Mark 14:36

36 He said, "Abba! Father! You can do anything. Take this cup [of suffering] away from me. But let your will be done rather than mine."

Mark 14:36 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 14:36

And he said, Abba, Father
In the original text, the former of these is a Syriac word, and the latter a Greek one, explanative of the former, as in ( Romans 8:15 ) and ( Galatians 4:6 ) or the repetition is made, to express the vehemency of his affection, and his strong confidence in God, as his Father, amidst his distress, as the Syriac version renders it, (yba aba) , "Abba, my Father": or "my Father, my Father"; and so the Ethiopic version:

all things are possible unto thee;
so Philo the Jew ^F2, taking notice of Isaac's question about the burnt offering, and Abraham's answer to it, represents the latter as adding, in confirmation of it,

``all things are possible to God, and which are both difficult and impossible to be done by men;''

suggesting, that God could easily provide a lamb for a sacrifice; and Christ here intimates, that every thing consistent with his perfections, counsels, and covenant, were possible to be done by him; and how far what he prays for, was agreeable to these, he submits to him, and to his sovereign will:

take away this cup from me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what
thou wilt: (See Gill on Matthew 26:39).

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 De Abrahamo, p. 374.

Mark 14:36 In-Context

34 He said to them, "My anguish is so great that I feel as if I'm dying. Wait here, and stay awake."

35 After walking a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible he might not have to suffer what was ahead of him.

36 He said, "Abba! Father! You can do anything. Take this cup [of suffering] away from me. But let your will be done rather than mine."

37 He went back and found them asleep. He said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn't you stay awake for one hour?

38 Stay awake, and pray that you won't be tempted. You want to do what's right, but you're weak."