Mark 14:35

35 He went a little farther. Then he fell to the ground. He prayed that, if possible, the hour might pass by him.

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).

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Mark 14:35 In-Context

33 He took Peter, James and John along with him. He began to be very upset and troubled.

34 "My soul is very sad. I feel close to death," he said to them. "Stay here. Keep watch."

35 He went a little farther. Then he fell to the ground. He prayed that, if possible, the hour might pass by him.

36 "Abba"," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup of suffering away from me. But let what you want be done, not what I want." "Abba" means Father.

37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Couldn't you keep watch for one hour?