Week 41 (6 - 12 Oct): Gethsemane - Watching with Jesus in the Night

We met last Saturday at Susan’s place after a hectic week for our recent study led by George. We were drawn into the depth of meaning of Mark 14:26–52, the night in Gethsemane when Jesus faced His greatest sorrow and His disciples revealed their deepest weakness.

George helped us see how Jesus’ prediction, “All of you will fall away,” was not only a prophecy but a mirror of human frailty. Peter’s bold response, “Even if all fall away, I will not,” sounded confident, yet it reflected the same pride and self-assurance that often lives in our own hearts. When Jesus was later arrested, all fled. This is indeed a sobering reminder that our courage often falters without the sustaining grace of God.

In the garden, Jesus’ humanity and divinity met in perfect surrender. As George highlighted, His prayer, “Not what I will, but what You will,” shows that obedience is not about suppressing fear, but about trusting the Father even when the path leads to suffering. This is the heart of submission — aligning our will with God’s rather than seeking escape.

We also reflected on the pattern of three: Jesus prayed three times, the disciples slept three times, and Peter denied Him three times. This repetition is no coincidence; it reveals the persistence of human frailty and the constancy of divine grace. Even when we fail repeatedly, God continues to reach for us. The story does not end in our weakness, but in Christ’s faithfulness.

When Judas arrived with the soldiers, Jesus did not resist. Instead, He yielded, fulfilling Scripture and revealing that even betrayal could not overturn God’s plan of salvation. In another Gospel, Jesus healed the ear of the man who came to arrest Him, a quiet yet powerful act of mercy that revealed His heart even in suffering.

Through George’s facilitation, we were reminded that Gethsemane is not merely a moment in history, but a mirror for every believer. Each time we rely on our own strength or grow weary in faith, we find ourselves among those sleeping disciples. Yet even then, Jesus calls us, “Rise, let us go.” He goes before us, leading us from fear into faith, from failure into forgiveness.

May this passage stir us to stay awake in prayer, to watch with Jesus in our own “Gethsemanes,” and to trust that His obedience on that dark night has secured our redemption and hope today.

Prayer

Lord Jesus,

Teach us to watch and pray with You, even when our hearts are heavy and our strength feels small.

Forgive us for the times we have fallen asleep in spirit — distracted, weary, or afraid.

Help us to surrender our will to Yours, trusting that Your grace is sufficient in every trial.

As You were faithful in Gethsemane, may we be so, in our own moments of testing.

Lead us, Lord, from fear into faith, and from striving into surrender.

In your holy name we pray,

Amen.

Belimbing