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Pastor Scott L. Harris
Grace Bible Church, NY
June 2, 2019
In The Garden of Gethsemane
Matthew 26:30-35; Mark 14:26-31; Luke 22:31-40; John 18:1
Introduction
Jesus is both 100% God and 100% man. In this morning’s sermon we will see both His deity and humanity clearly displayed. In His deity, Jesus exhibits His omniscience as he compassionately foretells the disciples again what was going to occur and gave them hope by telling them where to meet Him after He was raised from the dead. In His humanity, Jesus prays in the manner of a man facing the terrors of death, and in doing so, He presents a model of prayer for us. Turn to Matthew 26:30 and also place a marker in Mark 14:26 and Luke 22:39.
Four months ago we began examining the events that took place in the final Passover meal Jesus shared in with His disciples. At the beginning of the meal Jesus corrected them once again about their pride in arguing about which of them would be the greatest in the kingdom. Jesus demonstrated what He wanted in them by taking the role of a slave and washing their feet and then explained that the greatest in His kingdom would be the servant of all. That is a stark contrast to the values of the world. Jesus’ foretold that one of them would betray Him, and though He also indicated it was Judas, the rest of the disciples did not believe that even when Judas left at the end of the meal. Jesus then instituted a new ordinance by taking some of the elements from the Passover meal which had reflected on God freeing the nation of Israel from bondage in Egypt and gave them new meaning as memorials to His own coming death which would free them from the bondage of sin.
For the last three months we have been studying the final instructions Jesus gave His disciples after the Passover meal in what is called the Upper Room Discourse recorded in John 14-17. Jesus comforted them concerning His soon departure by teaching them that He would be preparing a place for them in His Father’s house and that He would return for them (See: The Promise of Heaven) . He also comforted them by teaching them about the coming of the Holy Spirit and the ministry He would have to them and through them (See: Comfort for Those Who Believe, Part 1 & Part 2). He taught them about the necessity of remaining in close fellowship with Him for He was the vine and they were the branches (See: Abiding in Christ). He taught them about the importance of working together and loving each other because the world would hate them because of Him (See: Loving One Another & (See: Persecuted by the World). He told them again that He would be crucified in just a little while, and He then prayed concerning the restoration of His own glory (See: Jesus Prays for His Glory), the protection of His disciples (See: Jesus Prays for His Disciples) and for those that would believe later based on the testimony of His disciples (See: Jesus Prays for His Own).
Conclusion to Passover – Matthew 26:20; Mark 14:26; Luke 22:39; John 18:1
Matthew 26:20 and Mark 14:26 both record that “After singing a hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives.” While the text does not state the particular hymn, it was most likely one or more from Psalms 115-118 which were usually part of the Passover celebration. They are Psalms of praise, thanksgiving and trust very appropriate in ending a Passover and in preparation for what was about to occur. Psalm 115 contrasts trusting the Lord with those who follow idols. Psalm 116 is a Psalm of thanksgiving for salvation from death. Psalm 117 calls all nations to praise the Lord, and Psalm 118 extols the Lord’s saving goodness and includes the prophetic verses, “the stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes” (Psalm 118:22-23). Jesus would be crucified because the religious leaders rejected Him, but His resurrection would make Him the cornerstone of the new covenant God would make with all that would believe in Him.
John 18:1 states, “When Jesus had spoken these words” (referring to the Upper Room Discourse), “He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, in which He entered with His disciples.” All three of the synoptic gospels state this is the Mount of Olives which is directly across the Kidron Valley from the Temple. It is probable that they left Jerusalem through the East gate from which they would have descended by the light of the full moon to the brook at its bottom and crossed it and began the journey up the Mount of Olives. They had made this journey many times in the last week as they traveled from Bethany where they were staying to Jerusalem and then back each evening. In the moon light they would have seen that the brook would have been running from the Spring rains, and perhaps also noticed it stained crimson from all the lambs slain that day in the Temple above them.
Before they reached the Garden of Gethsemane, which is on the western slope of the Mount of Olives, Jesus again reminded them of what was soon to come.
Warning and Instruction – Matthew 26:31-32, Mark 14:27-28
Matthew 26:31-32, 31The Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.’ 32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” Mark’s account is the same.
