Mark 14:36

36 "Father," he prayed, "my Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want."

Mark 14:36 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 14:36

And he said, Abba, Father
In the original text, the former of these is a Syriac word, and the latter a Greek one, explanative of the former, as in ( Romans 8:15 ) and ( Galatians 4:6 ) or the repetition is made, to express the vehemency of his affection, and his strong confidence in God, as his Father, amidst his distress, as the Syriac version renders it, (yba aba) , "Abba, my Father": or "my Father, my Father"; and so the Ethiopic version:

all things are possible unto thee;
so Philo the Jew F2, taking notice of Isaac's question about the burnt offering, and Abraham's answer to it, represents the latter as adding, in confirmation of it,

``all things are possible to God, and which are both difficult and impossible to be done by men;''

suggesting, that God could easily provide a lamb for a sacrifice; and Christ here intimates, that every thing consistent with his perfections, counsels, and covenant, were possible to be done by him; and how far what he prays for, was agreeable to these, he submits to him, and to his sovereign will:

take away this cup from me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what
thou wilt: (See Gill on Matthew 26:39).


FOOTNOTES:

F2 De Abrahamo, p. 374.

Mark 14:36 In-Context

34 and he said to them, "The sorrow in my heart is so great that it almost crushes me. Stay here and keep watch."
35 He went a little farther on, threw himself on the ground, and prayed that, if possible, he might not have to go through that time of suffering.
36 "Father," he prayed, "my Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want."
37 Then he returned and found the three disciples asleep. He said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Weren't you able to stay awake for even one hour?"
38 And he said to them, "Keep watch, and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.