The Fourth Sunday in Lent (CL)

Mark 14:32-52

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.”

⁴³ And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. ⁴⁴ Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” ⁴⁵ And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. ⁴⁶ And they laid hands on him and seized him. ⁴⁷ But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. ⁴⁸ And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? ⁴⁹ Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” ⁵⁰ And they all left him and fled.

⁵¹ And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, ⁵² but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.

We can often place ourselves into a text.  We place ourselves in the shoes of Peter or Judas or the young man running away.  Most people who become familiar with the passion narrative find one or two characters are like themselves.  Some people are even bold enough to place themselves in the role of Jesus either as sacrificial lamb or one pleading to God.

Listen to Christ’s prayer once more, “Abba Father, all things are possible for you.  Remove this cup from me.  Yet not what I will, but what you will.”  All things are possible with God must be a true statement (and it is repeated over and over in scripture).  But there is not the possibility for the cup to be removed from Jesus.  Jesus must go to the cross.

Some things are necessary even though all things are possible.  Some things are required of us even though nothing we do can save us.  Jesus does what is required for you even though he does not need it for himself.  With God all things are possible but only certain things happen.  These all therefore must happen for a reason.

Jesus Christ prays for Peter and all of us to have strength.  He faces his death with trust in his Abba.  He rises from his sorrow and grief to greet those who come to kill him for their own sins.