Into The Night: Jesus Series

INTO THE NIGHT: JESUS

Jesus has had a big week. He entered into Jerusalem as the celebrated King riding a donkey colt as people lined the streets praising Him. On Thursday night, Jesus is eating His last meal with His disciples, Judas already having made the deal to betray Him on Tuesday. After the meal, Judas went out into the night and betrayed Him and then hanged himself. Peter went out into the night and failed Jesus greatly by denying Him. The other disciples scattered in the night when Jesus was arrested. But what about Jesus? He also went into a long dark night.

1. THE NIGHT OF GRIEF.

A. Distress in the Darkness.

Lk 22:39-44 39 And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him. 40 When He arrived at the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, 42 saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” 43 Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

* Jesus praying in the Garden. He was grieved and troubled. He knew what lay ahead of Him. Betrayal by Judas, the rest would desert Him. A long night of false accusations and trials followed by a day of torture and death. He knew that He’d be resurrected, so maybe death wasn’t the thing that troubled Him most. The pain/torture would be horrific, though. He needs strength. God sent an angel came to strengthen Him.

As you go thru your dark times of distress, remember that you are never really alone. God does not forsake His children. He is with you!

Lk 22:45-46 45 When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, 46 and said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

Strengthened during His time of prayer, He rises to face His destiny. He had come to the earth and became a man. He did many amazing things in His life, but now is the time to do what He came to do.

B. Betrayal’s Dark Heart.

Lk 22:47-48 47 While He was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was preceding them; and he approached Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

If you’ve ever been betrayed by someone you’ve loved, you can imagine the pain this caused Jesus.

He could have struck Judas and the others dead right there, but He did not.

This ought to bring you and me comfort. We have sinned against God- we’ve broken His laws, we’ve denied Him, and we’ve also betrayed Him. Yet, He does not sit on the edge of His seat waiting for us to fail Him so He can destroy.

Instead,

2 Pet 3:9 He is patient with {us}, not willing for any of {us} to perish, but for all to come to repentance.

C. Trials thru the Night.

Lk 22:53-54 53 While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but [k]this hour and the power of darkness are yours.” 54 Having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance.

Notice as Jesus is led away, Peter is following from a distance. Not just geographically, but spiritually. Why do we so easily fail Christ? Because we don’t stay close to Him. We are satisfied with occasional contact with Him, but, as Peter found out, we cannot be filled with the Spirit from a distance. Are you tired of living a dry empty life of spiritual failure? Why don’t you commit today to worship Him regularly instead of just occasionally from a distance?

Lk 22:63-65 63 Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking Him and beating Him, 64 and they blindfolded Him and were asking Him, saying, “Prophesy, who is the one who hit You?” 65 And they were saying many other things against Him, blaspheming.

At the home of the high priest, they begin to beat Him and mock Him.

They blasphemed Him and brought false witnesses to lie against Him. These trials lasted thru the night. Morning came and He was weary and exhausted and hurting from the abuse.

The trials continued before Herod and Pilate. Finally, at the demands of the people, Pilate condemned Jesus to death. First, though, the guards stretched Him out and whipped Him until the flesh tore from His body. Then, they put the cross on His back and ordered Him to carry it through the city to the Hill where He would be killed.