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.’
Mark 14:32-36 [NIV]
Jesus’ distress is obvious in this passage, and it culminates in his prayer in v36. The reference to God as ‘Father’ is important, it is how Jesus has referred to God throughout his life and ministry and it is not known as a name for God until Jesus uses it. We are also invited into this intimacy with God. Jesus asks that God will take the cup away from him, a metaphor for what he is about to face. It’s clear that Jesus did not relish what he was about to do, but was obedient to what God asked of him. God did not give him what he asked, but he does give him the strength he needs to carry on. Gooder reminds us that this is important to remember - God will always answer our prayers, but it may not be in the way we expect.
Emma Higgins
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