesus cannot even stay with him when the authorities arrive. One unnamed young man, possibly Mark himself, flees naked rather than be caught with Jesus.
Gethsemane confronts us with profound questions about our own discipleship. Do we, like the sleeping disciples, fail to watch and pray? Do we, like Peter, substitute impulsive violence for true faithfulness? Do we flee when following Jesus becomes dangerous? The honest answer is likely yes—we all have moments when our resolve weakens, when the cost seems too high.
But Gethsemane also offers hope. Jesus's surrender to the Father's will opens the way for our reconciliation. His solitary suffering means we are never truly alone in our darkest hours. His perfect obedience covers our imperfect discipleship.
RESPOND
Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.
What "cup" are you asking God to take from you? How might Jesus's prayer—"not what I will, but what you will"—reshape your approach to this difficulty?
When have you felt abandoned in a time of crisis? How does Jesus's experience in Gethsemane speak to your situation?
REST
Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:
Lord Jesus, in my moments of fear and loneliness, remind me that You walked this path before me. Forgive me when I sleep through opportunities to stand with You. Give me courage to follow where You lead, trusting not in my strength but in Your perfect obedience. Amen.