Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane: Mark 14:32-42

 In Mark 14:32–42, the scene takes place in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus goes to pray just before His arrest. Here's a summary of what He prayed and how the prayer was answered.

 What Jesus Prayed:

Jesus' Prayer for Deliverance: In verse 36, Jesus prays, "Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." The "cup" here symbolizes the suffering and death He is about to endure. Jesus, in His humanity, expresses a deep desire to avoid the upcoming anguish but submits His will entirely to God's plan.

   

Three Repeated Prayers: Jesus prays three times in the passage, each time returning to His disciples to find them sleeping. The repetition shows His intense distress, but each prayer ends with the same submission to God's will.

 How the Prayer Was Answered:

Not by Removing the Cup: Jesus' prayer was answered not by God taking away the suffering, but by giving Jesus the strength to endure it. His ultimate submission to God's will leads to the fulfillment of His mission — to die for the sins of humanity.

  

An Angel Strengthening Him: Although Mark does not mention this detail, Luke’s Gospel (Luke 22:43) adds that an angel appeared to Jesus from heaven to strengthen Him during His prayer, showing that God responded to His plea by giving Him divine support.

The prayer in Gethsemane shows both Jesus' human vulnerability and His divine obedience to God's redemptive plan.

More: Sabbath School Lesson 11 Book of Mark