Mark 14:35

KJV

And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} he went forward {G4281} a little {G3397}, and fell {G4098} on {G1909} the ground {G1093}, and {G2532} prayed {G4336} that {G2443}, if {G1487} it were {G2076} possible {G1415}, the hour {G5610} might pass {G3928} from {G575} him {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Going on a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that if possible, the hour might pass from him:

Berean Standard Bible

Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour would pass from Him.

American Standard Version

And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 14:35 captures a profoundly intimate and agonizing moment in Jesus' life within the Garden of Gethsemane, just hours before His crucifixion. Overwhelmed by the immense spiritual and physical burden of His impending suffering, Jesus withdraws from His disciples, prostrates Himself on the ground in desperate humility, and pours out His heart in prayer, pleading with His Father that, if it were divinely possible, the destined "hour" of His ultimate sacrifice might be averted. This verse powerfully reveals the depth of Jesus' humanity and His genuine struggle in the face of the cross, even as it foreshadows His ultimate submission to God's sovereign will.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the climactic Passion narrative of Mark's Gospel, immediately following the [Last Supper](/mark/14-22-25 "Mark 14:22-25 - Institution of the Lord's Supper") where Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper and foretells Peter's denial. Having left the upper room, Jesus leads His disciples to the [Garden of Gethsemane](/mark/14-32 "Mark 14:32 - Jesus Arrives at Gethsemane"), a familiar place at the foot of the Mount of Olives. He instructs most of the disciples to wait, then takes Peter, James, and John further in, asking them to keep watch and pray. Mark 14:35 details Jesus' subsequent withdrawal from even these closest disciples, seeking a solitary space for this intensely personal and agonizing prayer. This scene serves as a crucial prelude to His betrayal by Judas, His arrest, and the subsequent trials and crucifixion, highlighting the immense spiritual and emotional cost of His redemptive mission.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Garden of Gethsemane, meaning "oil press," was an olive grove located on the Mount of Olives, just across the Kidron Valley from Jerusalem. It was a place Jesus and His disciples frequented, providing a setting for quiet reflection and prayer, particularly during the Passover festival when Jerusalem was crowded. The act of "falling on the ground" (or prostrating oneself) was a common and profound posture of prayer in the ancient Near East, signifying deep humility, intense supplication, and often, extreme distress or submission to a superior authority. This physical expression underscores the depth of Jesus' anguish and the earnestness of His plea. The concept of "the hour" was understood in Jewish thought not merely as a unit of time, but as a divinely appointed, decisive moment, often associated with God's judgment or the fulfillment of prophecy.
* **Key Themes:** Mark 14:35 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Mark's Gospel and biblical theology. Foremost among these is the **full humanity of Jesus**, demonstrating that He was not immune to genuine fear, sorrow, and deep distress in the face of suffering, as also seen in [Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus' Temptation and Sympathy"). This scene underscores the reality of His human experience, making Him a sympathetic High Priest. Another critical theme is the **"hour" of suffering and destiny**, referring to the imminent, predestined culmination of His earthly mission—His betrayal, arrest, torture, and crucifixion, where He would bear the sins of the world. This "hour" is a recurring motif in the Gospels, particularly in John, where Jesus often states His "hour has not yet come" (e.g., [John 2:4](/john/2-4 "John 2:4 - Jesus' Response to Mary at Cana")). Finally, while expressing a natural human desire to avoid immense pain, Jesus' prayer implicitly sets the stage for His ultimate **submission to God's will**, a theme made explicit in the very next verse ([Mark 14:36](/mark/14-36 "Mark 14:36 - Jesus' Prayer of Submission")). This profound act of surrender in the face of unimaginable suffering exemplifies perfect obedience to the Father's divine plan.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **fell (Greek, _píptō_):** This word (G4098) means "to fall (literally or figuratively);--fail, fall (down), light on." In this context, Jesus' act of falling to the ground signifies a posture of extreme humility, desperation, and complete surrender. It conveys the depth of His emotional and physical agony, indicating that He was utterly overwhelmed by the burden He was about to bear. It is a raw, unreserved expression of His human anguish.
* **ground (Greek, _gē_):** Derived from a primary word (G1093), _gē_ refers to "soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe." Here, "on the ground" (Greek: _epí tēs gēs_) emphasizes the lowliness and vulnerability of Jesus' posture. It is a powerful visual of His abasement, a stark contrast to His divine majesty, highlighting His profound identification with human weakness and His complete submission before God.
* **possible (Greek, _dynatós_):** This adjective (G1415) means "powerful or capable (literally or figuratively); neuter possible." Jesus' question, "if it were possible," is not a doubt about God's omnipotence, but an earnest expression of His human desire to avoid the horrific suffering ahead. It acknowledges that God *could* intervene, yet simultaneously implies a recognition that the divine plan, though painful, might be the only path. It underscores the genuine nature of His struggle.