The disciples were having a hard enough time believing that Jesus was really going to die. John 16 records that only a few minutes before they were still confused about it though Jesus had already told them many times in very plain language. Now they are told that they would all fall away. This is skandalivzw / skandalizo which means “to stumble” and not a form of ajpostasiva / apostasia meaning “to rebel against,” “to depart.” They would stumble and fall into sin and be inconsistent with their professed faith, but they were not rejecting their faith. Out of fear they would run away from Jesus, but they would not remain away, and this would happen that very night.
Jesus says this will happen in fulfillment of Zechariah 13:7 which is the verse He quotes. The disciples would have never understood this if Jesus had not lifted the veil to reveal its meaning. Jesus would die at the hands of men who would be responsible for His murder, but it was really the Father Himself that was striking down His own Son. Isaiah 53 states that the “Lord caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him” (vs. 6). “The Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering” (vs. 10). Romans 8:32 adds that God “did not spare His own son.”
Jesus the shepherd would be struck down and the sheep would be scattered. But the scattering would be short for He instructed them about where they were to meet Him after the resurrection. “But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
This is another demonstration of Jesus’ omniscience which is an attribute of His deity. He told them before it happened what was going to occur. He would be struck down. They would stumble. He would be raised from the dead, and they would meet them in Galilee. Given how many times Jesus had already taught this, it should have been a source of comfort in the midst of the sorrow.
A Boastful Reply – Matthew 26:33-35; Mark 14:29-31
Peter becomes defensive of Jesus upon hearing this. You would think Peter would have learned by this time to take the Lord at His word and not challenge Him, and especially on this particular issue since Jesus had already corrected him earlier that evening as recorded in John 13:31-38. But Peter makes yet another boastful reply to Jesus.
Matthew 26:33, “But Peter answered and said to Him, “Even through all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.”
This is quite a boastful statement. Both the words and the grammatical structure show that Peter has a swelled head resulting in disbelief, arrogance and showing disdain for the other disciples. Jesus said that all of them, which included Peter would fall away – stumble. Peter says in effect, “No I’m not, Lord. These other guys might do that, but not me.” Mark’s version is condensed while Matthew makes a strong emphasis here with Peter saying, “I will never fall away – stumble.”
The Lord now teaches Peter an important lesson. It is not wise to argue with someone who is omniscient. Jesus tells Peter that his boasting would be in vain. Matthew 26:34, Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a cock crows, you shall deny Me three times.” Jesus demonstrates His deity again and tells Peter what Peter would do in the future, and Jesus is very detailed. The reference to cock crow was the time that a rooster would normally begin to crow between 3 & 4 a.m. Notice that Jesus introduces this prediction by saying, “Truly I say to you.” This adds emphasis to what Jesus is saying. Jesus tells Peter that not only is he going to fall away, but that very night, and hours before sunrise, he will deny knowing the Lord three times.
Jesus knew Peter’s heart better than Peter – just as God knows our hearts better than we do. We can be as boastful as we want about all the great things we are going to do, but it only goes to prove how self-deceived we are when we fail to live up to our claims. Yet Peter continued in his arrogant claim. Matthew 26:35, Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.
Peter’s boastfulness rubbed off on the others. Peter refused to believe what Jesus had just told him and the others joined in because it sounded so good to make such a statement of loyalty. I am sure that they were all sincere and meant what they said, but sincerity never excuses sin. Think about it. Jesus had just told all of them what they were going to do and they refused to believe it. They thought themselves better, stronger, wiser, more committed and courageous than they actually were. They should have known how weak and fearful they could be since they had demonstrated those characteristics many times before, but their pride would not allow such a thing. Jesus said it. They denied it. Jesus did not correct them again because it would not belong before they would learn the great lesson of humility the hard way. Beware of falling into this same trap. Our reliance must be on God Himself, not in ourselves, and that includes His statements about us that we do not like. Humility before God is a great virtue including acknowledging and confessing our weaknesses.
Preparation to Pray – Matthew 26:36-39a; Mark 14:32-35a; Luke 22:40-41
This discussion occurred as they traveled to the Mount of Olives. Matthew 26:36-39 and Mark 14:32-35 record them arriving at the place Jesus had intended and His preparation to pray. 36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me. 39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed . . .”
The specific location is a place named Gethsemane and John 18:1 states that it was a garden. Space in Jerusalem was too important to allow for gardens, so many people would plant gardens outside the city. The Mount of Olives contained several such gardens. The garden of Gethsemane was either a place owned by some friend of Jesus or a place open to the public, but probably the former. We find that Jesus would often come to this place (John 18:2) while He was in Jerusalem to get away from the crowds and have quiet place to rest, pray or teach His disciples.
