Mark 14:33

KJV

And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} he taketh {G3880} with {G3326} him {G1438} Peter {G4074} and {G2532} James {G2385} and {G2532} John {G2491}, and {G2532} began {G756} to be sore amazed {G1568}, and {G2532} to be very heavy {G85};

Complete Jewish Bible

He took with him Kefa, Ya`akov and Yochanan. Great distress and anguish came over him;

Berean Standard Bible

He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and began to be deeply troubled and distressed.

American Standard Version

And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly amazed, and sore troubled.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 14:33 captures a profoundly intimate and agonizing moment in the Garden of Gethsemane, revealing the depth of Jesus' humanity as He prepares for His crucifixion. Having separated from the larger group of disciples, Jesus draws His closest three—Peter, James, and John—into a more secluded area, where He begins to experience an overwhelming sense of dread, astonishment, and deep spiritual anguish, setting the stage for His fervent prayer and ultimate submission to the Father's will.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated immediately after the Last Supper and Jesus' institution of the new covenant, as well as His somber predictions of Peter's denial and the disciples' desertion ([Mark 14:27-31](/mark/14-27-31 "Mark 14:27-31 - Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial and Disciples' Desertion")). Jesus has led His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane, a familiar place of retreat and prayer. The narrative flow emphasizes a progression from communal fellowship to profound solitude and spiritual struggle. By taking Peter, James, and John further into the garden, Jesus signals the unique gravity of the moment and His desire for intimate support, even as He anticipates His impending suffering and death. This scene initiates the Passion Narrative, detailing Jesus' arrest, trials, and crucifixion.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Garden of Gethsemane, located at the foot of the Mount of Olives, was an olive grove, likely containing an olive press (Gethsemane means "oil press"). This setting is highly symbolic, as Jesus is metaphorically "pressed" by the weight of sin and divine wrath. In Jewish culture, gardens were often places of contemplation and prayer, and the Mount of Olives itself held eschatological significance. The act of taking companions for support in times of distress was common, reflecting a cultural value placed on communal solidarity. However, the disciples' subsequent failure to stay awake highlights the unique burden Jesus bore, a burden no human could truly share or comprehend. The intensity of Jesus' emotional state, described in this verse, would have been understood by His Jewish audience as a profound spiritual agony, far beyond mere physical fear.
* **Key Themes:** Mark 14:33 powerfully contributes to several key themes within Mark's Gospel and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it underscores the **Profound Humanity of Jesus**, demonstrating that while fully divine, He experienced genuine, intense human emotions—dread, sorrow, and anguish—in the face of suffering and death. This highlights His complete identification with humanity and the reality of His incarnation, echoing themes found in [Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest"). Secondly, it foreshadows the **Weight of Sin and Redemption**, as Jesus' 'sore amazement' and 'heaviness' were not merely fear of physical pain, but a profound spiritual agony related to the immense burden of becoming sin for humanity ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Becomes Our Sin Offering")) and facing the full wrath of God against sin. This scene vividly portrays the incredible cost of our salvation. Lastly, it highlights Jesus' **Desire for Companionship and Prayerful Support** in His most vulnerable moment, even as the narrative subtly prepares the reader for the disciples' eventual failure to provide that support, a theme of human weakness contrasted with divine strength seen throughout [Mark's Gospel](/mark/1 "The Gospel According to Mark").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **taketh (Greek, _paralambánō'_):** From G3880, meaning "to receive near, i.e. associate with oneself (in any familiar or intimate act or relation)." This word signifies Jesus' deliberate act of drawing His closest disciples into a more intimate circle, indicating His desire for their presence and perhaps their prayerful support during this intensely personal moment of spiritual struggle. It implies a deeper level of association and trust than with the broader group of disciples.
* **sore amazed (Greek, _ekthambéō'_):** From G1568, meaning "to astonish utterly" or "affright, greatly (sore) amaze." This powerful term describes an overwhelming sense of shock, dread, or horror. It suggests a profound internal struggle and a reaction beyond mere surprise, indicating that Jesus was deeply appalled or horrified by the weight of what lay before Him—not just the physical suffering, but the spiritual burden of bearing the world's sin and experiencing separation from the Father.
* **very heavy (Greek, _adēmonéō'_):** From G85, meaning "to be in distress (of mind)" or "to be full of heaviness, be very heavy." This word denotes an overwhelming anxiety, anguish, or profound grief that presses down on the spirit, leading to mental torment. It signifies a state of deep emotional and spiritual distress, a crushing weight of sorrow and foreboding that Jesus began to experience in Gethsemane.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he taketh with him Peter and James and John,"**: This clause describes Jesus' deliberate action of selecting His inner circle—the same three disciples who witnessed the raising of Jairus' daughter ([Mark 5:37](/mark/5-37 "Mark 5:37 - Raising of Jairus' Daughter")) and the Transfiguration ([Mark 9:2](/mark/9-2 "Mark 9:2 - The Transfiguration")). By bringing them deeper into the garden, Jesus indicates the profound intimacy and gravity of the moment. He sought their companionship and prayerful presence during His most vulnerable hour, highlighting His human need for support.
* **"and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;"**: This pivotal clause reveals the immediate onset of Jesus' profound emotional and spiritual agony. The use of "began" suggests a dawning realization or an intensifying wave of distress. "Sore amazed" (ekthambéō) conveys a deep shock and dread, a horrified apprehension of the immense spiritual burden and the Father's wrath against sin that He was about to bear. "Very heavy" (adēmonéō) signifies an overwhelming sorrow, anguish, and mental distress, a crushing weight that pressed upon His spirit. This is not merely fear of death, but the agony of becoming sin and facing divine judgment on behalf of humanity.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 14:33 employs several powerful literary devices to convey the intensity of Jesus' Gethsemane experience. The use of **Pathos** is evident, as the description of Jesus' "sore amazement" and "very heaviness" evokes profound sympathy and sorrow in the reader, highlighting His genuine human suffering. This scene also functions as **Foreshadowing**, preparing the audience for the ultimate suffering and sacrifice Jesus will endure on the cross. The emotional distress described here is a prelude to the physical and spiritual agony of crucifixion. Furthermore, there is an element of **Intensification**, as Jesus moves from the larger group to His inner circle, and then into a state of extreme emotional distress, signaling a deepening crisis and the unique burden He must bear alone. The contrast between Jesus' profound agony and the disciples' inability to stay awake later in the narrative also serves as a form of **Dramatic Irony**, emphasizing the vast spiritual chasm between the suffering Savior and His faltering followers.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 14:33 offers a profound glimpse into the true humanity of Jesus, affirming that He was fully God and fully man. His genuine experience of dread and anguish in Gethsemane demonstrates that He is a High Priest who can truly sympathize with our weaknesses, having been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sin. This moment underscores the immense cost of our redemption, revealing that the atonement was not merely a physical ordeal but a profound spiritual agony for Christ. It deepens our understanding of God's love, as Jesus willingly embraced this suffering, not out of compulsion, but out of obedient love for the Father and sacrificial love for humanity, taking upon Himself the full weight of sin and its consequences.

