Mark 14:40

Very heavy (katabarunomenoi). Perfective use of kata- with the participle. Matthew has the simple verb. Mark's word is only here in the N.T. and is rare in Greek writers. Mark has the vivid present passive participle, while Matthew has the perfect passive bebarhmenoi. And they wist not what to answer him (kai ouk hdeisan ti apokriqwsin autwi). Deliberative subjunctive retained in the indirect question. Alone in Mark and reminds one of the like embarrassment of these same three disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration ( Mark 9:6 ). On both occasions weakness of the flesh prevented their real sympathy with Jesus in his highest and deepest experiences. "Both their shame and their drowsiness would make them dumb" (Gould).