* **hour (Greek, _hṓra_):** Apparently a primary word (G5610), _hṓra_ refers to "an 'hour' (literally or figuratively):--day, hour, instant, season, X short, (even-)tide, (high) time." In this context, "the hour" carries immense theological weight, signifying not merely a temporal unit, but the divinely appointed, decisive moment of His Passion—the climax of His earthly ministry, encompassing His betrayal, suffering, death, and the bearing of humanity's sin. It is the moment of ultimate cosmic significance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he went forward a little":** This phrase emphasizes Jesus' intentional act of seeking solitude and further withdrawal from even His closest disciples. It highlights His need for a private, intimate space to confront the immense spiritual and emotional burden that lay before Him, underscoring the intensely personal nature of His impending struggle.
* **"and fell on the ground":** This describes Jesus' physical posture, indicating extreme distress, humility, and earnest supplication. Falling prostrate was a common sign of deep reverence, submission, or overwhelming grief in ancient cultures. It visually conveys the profound weight of the "hour" pressing upon Him, pushing Him to the very earth in agony.
* **"and prayed that, if it were possible":** This reveals the content and conditionality of Jesus' prayer. His earnest "prayed" (Greek: _proseúchomai_) signifies a deep, heartfelt communion with God. The phrase "if it were possible" expresses His genuine human desire to avoid the unparalleled suffering, yet it is framed within the context of divine possibility, acknowledging God's ultimate sovereignty and wisdom. It is a raw, honest wrestling with His human will in light of the divine plan.
* **"the hour might pass from him":** This specifies the object of Jesus' dread and prayer. "The hour" refers to the imminent, predestined period of intense suffering, betrayal, and sacrificial death. His plea for it to "pass from him" is a natural human aversion to pain and separation, yet it is uttered in full awareness of His divine mission and the necessity of His atoning work.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 14:35 is rich with literary devices that amplify its profound theological and emotional impact. **Pathos** is powerfully evident, as the scene evokes deep sympathy and empathy for Jesus' raw anguish and struggle. His prostration on the ground and desperate prayer vividly portray His human vulnerability in the face of unimaginable suffering. The phrase "the hour" functions as potent **Symbolism**, representing not merely a temporal unit but the divinely appointed, climactic moment of His redemptive suffering and death. This "hour" is a recurring motif in the Gospels, particularly John, and here it signifies the culmination of God's plan. The scene also employs **Foreshadowing**, as Jesus' agony and prayer for the "hour" to pass directly anticipate the brutal reality of His impending crucifixion and the ultimate sacrifice He is about to make. The contrast between Jesus' intense spiritual struggle and the disciples' inability to stay awake (mentioned in subsequent verses) provides a poignant **Dramatic Irony**, highlighting the unique burden Jesus carried alone for humanity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 14:35 stands as a profound theological statement on the nature of Christ, the reality of suffering, and the supremacy of God's will. It unequivocally affirms Jesus' full humanity, demonstrating that His divine nature did not negate His capacity for genuine human fear, sorrow, and anguish in the face of death and separation. This scene underscores the cost of redemption, revealing that the atonement was not a casual act but one born of immense personal struggle and suffering on the part of the Son of God. It also highlights the crucial theological principle of divine sovereignty and human submission; even the Son, in His human will, wrestled with the Father's plan but ultimately yielded, providing the ultimate model for believers facing trials.
* [Hebrews 5:7-8](/hebrews/5-7-8 "Hebrews 5:7-8 - Jesus' Prayers and Obedience")
* [Luke 22:42](/luke/22-42 "Luke 22:42 - Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane")
* [John 12:27](/john/12-27 "John 12:27 - Jesus' Soul Troubled")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 14:35 offers profound and comforting lessons for every believer navigating the complexities of life and faith. It grants us permission to bring our deepest fears, anxieties, and even our most agonizing desires before God, knowing that Jesus Himself experienced profound emotional and spiritual struggle. We are not alone in our moments of dread or overwhelming burden; our Savior understands our human weakness and vulnerability, having fully experienced it Himself. This scene encourages us to be utterly honest in prayer, pouring out our hearts to God without reservation. More critically, it teaches us the ultimate value of submitting our will to God's, even when His path for us involves immense suffering or hardship. Jesus' example in Gethsemane calls us to trust that God's plan, though sometimes painful and incomprehensible in the moment, is always for our ultimate good and His greater glory. When we face our own "hours" of trial, we are called to pray earnestly, not for our will to be done, but to ultimately yield to the Father's perfect and loving design, knowing that true peace comes from aligning our desires with His.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' raw anguish in Gethsemane encourage you to be more honest and vulnerable in your own prayers to God?**
* **What "hours" or difficult seasons are you currently facing that you wish would "pass from you"? How can Jesus' prayer model help you navigate these?**
* **How does Jesus' ultimate submission to the Father's will, despite His agony, challenge your understanding of obedience and trust in God's plan?**
* **In what ways can you actively practice surrendering your will to God's, even when His path seems difficult or counter-intuitive?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus pray for the hour to pass if He knew His purpose was to die on the cross?**

