Matthew Henry Commentary Mark 14:32-42

"And they come unto a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I pray. And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly amazed, and sore troubled. And he saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death: abide ye here, and watch. 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. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; remove this cup from me: howbeit not what I will, but what thou wilt. And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest thou not watch one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. And again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words. And again he came, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they knew not what to answer him. And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough; the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Arise, let us be going: behold, he that betrayeth me is at hand." — Mark 14:32-42 (ASV)

Christ's sufferings began with the most severe of all: those in His soul. He began to be greatly distressed—words not used in Matthew, but very full of meaning. The terrors of God arrayed themselves against Him, and He was made to contemplate them. Never was sorrow like His at this time. Now He was made a curse for us; the curses of the law were laid upon Him as our Surety.

He now tasted death in all its bitterness. This was that fear of which the apostle speaks—the natural fear of pain and death, at which human nature recoils. Can we ever entertain favorable, or even slight, thoughts of sin when we see the painful sufferings which sin, though only counted to Him, brought upon the Lord Jesus? Should that sit lightly upon our souls which sat so heavily upon His?

Was Christ in such agony for our sins, and should we never be in agony about them? How should we look upon Him whom we have pierced, and mourn! It is fitting for us to be exceedingly sorrowful for sin, because He was so, and never to mock it. Christ, as Man, pleaded that, if it were possible, His sufferings might pass from Him.

As Mediator, He submitted to the will of God, saying, Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will; I welcome it. See how the sinful weakness of Christ's disciples returns and overpowers them. What heavy burdens these bodies of ours are to our souls! But when we see trouble at the door, we should get ready for it.

Alas, even believers often look at the Redeemer's sufferings in a drowsy manner, and, instead of being ready to die with Christ, they are not even prepared to watch with Him one hour.