What Jesus Did

And immediately, even as Jesus said [to Peter, James, and John that his betrayer had arrived], Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders.

—Mark 14:43 NLT

Key Thought​

Think of the incongruity — Jesus is in his place of prayer and is being betrayed by one of his own apostles to a mob that is armed with swords and clubs and that was sent by...

 

When [Jesus] returned to [the disciples] the third time, he said, "Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But no — the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up, let's be going. Look, my betrayer is here!"

—Mark 14:41-42 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus returns from praying for the third time, and he knows the Father's answer. The challenge and the horror that he faces will not pass from him. The cross and all that goes with it will be his to bear alone. The...

 

When [Jesus] returned to [the disciples] again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn't keep their eyes open. And they didn't know what to say.

—Mark 14:40 NLT

Key Thought​

Sometimes we just fail. Maybe we fail because we don't understand the gravity of a behavior. Maybe it's because we're just too weary and distraught to do what we need to do. Maybe it's because we're weak or lazy or ... However, the bottom line is that we are flawed people living in a fallen world. Despite our...

 

[After Jesus found Peter, James, and John sleeping rather than praying, he] left them again and prayed the same prayer as before.

—Mark 14:39 NLT

Key Thought​

So often we find ourselves praying the same prayer several times. Is doing so wrong? Should we keep on praying? How often is too often to pray the same prayer? These are legitimate questions. We do know several things for certain:

• Even though Jesus requested God to let the coming crisis of the cross be lifted from...

 

Then [Jesus] returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Couldn't you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

—Mark 14:37-38 NLT

Key Thought​

We so often underestimate our own weakness. We know what we want to do and be, but so often we fall far short of that. Our intentions are good, but our follow-through is flawed. Thank God for his...

 

"Abba, Father," [Jesus] cried out, "everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine."

—Mark 14:36 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus recognizes two crucial realities: First, God can do anything he wants to do; he is God, the sovereign ruler of all things. Second, Jesus knows that his life must be governed by God's will and not his own. The whole of human salvation history hinges on Jesus' following through on one...

 

[Jesus] went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by.

—Mark 14:35 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus was honest in his prayers to the Father. He demonstrated his need both verbally and physically. In this story, Jesus showed us an essential aspect of genuine prayer when he shared his agony with the Father in humility and honesty. In the verses that follow, he offered himself to do whatever the Father wills...

 

[Jesus] told [Peter, James, and John], "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."

—Mark 14:34 NLT

Key Thought​

We desperately need the presence of friends who love and support us in our times of struggle and distress. Jesus needed these closest three followers — Peter, James, and John — to be there with him in Gethsemane and help him bear his burdens as he approached his crucifixion. So often, we don't ask for help when we need it. In...

 

[Jesus and the disciples] went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, "Sit here while I go and pray." He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed.

—Mark 14:32-33 NLT

Key Thought​

We must never underestimate the emotional and spiritual challenges that Jesus faced as approached being rejected, deserted, and crucified. The battle for our souls took place at Gethsemane as much as it did at the cross. In Gethsemane, Jesus not...

 

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, Peter — this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me."

"No!" Peter declared emphatically. "Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!" And all the others vowed the same.


—Mark 14:30-31 NLT

Key Thought​

Peter's bravado in this instance was not a solo performance. All the followers of Jesus felt that they would follow him to whatever fate awaited them. Little did they know that...