Gethsemane means “oil press” and it probably was the location of an olive press used during the olive season. It would have been surrounded by a stone fence – much like is common around here for the soil there is very rocky too. As they enter Gethsemane, Jesus tells the disciples to sit there while He would go farther into the garden to pray. The word pray here (proseuvcomai / proseuchomai) is in its intense form. This would not be His normal time of prayer, but an intense time of baring Himself before the Father.
Leaving eight of the disciples with instructions to “pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Luke 22:40), Jesus then took proud, boastful Peter and James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, farther into the Garden. Peter, James and John formed Jesus’ inner circle and often were given special attention by the Lord. They were present when Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead. They were with Him on the Mount of Transfiguration. They are chosen again here to learn an important lesson.
Even as Jesus was entering into the time of His greatest sorrow, He was giving of Himself. Jesus took Peter, James and John along with Him for their benefit and not His own. How wonderful it would have been great if they had been there for Jesus’ benefit and fulfilled His command to them to remain and keep watch with Him, but Jesus knew what they would do and He wanted them to learn the lesson. They had been boastful about how committed they were to Jesus. They would now learn how weak they actual were. Godliness begins with humility for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5). They needed to learn that temptation must be faced with a strong confidence in God and not in themselves.
Jesus’ confidence was in the Father. Even at this point when He was distressed and, as verse 38 states, His soul was “deeply grieved, to the point of death.” The word “deeply” here (perivluposV / perilupos) carries the meaning of “surround.” We get our word “periphery” from it. Jesus was encompassed by grief, surrounded by sorrow, and so much so that it was “to the point of death.” Just as extreme fear or anger can kill someone so can sorrow. I can recall the phrase, “grieved to death,” and “grieved himself into the grave” being used of people who had died soon after the death of their spouse or child. What was the source of Jesus grief? Several things.
First, there was the disappointment over disciples that were proud and stubborn and did not learn their lessons easily. They had refused to believe what He had just told them. In less than an hour they would abandon Him. Peter would verbally deny Him three times before dawn. This was disappointing, but minor compared to what Jesus was facing in the hours to come.
Next, there was sorrow over the coming rejection He would receive by men the next day. There would be grief over the fact that some to whom He had ministered would soon call out for His death. A source of sorrow, but minor compared to the trial He was facing.
There was grief over the trial that was now come upon Him and about which He had come to pray. This would be the most severe temptation He had ever faced as the weakness of His humanity would be pushed to the limit as He contemplated an undeserved death. There was sorrow over the effect of sin that brings death on mankind. This grief had already been expressed when Jesus wept just before He raised Lazarus from the dead. Jesus knew Lazarus was not going to stay dead, so He did not weep because He was separated by death from His friend. Jesus wept because of sin’s curse on man which brings death. He was now facing this Himself.
The primary anguish though was not death itself, but over bearing man’s sin and the ramifications of that act. Sin is a reproach to God. Habakkuk 1:13 states, “Thine eyes are too pure to approve evil, and Thou can not look on wickedness with favor.” Yet Jesus would have to bear the full reproach of sin in Himself as stated in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” And in that time of sin bearing, Jesus would also have to bear a loneliness we cannot comprehend. How can one member of the triune Godhead be forsaken by another? Yet that would happen on the cross and was marked when Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, Why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Jesus is God in human flesh. He is the Son who is face to face with the Father. He is grieved over the anguish He will face when He bears man’s sin and the Father turns His face away.
Jesus goes on a little father into the garden. Luke 22:41 states it was about a stone’s throw. He then knelt down and began to pray.
Petitioning the Father – Matthew 26:39, Mark 14:35-36, Luke 22:42-44.
Luke 22:42 records that Jesus began His prayer, “Father, if Thou are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Thine be done.” The prayer’s intensity increased quickly, for Mark 14:35 records that Jesus “fell to the ground” and Matthew 26:39 that He fell on His face. The change in His physical position from kneeling to being on His face reflects the increasing intensity of His petition. Matthew 26:39 continues recording His prayer, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” Jesus always addressed God as his Father, but this is the first occasion in which He heightened that intimacy by calling out “My Father.” Mark 14:36 adds that Jesus also used the term “abba” which is equivalent to us saying, “daddy,” and that He prayed, “All things are possible for Thee; remove this cup from Me, yet not what I will, but what Thou wilt.”
