Question

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Yet Not What I Will But What You Will

Mark 14:27-52 

Key Verse: 14:36

1. Read verses 27-31. What did Jesus predict and promise to his disciples (27-28; Zec 13:7b; Mk 16:7)? How did Peter and the disciples reject Jesus’ words and express their self-confidence (29-31)?

2. Read v. 32-34. For what reason did Jesus go to Gethsemane with his disciples (32)? What did Jesus share with three of his disciples and why (33-34)? Why was Jesus so distressed and overwhelmed with sorrow (Isa 53:6b,10a; Heb 2:17-18)?

3. Read v. 35-36. What does Jesus’ prayer reveal about his faith and trust in God (35-36)? What did “the hour” and “this cup” refer to? What did he resolve through this prayer (Heb 5:7-9)?

4. Read v. 37-38. When Jesus found his disciples sleeping, what did he tell Peter to do and why (37-38)? Read v. 39-42. How did Jesus’ persistent prayers contrast his disciples (39-41a)? How was Jesus strengthened through prayer (41b-42)?

5. Read v. 43-46. How did Judas arrange Jesus’ arrest (43-46)? How did the disciples react (47,50-52)? In contrast, how did Jesus respond and why (48-49)? What did Jesus’ acceptance of God’s will mean first for Jesus, and what does it mean for you?

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Attachment

• Mk14-25-52-q-Easter2024.docx

Message

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Not I Will, but What You Will

Mark 14:27-52

Key Verse:14:36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Whenever Easter season comes up, one Hollywood movie reminds us of the story of Jesus, which is “Passion of Christ” directed by Mel Gibson. This movie starts with Jesus’ fierce prayer at the Garden of Gethsemane. The movie starts with Jesus’ prayer and finishes with his resurrection. In today’s passage we learn how Jesus prepared his death through the prayer at Gethsemane. While we study this passage, we find three kinds of people who deal with their crises. The first one is those who depend on their own will. The second is those who obey God’s will. The third is those who follow their fleshly desire.

First, I will not (27-31) After establishing the blood covenant with his disciples, Jesus foretold shocking news to them. Look at verses 27-28. “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Jesus predicted the betrayal of his disciples. Jesus quoted Zechariah 13:7 to support his prediction. Jesus believed their betrayal as the fulfillment of the prophecy. Here the shepherd indicates Jesus and the sheep are his disciples. When Jesus is arrested and crucified, all of them will run away. Jesus also promised to meet them at Galilee after his resurrection. His promise was fulfilled and written in John 21. Jesus predicted all these so that his disciples might prepare for the coming trials without him. 

How did Peter respond to Jesus’ words? In verse 29 Peter declared , “Even if all fall away, I will not.” Peter was upset when he heard Jesus’ prediction about their betrayal. Peter wanted to prove his loyalty before Jesus. So he said, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” We are amazed by Peter’s confidence and loyalty to Jesus, still Peter did not know the limitation of himself. Jesus understood it very well. So he said in verses 30. Look at verse 30. “Truly I tell you, “Jesus answered, “ today–yes, tonight–before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” Jesus predicts Peter's denial three times in very near hour, which was the same night Jesus told. Jesus’ words must have hurt Peter’s pride and confidence for his loyalty, still Jesus told in advance that Peter might have repented when he remembered Jesus’ words in the future. It really happened in Mark 14:72, which says, “Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.”And he broke down and wept.”

In this world there are Peter-like people who are confident based on their ability and will power. They are self-disciplined and live lives driven for purpose. These kinds of people are welcomed by this world and recognized as able and reliable people. Since Peter met Jesus three and half years ago, he left everything and followed Jesus. He was faithful and loyal to Jesus, so he finally became a top leader among the Twelve. He did not allow anyone to challenge his leadership. He did not want anyone, even Jesus, to doubt his loyalty. So he repeated it again in verse 31. “But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.” Peter reaffirmed his loyalty to Jesus. The other disciples said the same. The other disciples were not the leading group like Peter, but the supporting group who followed their leader.

Second, not what I will, but what you will (32-42) After coming out from the Passover meal, Jesus and his disciples moved to another place. Look at verse 32. “They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” Gethsemane is a small garden with many olive trees located at the hillside of Mount Olive. It was used as a shelter for travelers in the heat of the day and as a visiting site for Jesus to frequently pray. Jesus went there to pray with his disciples. He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. (33) He said, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.” (34) Jesus knew what was going to happen to him. In John’s gospel Jesus said that the hour had come, which meant the hour of his crucifixion had arrived. Jesus knew how painful the crucifixion was. Once I hit my finger by accident when I nailed with a hammer. It was so painful that I couldn’t express my pain. Soon my finger became black. Jesus was a carpenter. He must have hit his finger or hand by accident when he worked as a carpenter. He knew very well what nailing his hand and feet meant. Hebrews 2:14-18 which says, “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death–that is, the devil….For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.” The Son of God became a fully human who can experience and feel everything we do. So Jesus began to be deeply distressed and troubled. He asked his disciples to pray for him. Through their prayer Jesus wanted them to support his spiritual struggles.

Look at verses 35-36. “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.” Jesus wanted that if possible the hour might pass from him because he knew the hour of crucifixion was coming. So he prayed to God the Father to take the cup from him. He asked the Father if he had another option, not with crucifixion. He wanted to avoid the cup as much as possible. But, he decided to follow God’s will, not his own will. Here we learn that Jesus went to pray not to know what God’s will is, but to obey God’s will. Jesus already knew what God’s will is. God’s will is crucifixion. Jesus prayed to obey crucifixion even though it was against his own will. 

