Mark 14:32-36: a reflection

32They came to a place which was named Gethsemane. He said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be greatly troubled and distressed. 34He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.” 35He went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him. 36He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire.”

In the garden of Gethsemane, on the night before he died, Jesus enters into deep anguish. He tells Peter, James, and John, My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. He goes a little farther, falls to the ground, and prays: Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will. Here is the Son of God in real agony, praying honestly for the suffering to pass, and yet surrendering himself completely to the Father's will.

Notice both the honesty and the surrender in Jesus' prayer. He does not hide his anguish or pretend he does not dread the cup; he tells the Father plainly, remove this cup from me. And yet, having poured out his true desire, he yields: not what I will, but what you will. His prayer holds both together, the honest cry of a sorrowing heart, and the full surrender of that heart to the Father. He asks truly, and submits fully.

That is a model for our own prayers in suffering. We are sometimes told that faith means hiding our anguish or not asking for our trials to be taken away. But Jesus, in his deepest distress, prayed honestly for the cup to pass, and then surrendered to the Father's will. So may we. Bring your honest desire to God; tell him plainly what you long for, even that a suffering be removed. And then, like Jesus, yield it to the Father: not my will, but yours. And take comfort that the Son of God knows the anguish of the garden; he understands your sorrow, for he has felt it. Pray honestly, surrender fully, and trust the Father who was with his Son in Gethsemane.

Lord Jesus, in Gethsemane, in real anguish, your soul sorrowful even to death, you prayed honestly, Abba, Father, remove this cup from me, and yet surrendered fully, not what I will, but what you will. Teach me to pray as you prayed. When I am in distress, let me bring my honest desire to the Father, telling him plainly what I long for, even that a suffering be taken away, without hiding my anguish or pretending I do not dread it. And then, like you, help me yield it: not my will, but yours. Hold both together in me, the honest cry and the full surrender. And thank you that you know the anguish of the garden, that you understand my sorrow, for you have felt it. Help me pray honestly, surrender fully, and trust the Father who was with you in Gethsemane, and who is with me in mine.