Fall asleep or run away?

(104) Gethsemane

The disciples are in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. Jesus has predicted his death, but they’re probably just as good as we are at pretending bad stuff won’t happen. So now, relaxed after an excellent meal and maybe confused after a rather long sermon, they’re resting on the Mount of Olives. They’ve paused on the journey back to Lazarus’ house for the night. But Jesus knows, this night will be different… Have you ever felt a concern that nobody else seemed to share?

Read Matthew 26:36-38, Mark 14:32-34, Luke 22:39-40, John 18:1

1.       What’s the connection between watching and praying? And between watching and temptation?

2.       If we “watched” with Jesus today, what would we see, and what would we be tempted to do?

Read Matthew 26:39, Mark 14:35-36, Luke 22:41-42, Matthew 6:10

1.       What can we learn about prayer from Jesus’ prayer?

2.       How easy, or how hard, should it be for us to say, “God willing”?

Read Matthew 26:40-44, Mark 14:37-40, Luke 22:45-46

1.       Remembering our last few studies, why d’you suppose the disciples were so tired?

2.       What makes us weak? What makes you weak?

3.       How did Jesus know the spirit was willing? And how do we tell the difference between willing and unwilling?

Read Luke 22:43-44

1.       Hematidrosis is a rare clinical phenomenon, associated, for example, with “stigmata” in religious people, or with rare and overwhelming stress. Why might Jesus have suffered this? Why might other people?

2.       Symbolically, what might Jesus’ blood in a garden mean to students of scripture seeking a Messiah to repair the sin of Adam? And to students just seeking a nation-building Messiah?

3.       Why might Luke be the only one to mention this? And why might he only have mentioned it in later copies of his gospel?

Read Matthew 26:45-47, Mark 14:41-43, John 18:2-3

1.       The disciples are too tired to stay awake, and suddenly they’re surrounded by people with swords and clubs? Are you surprised some of them will run away?

2.       Did Jesus blame them for running away? Does he blame us when we fail to stand up for him?

Read Matthew 26:48-50, Mark 14:44-46, Luke 22:47-48

1.       Are these well-armored, well-trained Romans, or lightly armored Temple guards? Why might they not recognize a Galilean preacher? Can we always recognize “Jesus” when we meet people we don’t respect?

2.       What’s the significance of a kiss? How might people today betray Jesus “with a kiss”?

Read Matthew 26:51-54, Mark 14:47, Luke 49-51, John 18:10-11 Who mentions the ear being healed? And who mentions the servant’s name? What might this tell us about the writers?

Read Matthew 26:55-56, Mark 14:48-50, Luke 22:52-53, John 18:4-9

1.       What’s the significance of “I am he”? Read Exodus 3:14

2.       Why might John be the only one to quote these words?

3.       What’s the significance of “not losing one”? Read John 6:39, John 17:12

4.       Did the disciples run away, or did Jesus release them? Have you ever felt like God released you?

Read Mark 14:51. Who might this be? Given that the disciples slept while Jesus prayed, who heard Jesus’ prayer?


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