Mark 14:34 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch."

NIV: "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch."

NASB: And He *said to them, 'My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.'

CSB: He said to them, "I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake."

NLT: He told them, 'My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.'

KJV: And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.

NKJV: Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.”

Jesus and the disciples have celebrated the Passover and are now in the garden of Gethsemane, on the Mount of Olives, just east of the Temple Mount. Although some scholars say the group spent every night in Bethany with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, Scripture merely says they slept on "the mount called Olivet" (Luke 21:37). Gethsemane is at least familiar enough to the disciples that Judas knows where to find them (John 18:2).

Now, as Jesus prays for strength to face the next few hours, He tells Peter, James, and John to pray and watch (Mark 14:34). "Watch" is from the Greek root word gregoreuo and means to pay attention to avoid calamity. Jesus knows that their watching can't prevent the crucifixion, or even Peter's denial (Mark 14:30). He knows the disciples will scatter in just a few hours (Mark 14:27). He wants them to be aware that they will soon be greatly tempted to sin (Mark 14:38). As Jesus prepares to have His relationship with Father God severed, He wants His three closest friends to have the strength enough to endure for their own sakes and meet Him again after the resurrection (Mark 14:28).

"Sorrowful" is from the Greek root word perilupos and is also translated "deeply grieved" and "overwhelmed with sorrow." It is true the Jesus suffered a worse hardship than anyone else in the world. After an infinite existence in perfect harmony and love with the other members of the Trinity, He is brutally cut off, rejected and despised. We need to remember this moment in His life when we lose a loved one or know someone who has. Loss is real. Sorrow is real. Logical thinking like, "We'll see them again someday" or "God has a purpose" isn't enough to wash Jesus' agony away here, and we shouldn't expect such words to fully restore us, either. Jesus shows us how to acknowledge our most agonizing feelings while still walking in obedience to the God who has put us on this path.

Mark 14:32–42 contains Jesus' wait in the garden of Gethsemane. This describes Jesus' example and the disciples' catastrophic failure to follow the general theme of Jesus' admonition in Mark 13:32–37. Jesus watches how God moves and prays for His part in it. The disciples sleep. Three times, their Master finds them unconscious, both physically and spiritually (Mark 13:35–36). They do not take the time, as Jesus does, to prepare for the hardships in front of them. They so expect Jesus' victory over the Roman occupiers they don't prepare for His spiritual war on the cross. This story is also in Matthew 26:36–46 and Luke 22:39–46.

Jesus is anointed in a symbolic anticipation of His death. Judas decides to secretly cooperate with local religious leaders to arrest Jesus in secret. During the Passover meal, Jesus predicts His betrayal by Judas, and Peter's denial. He also institutes the Lord's Supper, also known as communion. After praying on the Mount of Olives, Jesus is captured when Judas identifies Him to a hostile mob sent by Jewish authorities. He endures a corrupt, prejudiced trial, ending in a conviction for blasphemy. Peter, fearing for his life, lies about knowing Jesus, before remembering Jesus' prediction and breaking down in sobs.

Jesus has finished His public teaching ministry and now prepares for the crucifixion. His sacrificial loyalty will provide the means by which the disciples' abandonment will be forgiven. Next, the Romans, as representatives of Gentiles throughout history, will join the Jews and kill Jesus. Jesus will be buried, but He will rise again with the promise that His sacrifice will redeem the world. Matthew 26 and Luke 22 follow Mark 14 more closely while John 13:1—18:27 records more of Jesus' teaching in the upper room.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.