These petitions come out of His humanity. He does not want to go through with this if there is any other way possible to accomplish God’s purpose. There is raw humanity here. It is the cry of a soul in anguish. The intensity of emotion here is incredible. Luke 22:43 states, “Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.” This also points to His humanity. God does not need to be strengthened and an angel could not do it if he tried, but man does need it and an angel can do that. Luke continues in verse 44, “and being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.”
We have all seen someone’s face turn red – either blushing or more extreme in anger. Under strong emotion the capillaries in the skin swell and the increased blood turns the face red. Under the extreme stress Jesus was under these capillaries burst and the blood mingled with the sweat.
While you may identify with the emotion of pouring your heart out to God, I don’t think anyone here has done that to the degree Jesus did there in Gethsemane. I wonder sometimes if this event is what the writer of Hebrews is referring to in Hebrews 12:4 when he states, “You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin.” Yet we do identify with Jesus’ humanity and the cry of His soul for another way even if we have not experienced it to the degree Jesus did.
There is another element here that we do not identify with so easily, and that is Jesus’ control of His will. Jesus’ petition is real. His emotions are raw and clearly displayed, and yet, He is in full control. He is going to submit Himself to the Father’s will regardless of what it will cost Him personally. We refer to this theologically as being impeccable. Even in human frailty, Jesus’ will is so strong and committed to do what is good and right before God that no matter how great any temptation may be, Jesus cannot be conquered by it to go against God’s perfect will. No fault can be found in Him. Jesus was in perfect submission to the Father.
That is actually the same way for us to overcome any temptation. We do not overcome temptation by “rebuking Satan” or “casting out demons,” as some in the modern “spiritual warfare” movement suggest. We do not overcome temptation by gritting our teeth and pushing our way through it. We overcome temptation by submission to the Father’s will. Until we come to the point where we actually believe that His way is best and submit to Him, we will be susceptible to the temptation to do it our own way. Here we find Jesus in His humanity expressing fully the emotion of His heart that He wanted there to be some other way to make atonement for man’s sin. Yet, Jesus fully submits Himself to the Father’s will regardless of what He would have to suffer for it to be accomplished. Jesus believed the Father’s way was best, so He wanted the Father’s will to be done instead of His own. Are you willing to pray the same way when you face temptation? Or are you more like the disciples.
Sleeping disciples – Matthew 26:40-41, Mark 14:37-38; Luke 22:45-46.
Matthew 26:40-41 tells us what happened next. “And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? 41 Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Jesus goes back to where Peter, James and John were and finds them sleeping. Jesus specifically addresses Peter who had been so proud and boastful only a few minutes before about all He would do for Christ. Peter said he was ready to die for Christ, but he could not even stay awake to pray. Jesus’ command for them to keep watching and praying that they may not enter temptation was another reminder of what they would be facing.
The fact that the disciples were sleeping shows again that they did not believe what Jesus had said about His being crucified and their falling away. If they had believed that, they would have been diligent in their prayers. The apprehension about what was coming would have infused them with emotional energy. Instead, their actions demonstrated their disbelief. It is not that they were rejecting what Jesus said so much as not wanting to believe it. Sleep can also be a means of escape from things we do not want to deal with. I am sure all of us can remember times when there were things we had to deal with that were so overwhelming and so unpleasant that we just wanted to put them out of mind. Exhausted from thinking about them we find refuge in sleep. Luke 22:45 records that they were indeed “sleeping from sorrow.” But this does not excuse them. Jesus reminds them again to watch and pray.
Petitioning the Father a Second Time – Matt. 26:42; Mark 14:39
Matthew 26:42, He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Thy will be done.” Jesus left Peter, James and John again and went away to pray. He again petitions the Father concerning the coming ordeal. It was a common Jewish idiom to use a cup and drinking it as a figure of fully undergoing an experience. Again we find that Jesus’ resolve is to drink from that cup if there was no other way.
We see here again the resolve of Jesus even when under such extreme emotional turmoil. He committed Himself to do the Father’s will rather than what His human nature wanted so desperately to avoid. He wanted the Father’s will to be done above all else.
