32 And they come to a spot, the name of which 'is' Gethsemane, and he saith to his disciples, 'Sit ye here till I may pray;' 33 and he taketh Peter, and James, and John with him, and began to be amazed, and to be very heavy, 34 and he saith to them, 'Exceeding sorrowful is my soul—to death; remain here, and watch.' 35 And having gone forward a little, he fell upon the earth, and was praying, that, if it be possible the hour may pass from him, 36 and he said, 'Abba, Father; all things are possible to Thee; make this cup pass from me; but, not what I will, but what Thou.' 37 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith to Peter, 'Simon, thou dost sleep! thou wast not able to watch one hour! 38 Watch ye and pray, that ye may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is forward, but the flesh weak.' 39 And again having gone away, he prayed, the same word saying; 40 and having returned, he found them again sleeping, for their eyes were heavy, and they had not known what they might answer him. 41 And he cometh the third time, and saith to them, 'Sleep on henceforth, and rest—it is over; the hour did come; lo, the Son of Man is delivered up to the hands of the sinful; 42 rise, we may go, lo, he who is delivering me up hath come nigh.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 14:32-42
Commentary on Mark 14:32-42
(Read Mark 14:32-42)
Christ's sufferings began with the sorest of all, those in his soul. He began to be sorely amazed; words not used in St. Matthew, but very full of meaning. The terrors of God set themselves in array against him, and he allowed him to contemplate them. Never was sorrow like unto his at this time. Now he was made a curse for us; the curses of the law were laid upon him as our Surety. He now tasted death, in all the bitterness of it. This was that fear of which the apostle speaks, the natural fear of pain and death, at which human nature startles. Can we ever entertain favourable, or even slight thoughts of sin, when we see the painful sufferings which sin, though but reckoned to him, brought on the Lord Jesus? Shall that sit light upon our souls, which sat so heavy upon his? Was Christ in such agony for our sins, and shall we never be in agony about them? How should we look upon Him whom we have pierced, and mourn! It becomes us to be exceedingly sorrowful for sin, because He was so, and never to mock at it. Christ, as Man, pleaded, that, if it were possible, his sufferings might pass from him. As Mediator, he submitted to the will of God, saying, Nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou wilt; I bid it welcome. See how the sinful weakness of Christ's disciples returns, and overpowers them. What heavy clogs these bodies of ours are to our souls! But when we see trouble at the door, we should get ready for it. Alas, even believers often look at the Redeemer's sufferings in a drowsy manner, and instead of being ready to die with Christ, they are not even prepared to watch with him one hour.