Answer: Jesus' prayer in [Mark 14:35](/mark/14-35 "Mark 14:35 - Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane") reveals the profound reality of His full humanity, not a lack of knowledge or commitment to His divine mission. While fully God, Jesus was also fully human, experiencing genuine emotions, fears, and physical pain. His prayer for "the hour" to pass expresses a natural, human aversion to the immense suffering, betrayal, and separation from the Father that He was about to endure as He bore the sins of the world. It was a true wrestling of His human will with the divine will, demonstrating the depth of His sacrifice. This prayer was not a desire to *escape* God's will, but an honest outpouring of His soul in the face of unimaginable agony, leading to His ultimate, perfect submission, as seen in the very next verse, [Mark 14:36](/mark/14-36 "Mark 14:36 - Jesus' Prayer of Submission"), where He concludes, "Nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt." It underscores the authenticity of His human experience and the cost of His obedience.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 14:35, though a scene of profound human anguish, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in revealing the very heart of Jesus' redemptive work. In Gethsemane, Jesus grappled with the full weight of the "hour" – the moment He would become sin for us ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")), experiencing the wrath of God in our place. His agony and desperate prayer, culminating in His perfect submission to the Father's will ([Luke 22:42](/luke/22-42 "Luke 22:42 - Jesus' Prayer of Submission")), demonstrate His unique qualification as the obedient Son who reverses the disobedience of Adam ([Romans 5:19](/romans/5-19 "Romans 5:19 - Obedience of Christ")). The "hour" that Jesus prayed might pass was the very hour of our salvation, the moment He would lay down His life as the spotless Lamb of God ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). His suffering in Gethsemane, leading to His ultimate death on the cross, was not a failure to avoid pain, but a necessary and willing act of love and obedience, securing our reconciliation with God. He is our High Priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses, having been tempted in every way, yet without sin ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus' Temptation and Sympathy")), and His Gethsemane prayer stands as the ultimate example of perfect obedience, even unto death ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Humility and 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

Mark 14:41

And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take [your] rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

1 Chronicles 21:15

And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

1 Chronicles 21:16

And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders [of Israel, who were] clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

Acts 10:25

And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped [him].

Acts 10:26

But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

Matthew 26:39

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [wilt].

Revelation 5:14

And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four [and] twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.