Introduction
· I want to take a stroll into a garden like no other, this garden I speak about today is one found just outside Jerusalem, the Garden of Gethsemane.
· Gethsemane means, “oil press”. It was a place where they harvest the olives from the trees, press and crush them to remove the oil.
· This is significant because Jesus was about to be crushed and pressed, so the oil of salvation could flow freely to the world.
· The garden is where Jesus surrendered to go to the cross, to do the will of the Father. It was there that the decision was made and where the victory of the cross was actually won!
· As we get into the Word this morning, let us look at what we find in the garden.
(NKJV) Matthew 26 36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” 40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.” 47 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” 49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. 51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” 55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. 56 But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
1. The Garden of Gethsemane was a place of great decisions and unspeakable sorrow.
a. Jesus made a decision to bring the disciples to the Garden.
i. He only chose three to go with Him to pray & stay with Him (Peter, James & John the Sons of Thunder.)
b. What did Jesus experience in the garden?
· Every emotional attack possible.
o Kneeling there He placed His palms of sorrow over His face as He sweat great drops of blood!
o Unbelief of people calling Him liar and blasphemer.
o Rejection of people (that He loved…He came unto His own…)
o Hatred of religious leaders of that day.
o Betrayal of Judas Iscariot.
o Desertion by all the disciples.
o Denial of one of His own (Predicted Peter’s denial).
o Ridiculed, spit upon, stripped naked.
· Great physical suffering.
o The beating and scourging He would endure by the whips.
o The thorns in His head.
o Knowing the rugged cross awaited Him.
o Looking down at His hands, knowing in advance the spikes, which will be driven thru them.
· The worst - Spiritual suffering
o The cup was the sin of all humanity. (vs 39)
o Accumulated sin of all the ages about to be laid upon the sinless, perfect Son of God.
o His own Father could not look upon Him (He would cry from the cross, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”)
o A separation from God…He never experienced before!
2. The Garden of Gethsemane was a place of disappointment, betrayal and surrender.
a. Jesus coming back from praying and seeing the disciples sleeping, that they could not even watch for an hour. (Disappointment)
(NKJV) Galatians 5 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
b. Jesus surrendered His will to do the will of the father. vs 42 (last phrase) “Your will be done”.
i. This should be our cry as a Christian
ii. As Christians, we must become dead man walking. No desire other than God’s. We must surrender all to Him.
c. Daily, we make choices…and we answer either “My will” or “Your will”.
(For example…tithing, serving, witnessing, punching the time card at work, secret place…).
d. We see betrayal in the Garden, Judas selling out Jesus for a few silver coins.
e. Disciples fled after they captured Jesus.
3. The Garden of Gethsemane was a place of submission and obedience and miracles.
a. Jesus knew they were coming by the ground shaking from the trampling of marching feet, shouts of the mob, light from their torches and the sound of the clanging swords.
b. Note: Jesus didn’t run or resist, but freely submitted Himself.
c. Jesus had surrendered to God first, and then He submitted to man!
d. Even in the midst of Jesus’ pending punishment, He healed the ear of the high priest servant.
(NKJV) Luke 22 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.
Conclusion
· At the Garden of Gethsemane, we must remember that Jesus was crushed and pressed, so the oil of salvation could flow freely to the world.
· The garden is where the victory was won!
· Jesus said… “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
· This morning, what’s in your cup? Sorrow, suffering? Is it emotional? Physical? Spiritual?
· Will you surrender it all to God this morning? (“Your will be done”).
· Only God can save, heal and deliver. We must be willing to submit ourselves to the ways of God or doing it according to the Kingdoms way of doing things.
· Look what we found in the Garden. It is a place of great decisions, unspeakable sorrow, disappointments, betrayal, surrender, submission, obedience and miracles.
· At the garden, we can leave our sorrows, surrender to God and submit to the plan that Jesus has for our lives.
· Let us pray.
Salvation Call
