Agony In The Garden Series

“AGONY IN THE GARDEN” Mark 14:32-50

FBCF – 4/3/22

Jon Daniels

INTRO – “Man-Up” Wed AM: Wind howling outside the church. Men praying inside the church. Started by praying through Psalm 42. Verses 5-6, 11 – “Why are you downcast, O my soul, & why are you in turmoil within me?” The Psalmist was in a hard place in his life. His enemies were keeping him from being able to attend corporate worship services at the sanctuary. B/c of this, his soul was downcast & in turmoil – his soul was troubled, was crying out loud, was in a state of mourning, even in a state of rage b/c of his circumstances.

Ever been in a place like that? People coming against you. Circumstances working against you. Your soul is in turmoil & you find yourself crying out to the Lord, through tears & frustration & maybe fear. It’s a tough place to be that we’ve all experienced at one time or another & may even be experiencing it right now in some area of our life.

Good news: We have a Savior who’s been there, too, & He understands our struggles, our weaknesses, our pain, & will help us get through it if we will trust in Him. We’re starting a 4-week series from the Gospel of Mark which will begin in the Garden of Gethsemane today & take us to the cross, the empty tomb, & beyond. In today’s message, we are going to take a look at Jesus’ most intense time of turmoil in His earthly life.

EXPLANATION – Mark 14:32-50

Before the foundation of the world & certainly before this last week of Jesus’ life, God’s plan for our salvation was in place. OT filled with prophetic words about Jesus

- Genesis 3:15 – “The Protoevangelium” – The 1st Gospel – “And I will put enmity between you & the woman, & between your offspring & hers; he will crush your head, & you will strike his heel.” (NIV)

- Numbers 21:9 - "So Moses made a bronze snake & put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake & looked at the bronze snake, they lived" (Numbers 21:9).

- Isaiah 59:20 – “He will come as a Redeemer to those in Zion who have turned away from sin.” (TLB)

God’s plan for our salvation has been in place before He said, “Let there be light,” before He hung the sun, moon, & stars in place; before He formed Adam out of the dust & Eve out of Adam’s rib. Adrian Rogers said it this about God’s plan for our salvation: “God thought it. Satan fought it. Jesus bought it. Grace wrought it. And Paul taught it.”

Events of Passion Week:

- Sun. – Triumphal Entry – “Palm Sunday”

- Mon. – Jesus clears the Temple – “My house will be called a house of prayer for the nations” (Mark 11:17)

- Tue. – Multiple confrontations w/ religious leaders – Trying to trap Him, set Him up. Also gives the “Olivet Discourse” that is filled w/ end-times prophecy

- Wed. – No info about this day – Most likely just stayed in Bethany w/ His disciples

- Thu. – The Last Supper in the Upper Room. His prayer in Gethsemane, followed by His betrayal & arrest.

- Fri. – His mock trial & Peter’s denial. Crucified.

- Black Saturday or Holy Saturday

- Sun. – Resurrection Day – “Up from the grave He arose!” – “The resurrection of Jesus Christ is God’s great exclamation point.” (Ray Stedman)

But before we get to that exclamation point, we’ve got to go through some tough stuff. Just like a mother goes through the pain & travail of labor to get to the wonderful moment of birth, so Jesus went through tremendous pain & suffering before He got to the history-shattering moment of the resurrection. That pain & agony is seen first in the Garden of Gethsemane.

APPLICATION – Jesus’ commitment to His Father’s will is critical to our salvation.

3 components of Jesus’ agony in the Garden:

THE BEGINNING OF DISTRESS – v. 32-34 – Some of you have had cancer or other serious medical issues. Treatments & surgeries necessary. You know they’re coming. Know they’re necessary. Know that you’ll be better on the other side. But as the time draws near, your distress level begins to grow b/c you also know that you’re facing a painful process.

Jesus knew this day was coming. He knew that this moment was looming large in the future throughout the course of His days of ministry. He had already told His disciples this multiple times.

- Matthew 16:21 – “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem & suffer many things from the elders & chief priests & scribes, & be killed, & on the third day be raised.”