And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus’ profound cry, “Abba, Father,” reveals a deep, intimate connection, yet the inclusion of both the Aramaic and Greek terms highlights his shared humanity with all people, bridging the gap between his Jewish roots and the wider world. He's not just praying as a Son, but as the one who carries the weight for all humanity, acknowledging that while God's power is absolute, the "cup" of suffering is a deeply human burden he prays to be spared, before surrendering to the divine will.
And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane, facing the agonizing prospect of his impending crucifixion and the weight of the world's sin. He has just shared his deep distress with his closest disciples, Peter, James, and John, but they have fallen asleep. Now, he withdraws to pray, pouring out his human heart to God in a raw and vulnerable plea.
Jesus cries out, 'Abba, Father.' What does this intimate address reveal about his relationship with God, especially in his darkest hour?
Jesus' use of 'Abba, Father' is incredibly tender and profound. 'Abba' is an Aramaic word, akin to 'Daddy,' expressing deep, personal intimacy and dependence. Mark alone preserves this word, suggesting it was a cry from the very depths of Jesus' human heart.
A Cry of Deep Connection
Jesus asks for the 'cup' to be removed, yet immediately submits to God's will. What does this 'cup' represent, and how does Jesus navigate this tension?
The 'cup' in Scripture often symbolizes a divinely appointed portion, whether of blessing or judgment.
The Agony of Choice
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Understand the original words
abba · Aramaic Noun
An Aramaic term of endearment used by children for their father, reflecting intimacy, trust, and dependence. It expresses a unique, filial relationship between the Son and the Father, even in the midst of profound suffering.
patēr · Greek Noun
A designation for the first person of the Trinity, emphasizing God's role as the originator, provider, and authority figure in the believer's life. It signifies the covenantal relationship God establishes with His people through adoption.
potērion · Greek Noun
In Scripture, a metaphorical representation of divine judgment, wrath, or the portion assigned to an individual by God. Here, it refers specifically to the suffering and separation from the Father that Jesus would endure on the cross.
thelēma · Greek Noun
The capacity to choose and desire; in theology, it relates to the sovereignty of the human will versus the divine will. Jesus demonstrates the ultimate posture of holiness by subjecting His human desire to the sovereign plan of God the Father.
The Gospel of Mark uniquely preserves Jesus' Aramaic cry of 'Abba,' emphasizing His human struggle in Gethsemane and the deep, personal relationship He had with His Father, a relationship believers can now share through adoption.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Arrest and Crucifixion
Jesus is betrayed, arrested, tried, and crucified in Jerusalem, fulfilling prophecies and marking a pivotal moment in salvation history.
c. AD 30-60
Early Church Formation
The followers of Jesus form the early Christian church, spreading the message of the Gospel and facing persecution.
c. AD 60-70
Writing of the Gospels
The Gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John are written, preserving the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
c. AD 62
Paul's Letters to Rome and Galatia
The Apostle Paul writes his letters to the churches in Rome and Galatia, referencing the cry 'Abba, Father' in the context of the Spirit of adoption.
This passage, also from the Garden of Gethsemane, directly echoes Jesus' prayer, highlighting the surrender of His human will to the Father's: 'Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.'
Romans 8:15Paul uses the intimate Aramaic term 'Abba' to describe how believers, through the Holy Spirit, cry out to God as their Father, mirroring Jesus' profound relationship and direct address to God here.
John 12:27Jesus expresses a similar anguish and wrestling with His impending suffering, declaring, 'Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this purpose I have come to this hour,' revealing the human struggle beneath His divine purpose.
Hebrews 5:7This passage speaks of Jesus offering 'prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death,' directly correlating with the profound emotion and earnest prayer described in Mark's account of the agony.
Philippians 2:8This verse describes Jesus as 'humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross,' which perfectly encapsulates the 'not what I will, but what you will' attitude demonstrated in His prayer in Gethsemane.
pulpitMark 14:36: "And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt."
Verse 36. - And he said, Abba, Father. Some commentators suppose that our Lord only used the Hebrew or Aramaic word "Abba," and that St. Mark adds the Greek and Latin synonym (πατὴρ) for the benefit of those to whom he was writing. But it is far more natural to conclude that St. Mark is here taking his narrative from an eye and ear witness, St…
wesleyMark 14:36: "And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt."
14:36 Abba, Father - St. Mark seems to add the word Father, by way of explication.
Jesus’ profound cry, “Abba, Father,” reveals a deep, intimate connection, yet the inclusion of both the Aramaic and Greek terms highlights his shared humanity with all people, bridging the gap between his Jewish roots and the wider world. He's not just praying as a Son, but as the one who carries the weight for all humanity, acknowledging that while God's power is absolute, the "cup" of suffering is a deeply human burden he prays to be spared, before surrendering to the divine will.
Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane, facing the agonizing prospect of his impending crucifixion and the weight of the world's sin. He has just shared his deep distress with his closest disciples, Peter, James, and John, but they have fallen asleep. Now, he withdraws to pray, pouring out his human heart to God in a raw and vulnerable plea.
Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane, facing the agonizing prospect of his impending crucifixion and the weight of the world's sin. He has just shared his deep distress with his closest disciples, Peter, James, and John, but they have fallen asleep. Now, he withdraws to pray, pouring out his human heart to God in a raw and vulnerable plea.
"And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”" — Jesus’ profound cry, “Abba, Father,” reveals a deep, intimate connection, yet the inclusion of both the Aramaic and Greek terms highlights his shared humanity with all people, bridging the gap betw…
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Last reviewed October 2026