Disciples Asleep Again – Matthew 26:43; Luke 14:40
The disciples on the other hand are continuing as they had before. Matthew 26:43, “And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.” They do not heed Jesus command to watch and pray with the result that the lateness of the hour and the weariness of the day take their toll, their eyes become heavy and they fall back asleep. Jesus questions them again for Mark 14:40 adds, “and they did not know what to answer Him.”
Petitioning the Father a Third Time – Matthew 26:44
Matthew 26:44 tells us, “And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more.” The extent of Jesus’ turmoil over bearing man’s sin is seen in that He prays about it a third time. An example of perseverance in prayer. It is not death that brings about these petitions for Jesus knows that He will be raised on the third day. What concerns Him and is prodding His prayer is not death, but the agony that He will go through when He bears man’s sin, when a separation occurs between the Father and the Son, when He who is Holy is made sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
Prepared for the Hour – Matthew 26:45-46; Mark 14:41-42
Jesus’ prayers were intense and they prepared Him for the hour at hand. Matthew 26:45-46, Then He came to the disciples, and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Arise, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”
Jesus does not retreat in the least from what is now facing Him. He has prayed about it. He is assured this is the Father’s will. He is ready and so He goes back to the disciples who have fallen asleep again. He would have let them continue to rest but He knew that Judas was even then on his way. He wakes the disciples so that they may all go out to meet the traitor, the chief priests and the soldiers that have come to arrest Him. No retreat, only going forward to do the Father’s will. Hebrews 12:2 says that “For the joy set before Him [He] endured the cross, despising the shame.” Jesus knew that the final result of all that He was about to go through would bring joy both to men and to Himself as man’s redeemer.
Conclusions
There is quite a contrast here between Jesus and the disciples. Jesus was going through the much greater trial, yet He triumphed over it. The disciples by comparison would endure very little, yet they failed. The difference was humility resulting in submission to God.
The disciples were proud and boastful in their self-confidence. That opened the door to a lack of vigilance leading to failure to recognize the temptation before them and so they fell. We are subject to the same. We think we can handle things on our own, so we slack off in our spiritual duties. We let our Bibles lay on the shelf. Our prayer life degenerates to a quick thank you before a meal. Personal time with the Lord in meditating on His word and will in our lives is fleeting or non-existent. We sin and forget about it instead of confessing it. We set ourselves up to fall. We short circuit the power God has given us and we are overcome by sin.
Jesus on the other hand demonstrates the way to overcome sin. He is God, but He is also man so He knew the weakness of His humanity. He came before the Father and prayed through the matter and so was strengthened in His resolve to do the Father’s will above all else. Jesus’ confidence is in the Father, not Himself. He is morally and spiritually vigilant rather than indifferent or complacent. He was therefore able to resist temptation and be obedient to God rather than fail in sin.
If Jesus had the need to pray in such a manner, then how much more do we? We will only be victorious in our fight against sin if we follow His example to believe God and to seek out and do His will rather than our own. The key is to be humble and walk with the Holy Spirit instead of being proud and walking in our own wisdom.
Sermon Notes – 6/2/2019
In The Garden of Gethsemane – Matthew 26:30-35; Mark 14:26-31; Luke 22:31-40; John 18:1
Introduction
Jesus is 100% God and 100% _________, and He demonstrated both during His life on Earth
Jesus instituted Communion and taught the disciples many things during His last ___________with them
Conclusion to Passover – Matthew 26:20; Mark 14:26; Luke 22:39; John 18:1
They sang a ________(Psalm 115-118?) at the conclusion of Passover and they left for the Mount of Olives
They had been making this same journey each day from Jerusalem to ___________where they were staying
Warning and Instruction – Matthew 26:31-32, Mark 14:27-28
Jesus warns them that they would all ________- skandalivzw / skandalizo – when He would be struck down
This would fulfill Zechariah 13:7 – it is an action of the ______________
They were to meet Him in ____________ after He was raised from the dead
Jesus is ___________revealing the events of the future – struck down, scattered, resurrection, reunion
A Boastful Reply – Matthew 26:33-35; Mark 14:29-31
This is a strong statement showing disbelief and _____________ along with disdain for the other disciples
It is not wise to argue with someone who is omniscient. Jesus said Peter would deny Him___times that night
Peter continued his arrogant claim and the others ____________ in
Jesus did not correct them again verbally for the lesson of humility would soon be learned by ____________
Preparation to Pray – Matthew 26:36-39a; Mark 14:32-35a; Luke 22:40-41
They arrive at Gethsemane (meaning “oil press”), a _________on the western slope of the Mount of Olives
Jesus brought them there to ________ – both He and the disciples
Jesus takes His inner circle, _________, James & John, to be closer by Him and to learn an important lesson
They had been boastful, and now they would learn how _________ they really were
Jesus’ confidence was in the Father, but He was still encompassed by ________ to the point of death
_______________ over proud and stubborn disciples that did not learn their lessons easily
___________ over the coming rejection by people to whom He had ministered to calling for His death
_________ over the trial that was now come upon Him – facing an unjust death to bear man’s sin
The primary __________ was over becoming a reproach to God and the Father turning His face from Him
Petitioning the Father – Matthew 26:39, Mark 14:35-36, Luke 22:42-44
The prayer was for the cup to be ____________ from Him, yet the Father’s will, not His own
The prayer ___________ as He fell to the ground on His face and an angel had to strengthen Him
The anguish of His human soul reached a peak as He broke out sweating drops of ________(Hebrews 12:4?)
