The Bitter Cup of Suffering, Yet According to God’s Will!

When Jesus reached a place called Gethsemane, He said to His disciples, "Sit here while I pray," and took Peter, James, and John with Him alone. Jesus was deeply distressed and said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch." Then Jesus went a little farther, fell to the ground, and prayed that if possible, the hour of suffering might pass from Him: "Abba, Father, everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will." (Mark 14:32-36, Contemporary English Version). I want to meditate on Jesus' prayer and receive the lessons it offers.

(1) The place where Jesus prayed:

Mark says Jesus "went a little farther," fell to the ground, and prayed that the time of suffering might pass from Him (Mark 14:35, CEV). Luke records that Jesus went about a stone’s throw away from the disciples, knelt down, and prayed (Luke 22:41, CEV). According to Hoekema, this distance was likely between 30 to 50 meters. Thus, in the deep night, Jesus’ agonizing prayer could be clearly heard by the disciples, and His desperate heart was fully conveyed to them (Hoekema).

(2) Jesus’ posture in prayer:

Mark says Jesus "fell on the ground" (Mark 14:35, CEV). Matthew adds that He "bowed His face to the ground" (Matthew 26:39), and Luke mentions He "knelt down" (Luke 22:41). According to Hoekema, Jewish prayer postures include standing with raised hands (Mark 11:25) and kneeling (Acts 7:60; Ephesians 3:15). Jesus laying His face on the ground symbolizes complete humility and total submission to God the Father (Hoekema).

(3) The content of Jesus’ prayer:

Jesus prayed, "Abba, Father, everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will" (Mark 14:36, CEV). Let’s meditate on this prayer in three parts:

(a) "Abba, Father, everything is possible for You."

The term "Abba" is an Aramaic expression, emphasizing Jesus’ intimate, heartfelt appeal. Facing the ultimate moment, Jesus’ only one to turn to was God the Father, who sent Him to earth and who would make Him drink the bitter cup of the cross (Hoekema). Jesus acknowledged God as all-powerful and capable of anything.

When I meditate on the almighty God, I recall Genesis 18:13-14 (CEV):
"Then the Lord said to Abraham, 'Why did Sarah laugh? Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return at the appointed time, and Sarah will have a son.'”
This assures that nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37 (CEV) also says, "For nothing is impossible with God."

The Bible says that because we are God’s children, He has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts so we can call God "Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6). We, as God’s children, have the privilege to call on the almighty God and pray in Jesus’ name:
"I tell you the truth, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." (John 16:23-24, CEV).

(b) "Take this cup from Me."

Jesus pleaded that the time of suffering—the appointed time for His suffering and death—might pass from Him (Mark 14:35). The phrase “pass from Me” has important meaning related to the Passover; in Exodus 12:23, the death angel “passes over” the houses of the Israelites. Thus, "passing over" implies escape from the disaster and hope for God’s protection (Hoekema).

The "cup of suffering" represents the unavoidable physical and spiritual suffering and death that Jesus, as a human being, must endure—also the divine wrath against sin He bore (Hoekema).

Like Jesus, we sometimes plead for the "cup of suffering" to pass from us or our loved ones. This plea fundamentally is a cry to be spared death.

(c) "Yet not what I will, but what You will."

This is the final resolution of Jesus’ struggle—His human anxiety and torment give way to full surrender to the divine will. Jesus firmly commits to drinking the cup by submitting His will to the Father’s will. Now, His prayer shifts to asking for strength to endure the suffering (Luke 22:43) (Hoekema).

When we desire the cup of suffering to be removed, if God’s will is for us to endure it, we must pray as Jesus did:
"Not My will, but Yours be done." (Mark 14:36, CEV).

The wine we receive during Communion symbolizes the blood of Christ, the cup of blessing (1 Corinthians 10:16). Jesus drank the cup of suffering on the cross according to the Father’s will so that we could partake of the cup of blessing (Luke 22:42). We too must, following Jesus’ example, accept with grace the suffering given to us for Christ (Philippians 1:29).