Mark 14:35

35 Going a little ahead, he fell to the ground and prayed for a way out:

Mark 14:35 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 14:35

And he went forward a little
About a stone's cast, ( Luke 22:41 ) ,

and fell on the ground, and prayed;
he fell on his face to the ground, which was a praying posture. One of the Jewish canons concerning it, is this F1:

``worshipping, how is it done? after a man has lifted up his head; he bows it five times, he sits upon the ground, and "falls upon his face", (hura) , "to the ground", and supplicates with whatsoever supplication he pleases: worshipping, or bowing, is the stretching out of hands and feet, until a man is found cast upon his face to the ground.''

(See Gill on Matthew 26:39). The supplication Christ made in this posture was,

that, it were possible, the hour might pass from him;
the time fixed and agreed upon for his sufferings and death; that is, that it might pass without his enduring them, if there was any possibility of excusing him, and of his people's being saved without them; (See Gill on Matthew 26:39).


FOOTNOTES:

F1 Maimon. Hilch. Tephilla, c. 5. sect. 13.

Mark 14:35 In-Context

33 He took Peter, James, and John with him. He plunged into a sinkhole of dreadful agony.
34 He told them, "I feel bad enough right now to die. Stay here and keep vigil with me."
35 Going a little ahead, he fell to the ground and prayed for a way out:
36 "Papa, Father, you can - can't you? - get me out of this. Take this cup away from me. But please, not what I want - what do you want?"
37 He came back and found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, "Simon, you went to sleep on me? Can't you stick it out with me a single hour?
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.