Hebrews 5:8-9 says “Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” Jesus learned obedience through suffering. Jesus obeyed God’s will through his prayer at Gethsemane. To Christians our daily life is a spiritual battle between God’s will and my own will. We always struggle between these two wills. In fact, we know what God’s will for us is. We know what God wants us to do. But we often choose my will instead of God’s will because we don’t want to obey. We just want to do whatever we want. Jesus’ disciples did the same. What did they do while Jesus was praying?

Look at verses 37-38. “Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” When Jesus came back, he found his disciples were sleeping. They must have eaten too much at the Last Supper. They must have been exhausted and distressed by Jesus’ prediction. Whatever the reason they did not keep watch and pray even for one hour. Jesus knew that their will and effort were limited. Jesus knew that they would fall into temptation if they didn’t pray. This is because their spirit was willing, but their body was weak. This is the reason why Jesus asked them to pray. If we don’t pray, we also easily fall into temptation. There is no superman in temptation. King David, such a great man of God, fell into temptation when he did not pray. Prayer is the spiritual shield which protects us from Satan’s temptation. When we pray, the Holy Spirit protects us from all kinds of Satan’s attack. When we pray, our spiritual eyes are opened to discern between God’s will and our own will. When we pray, we receive spiritual strength to do the will of God. This is the reason why Jesus prayed and also asked his disciples to pray for him. Through their prayer support Jesus wanted to do the will of God.

Many people compromise with their fleshly desire saying, “My spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak.” This is not an acceptable excuse to avoid God’s judgment. We have two desires within us, spiritual desire and fleshly desire. The consequence of our choice is accountable for. Romans 8:6-8 says, “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.” Paul said in Galatians 5:16, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” In order to walk by the Spirit we must pray. In order to please God we must pray.

Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. Jesus prayed more earnestly than before saying, “Abba, Father. Everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Luke’s gospel described his prayer more in detail. Luke 22:43-44 says, “An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” When Jesus prayed, an angel of God came down and supported him. His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. We know how much Jesus struggled to obey God’s will through prayer. Hebrews 12:4 says, “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” Jesus struggled against his will until he shed his blood. Have you struggled against your sinful desire to obey God’s will to the point of shedding your blood?

How did his disciples struggle while Jesus fought against the devil to the point of death? They did the same as before. Look at verse 40. “When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.” I believe that all of us had the same experience of heavy weight of our eyelids when we are sleepy. Opening a quarter inch of our eyes is more difficult than lifting up a 100 pounds of barbell. The disciples did not say anything to Jesus because they didn’t obey. They obeyed their fleshly desire. They had nothing to say about their spiritual struggle. 

Look at verses 41-42. “Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” When Jesus came back from his third prayer, his disciples were still sleeping and resting. They didn’t understand what Jesus said at all and didn’t obey his word. This is the limitation of human will power. They all promised to follow Jesus to the end. Peter even made a vow to follow Jesus even if he had to die with him. But they all failed because they didn’t pray. They all slept instead of praying because they depended on themselves, not on God. Those who humbly acknowledge their weakness and depend on God pray.  Those who accept the limitation of their human will and ability become humble and depend on God. Those who depend on their ability and effort like Jesus’ disciples sleep spiritually and fall into temptation. The wisdom of King Solomon is written in the book of Proverbs. But such a wise king Solomon also fell into temptation when he depended on his wisdom. He had 300 wives and 700 concubines. He thought that he could handle all these women with his wisdom. But it was his sheer delusion. When he did not humble himself and depend on God, he sinned against God and his kingdom was divided into two. We must be as humble as Jesus and pray as Jesus did. Watch and pray! This is the way of salvation and the secret of spiritual victory. Amen! After the prayer Jesus had assurance and confidence for his resolution. He had conviction for his decision to take the cup. He was willing and ready to obey God’s will. He was like a war hero who returned from the war. He said, “Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!

Third, those who follow their fleshly desire (43-52)  According to the Book of John, Judas Iscariot went out after taking the bread which Jesus had given him during the Last Supper. (Jn 13:30) Judas did not repent when Jesus gently rebuked him to repent. When he did not repent, Satan entered him. Now he brought a group of armed soldiers with swords and clubs sent from the religious leaders. (43) Judas arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” (44) Judas came to Jesus and kissed him. The soldiers seized Jesus and arrested him. At that time one of the Twelve, Peter, drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. (47) Before we talk about Peter’s cutting skill, we think about the consequence of disobedience . When the disciples didn’t pray, they were fearful. They did not understand why Jesus had to be arrested and suffer. When they did not keep watch and pray, they followed their fleshly desire, and they became very emotional. Peter showed his loyalty which ended with violence, not with obedience. Are you a violent person like Peter or an obedient person like Jesus?

In verses 48-49 Jesus taught them that his arrest was to fulfill the Scripture and to obey God’s will. Verse 50 says that then everyone deserted him and fled. Even a young man ran away naked, leaving his garment behind. The author didn’t say who the young man was, but we know who the man was. It was Mark the author himself. They all fled out of fear when Jesus was arrested. 

Do you know what God’s will for you is? God’s will for you is not to avoid your cross, but take up the cross and follow Jesus. You have the cross of mission, the cross of education, the cross of supporting your family, and so on. You often want to avoid these crosses. But you must repent and take up your cross to follow Jesus. Now, let us go up to our own Gethsemane and pray as Jesus did. Our spirit is willing, but our body is weak. Because our body is weak, we must pray all the more. After the prayer let us shout as Jesus did, “Rise! Let us go! Here comes my enemy! Amen!

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• Mk14-27-52-message-2024 Easter.docx