Gethsemane to Golgotha Pt1- Remain Here
Introduction
Series- Easter- NAME OF SERIES- Mat 26-28.
Significance of the story of the crucifixion/resurrection takes us beyond human intellect to a place of faith.
It makes no sense in- natural- someone die- so I live.
Principle built into- fabric of creation- animals die.
1 Cor 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. NASB
God has given us the mind of Christ to understand,
Mat 26:36-46 Read
V36 Gethsemane
Gethsemane? Garden between Jerusalem/Mt Olives.
Jesus would visit the garden for communion and rest.
Now it would be a place of agony and conflict.
Vernacular- our gethsemane- time/place of suffering.
Gethsemane- from- Hebrew word meaning- oil press.
Oil press- extract the oil from fruit through pressure.
Press- to exert physical force, squeeze, crush
to be pushed in a certain direction
the enemy pressing in on all sides
Has life ever felt like press?
V37-39 Remain Here
Here we see- mystery of Jesus- humanity/deity.
He was-not fearful of death-faced it w/courage/peace.
-not wrestling w/whether to do God’s will- He was yielding Himself to God’s purposes.
Cup- about to drink- to bear in His body the sins of all humanity/become a curse for mankind.
Cup- about to drink- to experience God forsaking Him- God has never forsaken one of His own.
What could the disciples do for Jesus?
What can we do to support the work of Jesus today?
Three actions or responses we can take away-
1. Remain Here
Remain- to wait for, to continue in an activity or state.
1 Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. NASB
Jn 15:4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. NASB
We must learn to stay, stand, hold the ground, remain in the place where God has placed us/called us.
Life- walk of faith- regardless of circumstances am I-
going to stay where God has placed me?
going to continue in what God has called me?
Every difficult place/time- not something to run from.
Eph 6:10-14
Stand- suggests faithfulness/stability, to remain firm.
For your life, what does it mean to “remain here”?
V40-41 Keep Watching
2. Keep Watching
Keep Watching- stay awake, be alert/vigilant, be alive
Disciples had promised to be faithful to death and here they were asleep and in moments- would flee.
Danger- around the corner- Jesus did not tell them- nature of the danger- warned them- watch, pray.
God may ask things of us that we do not understand, but He sees a bigger picture than we do-
will we remain and keep watch with Him?
It may have been a long night for the disciples and they struggled late in the night to stay awake.
Lord’s concern- more than physically staying awake.
Mk 13:33 “Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. NASB
1 Pet 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
For your life, what does it mean to “keep watching”?
V41 Keep Praying
3. Keep Praying
Prayer- to make a request of God in humility, to address God w/adoration, confession, thanksgiving
Eph 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, NASB
Psa 50:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.”
Jer 33:3 ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ NASB
Phil 4:6–7
6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. NASB
For your life, what does it mean to “keep praying”?
Why watch and pray?
To avoid yielding to temptation-
Rom 7:22-25
Battle- largely won at-foot of the cross through prayer.
V42-46
The situation catches the disciples by surprise.
Peter pulls a sword, they all flee leaving Jesus alone w/His captors- were not prepared/caught off guard.
Conclusion
Three actions we can take away from these verses-
1. Remain Here- stay where God has you
2. Keep Watch- be alert, understand the day in which we live
3. Pray- make time in your life to seek God
These are interesting, challenging, and serious days in which we life- the news reads like Revelation.
These are also days filled with many opportunities-
for those who can recognize them and
are prepared to take advantage of them.
