As Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, He fully grasped the weight of His impending sacrifice.  Aware of the severity of God’s wrath, He emulated the need for prioritizing God’s will over my will.

 Mark 14:26-42

²⁶ And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. ²⁷ And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ ²⁸ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” ²⁹ Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” ³⁰ And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” ³¹ But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

³² And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. ³⁴ And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” ³⁵ And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. ³⁶ And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” ³⁷ And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ³⁹ And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. ⁴⁰ And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. ⁴¹ And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴² Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Perspective of Jesus (14:26-28, 30)

• Jesus’ perspective is always grounded in the Word of God.
• Although our circumstances may look horrible at times, there is always hope with God.

Pride of Peter (14:29-31)

• Peter displays pride and arrogance as he insistently tells Jesus what he will and will not do.
• Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.
• Jesus knows that Peter will deny Him and yet He has a constant love for Peter.

Passion of Jesus (14:32-36)

• Jesus displays a great desire to pray and commune with the Father so that He is strengthened to do the Father’s will.
• Jesus is greatly distressed and troubled, not because He is afraid to die, but because He knows the cup that God wants Him to drink.
• The cup signified experiencing something to the fullest, and for Jesus, it meant the full divine wrath of God against sin.
• Although Jesus wants the cup removed, if possible, He displays humility and submits to God’s will not His own will.

Prayerlessness of Peter (14:37-42)

• The urgency of the situation should cause us to pray and not seek our own comforts.
• In order to know and do God’s will, we must live by the Spirit and not the flesh.