* [Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest")
* [Isaiah 53:3-5](/isaiah/53-3-5 "Isaiah 53:3-5 - The Suffering Servant")
* [Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience to Death")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 14:33 provides immense comfort and a powerful model for believers navigating their own seasons of distress. It reassures us that our Lord understands and empathizes with our deepest fears, anxieties, and sorrows. We serve a Savior who has walked through the valley of the shadow of death, experiencing profound human anguish, yet without succumbing to sin. This truth liberates us to bring our authentic struggles before God, knowing He comprehends our pain. It also calls us to cultivate a life of prayer and reliance on God, especially when faced with overwhelming circumstances, just as Jesus turned to His Father in Gethsemane. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of seeking and offering genuine, empathetic companionship in times of crisis, even when we cannot fully alleviate another's suffering. Ultimately, this verse deepens our appreciation for the immeasurable love and sacrifice of Jesus, who willingly endured such agony for our salvation, demonstrating the depth of His commitment to redeem humanity.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' "sore amazement" and "heaviness" in Gethsemane deepen your understanding of His humanity and His divinity?**
* **In what ways does Jesus' experience in Gethsemane provide comfort or strength for you when facing your own moments of dread or deep distress?**
* **What does this passage teach us about the importance of prayer and seeking companionship during times of intense spiritual or emotional struggle?**
* **How does Jesus' willingness to endure such agony for our sake impact your appreciation for His love and the cost of your salvation?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus take only Peter, James, and John with Him?**

Answer: Jesus often chose an "inner circle" of these three disciples for especially significant moments in His ministry. They were privileged witnesses to the raising of Jairus' daughter ([Mark 5:37](/mark/5-37 "Mark 5:37 - Raising of Jairus' Daughter")) and the Transfiguration ([Mark 9:2](/mark/9-2 "Mark 9:2 - The Transfiguration")). By bringing them deeper into Gethsemane, Jesus likely sought their closest companionship and prayerful support during His most vulnerable and agonizing hour. Their presence underscored the unique gravity of the impending spiritual battle and His profound human need for intimate solidarity, even though they would ultimately fail to stay awake with Him.

**What was the nature of Jesus' "sore amazement" and "very heaviness"? Was it just fear of death?**

Answer: The Greek words used, *ekthambéō* ("sore amazed") and *adēmonéō* ("very heavy"), denote a profound spiritual and emotional anguish far beyond mere fear of physical death. *Ekthambéō* suggests a horrified shock or dread, an overwhelming astonishment at the immense spiritual burden. *Adēmonéō* describes a crushing sorrow, deep distress, and mental torment. This agony was primarily spiritual: Jesus was confronting the full weight of humanity's sin, the impending experience of becoming sin for us ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Becomes Our Sin Offering")), and the terrifying prospect of bearing the Father's wrath against that sin, which would entail a temporary, yet profound, separation from the Father. It was the agony of the sinless Son taking on the sin of the world.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 14:33, with its raw depiction of Jesus' profound anguish in Gethsemane, is a pivotal moment in the Christ-centered narrative of redemption. Here, the Son of God, fully human, confronts the terrifying reality of the cross not merely as a physical execution, but as the moment He would become sin for humanity ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Becomes Our Sin Offering")) and bear the full weight of God's wrath. His "sore amazement" and "heaviness" foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice of the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). This agony in the garden demonstrates Jesus' perfect obedience to the Father's will, even unto death on a cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience to Death")), a submission that secures our salvation. Gethsemane reveals Christ as our sympathetic High Priest ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest")), who truly understands our suffering because He Himself experienced the depths of human pain and spiritual distress, yet emerged victorious, paving the way for us to approach God's throne of grace with confidence ([Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace")). His suffering here is the beginning of the great exchange, where His righteousness is imputed to us, and our sin is laid upon Him ([Romans 5:19](/romans/5-19 "Romans 5:19 - Righteousness Through Obedience")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 22:44

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Hebrews 5:7

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Mark 1:16

Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

Mark 1:19

And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.

Mark 5:37

And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

Psalms 69:1

¶ To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, [A Psalm] of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto [my] soul.

Psalms 69:3

I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.