INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• We are starting a new series simply called the “Easter Series.”
• Nothing catchy, but simply some straightforward issues that Easter should bring to the forefront for all of us.
• Today we are going to be in the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus as this will be one of the final times He is with the disciples before He is arrest and later led to crucifixion.
• Jesus enters the garden around 10 pm Thursday or as late as midnight. Up to this point Thursday had been a very event filled day.
• The Passover feast, the washing of the disciples feet, Judas betrayal, the prediction by Jesus of Peter’s upcoming denials, the Lord’s Supper was instituted, and now Jesus is in the garden He knows His arrest and subsequent crucifixion are just moments away.
• In the Garden of Gethsemane, which the word GETHSEMANE means “PLACE OF HE OIL PRESSES”, Jesus will prepare to face His fate.
• Given the nature of what was about to happen to Jesus face, this seems like an appropriate place to spend His final moments of freedom.
• As you look at the title to the message this morning we need to realize that Gethsemane and all the events that took place after that time was is an issue of God’s will not only being carried out but being embraced by Jesus!
• Gethsemane teaches us that the kingdom of God is entered only through the denial of one's own will and the affirmation of the will of God.
• Therefore, the cross must stand central to an understanding of the kingdom.
• Since the essence of the kingdom is our obedience to the absolute will of God, we understand it only as we bring our own will to the foot of the cross.
• No self-will can live unchallenged in God's kingdom. Dennis Corrigan in Bridge Builder (Nov./Dec. 1988). Christianity Today, Vol. 33, no. 4.
• Had Jesus escaped the cross, we would not have the opportunity for eternal life; we would not be able to be in God’s presence much less a part of His family.
• As Jesus could not avoid the cross, we cannot avoid it either!
• Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow Him daily!
• SLIDE #2
• Matthew 10:38 (ESV) And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
• Jesus is speaking about obedience to God’s will; in others words are we willing to obediently follow the will of God in our life!
• Today as we kneel next to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane just a short time before He is arrested, my prayer is that through the example of Jesus we can gain some insight into what we are called to and why we can trust God enough to live our life guided by God’s will for us!
• Let’s start with verses 32-35
• SLIDE #3
• Mark 14:32–35 (ESV) 32 And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” 35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
• SLIDE #4
SERMON
I. Jesus shows us God is with us even in the darkest hour. (32-35)
• When Jesus was getting ready to face the long night of trials, beatings and eventual crucifixion, Jesus takes time to go to the Father for prayer.
• How many of us regarding prayer just feel we do not have the time to do it, or that we have other more important things to do?
• Jesus is preparing to complete the mission of redeeming mankind, yet Jesus finds time to pray.
• Of all the things Jesus could have spent His final hours doing, He chose to pray.
• Jesus could have delivered more sermons, He could have healed more people, yet Jesus spent his final moments of freedom in prayer.
• Jesus does not intend on busting out a 30 second thank you for my food prayer, He is going to be in serious prayer time!
• Jesus enters the garden and He asks the disciples to sit and wait.
• The words SIT HERE, while I pray express distressingly His loneliness.
• Into the agony over the acceptance of the will of God He could take no one, not even his dearest friends.
• He reached the point where He had to say, "You sit here," while He went on by himself. This was to be His solitary experience.
• Even though Jesus is going to pray alone, He needs the moral support of His inner circle, Peter, James, and John.
• He takes them in the garden with Him. Jesus is in a lot of agony. He knew what was coming. He needed the strength to carry it out.
• The words distressed and troubled describe the intense emotional, psychological, and spiritual suffering that Jesus was experiencing.
• We could easily translate the words a HORROR and DISMAY. Jesus was experiencing an ultra-high level of stress!
• Luke 22:44 describes the level of stress in which Jesus was facing!
• SLIDE #5
• Luke 22:44 (ESV) 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
• With all this agony Jesus wanted His closest friends to be near Him during this difficult time.
• Now in verse 34 of our text Jesus told Peter, James and John the level of stress He was under.
• 34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.”
• Now I do not know about you, but if my friend tells me that his pain and anguish level is so high that he would rather die, I would hope I would show some concern!
• We do not know how they reacted. I know it was late, the disciples were tired, but they really offered little in help to Jesus.
• Jesus tells them to remain here and watch.
• “Watch” means to be spiritually alert. More specifically it refers to being alert against the temptation of indifference. It could also carry the idea of sharing the agony of Jesus.
• Notice we see no reaction from the disciples, you see people WILL let you down! Jesus goes in prayer to the Father because He knows that GOD will NEVER let Him down!
• We can trust God’s will in part because we KNOW God will ALWAYS be with us even in our darkest hour.
• In verse 35 Jesus starts praying to God, asking Him if there is another way.
• This was the fleshly element of who Jesus was, this side was pleading for exemption from the suffering that is coming upon him.
• While God heard him, He did not give Jesus the answer Jesus was looking for, but rather He sent an angel to strengthen Him.
• SLIDE #6
• Luke 22:43 (ESV) And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
• Let’s turn to verse 36
• SLIDE #7
• Mark 14:36 (ESV) And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
• SLIDE #8
II. Jesus shows us the depth of relationship God desires with us. (36)
• Jesus as He prays to God reveals to us the depth of relationship God WANTS to have with each one of us.
• I do not think we grasp this concept; it is almost too amazing to believe.
• Understanding what KIND of relationship God wants to have with us will affect HOW we live for Him.
• If we think God is distant and unapproachable, we will never full embrace His will nor will we embrace being obedient to Him.
• We will never trust Him because we do not have the relationship established that would lead one to trust God!
• Jesus calls out to God using the term Abba, Father!
• Abba Father- the term used by children for their fathers, that it therefore expressed an intimate family relationship, and that Jesus’ use of the term was without precedent among the Jewish people.
• The Jews did not use it in reference to God because they felt it to be disrespectful- This goes to the heart of HOW we see God. They did not see Him as one with which they could have a personal intimate relationship whereas that IS what God desires from us!
• This thinking explains how the Jewish people could know so much ABOUT God yet know so LITTLE about God.
• The religious leaders could not recognize who Jesus was because they did not know God; they knew the facts and figures about Him.
• Jesus reveals in this prayer that God wants intimacy. He wants to be close to you. When you have a close relationship you will then be able to develop trust and that trust will allow you to be open to following God’s will for your life!
• Let’s look at a final thought for today!
• SLIDE #9
III. Jesus shows we are called to embrace God’s will. (36)
• Mark 14:36 (ESV) And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
• Jesus acknowledges that with God all things are possible, and He asks God if there is another way to accomplish the task of saving mankind.
• Jesus is going to suffer a lot; He will even for the first and only time face a time of separation from God.
• Even though all things are possible with God, Jesus knows that God’s will is what is important!
• For Jesus the Cross was His will. Jesus could not avoid the cross if mankind was to be saved.
• As far as prayer is concerned prayer is not designed to get God to change his mind. Prayer is designed for us to align our desires and will to God's desires and will.
• Jesus willingly placed his desires in submission to his Father's will.
• Jesus KNEW God’s will was what needed to be carried out, even if it would be difficult to carry out.
• Our life should be about God’s will being fulfilled through it!
CONCLUSION
• IF Jesus could not avoid the cross, can you?
• In a sense, we are able to avoid the cross Jesus because Jesus went to it for us,
• BUT our calling is to take up our cross daily and follow Him!
• Jesus dreaded the sufferings, and would have liked to escape them, yet He had rather endure them than to see God's will or purposes unfulfilled!
• Are you willing to follow God’s will no MATTER where it leads?
• You can trust Him; He will not let you down!
