Was Jesus human in any way?
Mark, more than any other writer, preserves a view of Jesus Christ‘s humanity in the Passion Narratives. His prayer in Gethsemane may be the best example: “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee: take away this cup from me” (Mark 14:36). Throughout his narrative, Mark informs those hearing the story that Jesus needed to sleep, eat, be alone, and, of course, pray-to do these things is human.
If Mark’s telling of the story is based on Peter’s memoirs, we may be seeing a word-picture based on Peter’s own recollections. If so, we can appreciate the frank portrayal presented here, which is particularly critical of Peter himself. It should be remembered that Peter’s real name was Simon. Jesus Christ renamed him as Peter (from Greek or Latin) or Cephas (from Hebrew or Aramaic), which means “rock or stone.” In Mark, Peter is always referred to by this new name Jesus gave to him until this point, where Jesus says: “Simon, sleepest thou?” (Mark 14:37); emphasis added). Perhaps Jesus’ use of Simon instead of Peter is significant, revealing that Peter has not yet become the rock.
Mark portrays Jesus’ agony in Gethsemane in clear and moving language. Jesus Christ is God’s Son, yet he is endowed with the human desire to live, to avoid suffering and death. The name that Jesus uses in his cry to God, Abba (Father), heightens the pathos of this tragic scene. Another Bible translation gets to the point in a different way, which may help us not only to feel what the scripture says but also to understand it better; “He took with him Peter, James and John, and began to be horror-stricken and desperately depressed. ‘My heart is breaking with a death-like grief,’ he told them. ‘Stay here and keep watch.’ Then he walked forward a little way and flung himself on the ground, praying that, if it were possible, the hour might pass him by. ‘Dear Father,’ he said, ‘all things are possible to you. Let me not have to drink this cup! Yet it is not what I want but what you want’” (Mark 14:33-36; Phillips Translation).
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