Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 14:35

"And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him." — Mark 14:35 (ASV)

Jesus did not die serenely; he was the Lamb of God bearing the penalty for the sins of all humankind. The wrath of God was turned loose on him. Only this can adequately explain what happened in Gethsemane. The burden and agony were so great he could not stand up. His prayer, uttered in a prone position, was addressed to “Abba, Father.” The word “Abba,” is the Aramaic familiar form for father—a word the Jews did not use to address God because they thought it disrespectful. Since Jesus was the unique Son of God and on the most intimate terms with him, it was natural for him to use it. Jesus believed that with God anything was possible and therefore prayed for the cup of God’s wrath to be removed from him (cf. 10:38–39). In the OT “cup” (GK 4539) is regularly used as a metaphor of punishment and judgment (cf. Isaiah 51:17; Jeremiah 25:15–29; Revelation 14:10; Revelation 16:19). Here it obviously refers to Jesus’ death. Jesus desired the removal of the cup, but he willingly placed his will in submission to his Father’s will.