Jesus gives full display of His emotion, yet He remained fully in control of His __________
Temptation is overcome by ____________ of your will to God
Sleeping Disciples – Matthew 26:40-41, Mark 14:37-38; Luke 22:45-46
Those who had been so boastful that they would never deny Jesus cannot even stay ___________ to pray
They were “sleeping from sorrow” (Luke 22:45) – sleep being a means of _________from unpleasant reality
Petitioning the Father a Second Time – Matthew 26:42; Mark 14:39
Jesus petitioned the Father again concerning the coming ordeal yet resolved to ________ the cup if He must
He was _________to do the Father’s will rather than what His human nature wanted so desperately to avoid
Disciples Asleep Again – Matthew 26:43; Luke 14:40
They do not heed Jesus’ command and fall back to ____when their eyes became heavy – they had no excuse
Petitioning the Father a Third Time – Matthew 26:44
The extent of Jesus’ ____________ over bearing man’s sin is seen in His praying about it a third time
Prepared for the Hour – Matthew 26:45-46; Mark 14:41-42
After praying, Jesus is ___________ for what lay ahead – and He awakens the disciples to go meet it
Conclusions
Jesus had faced the greater trial, but humbly submitted to the Father and ____________ over it
The disciples were proud and boastful in their self-confidence and ______________
Jesus’ knew the weakness of His humanity and was strengthened through _________to submit to the Father
The key to victory in the fight against sin is ___________ and walking with the Holy Spirit
KIDS KORNER
Parents, you are responsible to apply God’s Word to your children’s lives. Here is some help. Young Children – draw a picture about something you hear during the sermon. Explain your picture(s) to your parents at lunch. Older Children – Do one or more of the following: 1) Count how many times the word “prayer” is used 2) Talk with your parents about how to pray properly to God so that you will be able to obey Him
THINK ABOUT IT!
Questions to consider in discussing the sermon with others. What have you learned in the study of Jesus’ last Passover and the Upper Room Discourse that followed it? What is your reaction to Jesus’ prayer in John 17? Why would Psalm 115-18 be appropriate hymns to sing to conclude Passover and be prepared for the coming trial? Where is Gethsemane and why would Jesus go there? What is the prophecy of Zechariah 13:7 and how would this be fulfilled? How did Jesus demonstrate His deity in His warning to the disciples? Why would Peter boast that he would not fall away? How did Jesus rebuke him? Peter continued to boast of his loyalty to Jesus – why is this both commendable and condemnable? Why didn’t Jesus verbally rebuke all of them when they joined in Peter’s boasting? Why would Jesus separate Peter, James and John from the rest of the disciples for prayer and then pray alone a little father away? What does it mean that Jesus was deeply grieved? What disappointments and sorrows was Jesus facing? What upcoming trial was causing Him the most anguish? What was Jesus’ petition to the Father? What was the motivation for it? How does Jesus changing posture in prayer demonstrate an increasing intensity? Why did an angel need to come? What caused Jesus to sweat drops of blood? What did that signify? Does Hebrews 12:4 apply to you? Why do humans so often yield control of their will to their emotions? How was Jesus able to experience full emotion and still maintain full cognitive control of His will and overcome temptation? Why did the disciples fall asleep? What is the significance of Jesus praying the same thing twice more? Of the disciples falling asleep each time? How did prayer prepare Jesus for His hour of testing? How can you be more like Jesus and less like the sleeping disciples?
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