Message
Luke 22:39-62
Our King Jesus Easily Abandoned
Here is a Scripture that many people find to be a great encouragement.
We do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
Hebrews 4:15
Jesus isn’t kind of like an identical twin. He looks like us. He knows exactly what we feel. He experiences life as we do. He understands the challenges, temptations, difficulties, joys sorrows and everything else. He knows what it is like to want life to be different, to be overwhelmed and even abandoned.
Let’s read about this in Luke 22:39-62
Jesus has been together with the disciples for over three years.
But when He needed their support the most, the disciples so easily abandon Jesus.
It begins in
Luke 22:39-46 - Where Jesus Is Overwhelmed and Abandoned
How do we know Jesus is overwhelmed?
You don’t sweat blood unless you are going through significant anguish.
Jesus is feeling crushed.
Jesus is in despair.
Jesus is facing a situation which is almost killing Him emotionally.
What is the cause?
A couple of Scriptures give us the answer.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree”. (Galatians 3:13)
God is a God of love. But He is also very serious about sin. Sin needs to be dealt with.
Jesus, who has no sin, is about to step into that moment when He will be on a tree … cursed by God … becoming sin for us … paying the price. God is serious about sin, so you can be sure the punishment against sin is not going to be a small fine and a slap on the wrist.
To be honest I don’t think we can imagine the magnitude of the punishment that is possible - because if we could we would be rushing to God to save us from it.
We can’t imagine the enormity of the anger of God against sin. But Jesus can … and He is overwhelmed.
So Jesus does what any human does when they are overwhelmed … He calls on His friends, the disciples. He has a simple request.
Pray that you will not fall into temptation. What temptation?
Well let’s remember that the disciples are also having a difficult night. They know something of significance is going to happen.
Jesus told them they have had their last Passover together.
Peter has been told that he is going to deny Jesus.
The disciples know one of them is going to betray Jesus.
So it is not unreasonable to conclude that the disciples are also feeling overwhelmed, and emotional, and distressed and in despair.
So the temptation they face is the temptation to try deal with all of these feelings in their own strength.
And the way that Jesus … and the way that the disciples … deal with the situation leads to a massive contrast in actions.
Jesus is overwhelmed and comes in prayer. If this can be taken away then please Father do that … yet not My will, but Your will be done.
Then heaven ministers to Jesus and He moves forward strengthened.
The disciples are overwhelmed but they don’t come in prayer. They see Jesus fall to the ground. They hear Him crying out to the Father.
It’s dark. It’s been a long day. They are emotionally drained. Their eyes get heavy. They want to stay awake. But they can’t.
Suddenly Jesus is there. “You couldn’t keep watch, not even for one hour.”
Jesus specifically asked for them to be awake … and to pray. But they have abandoned their responsibility. I’m sure they are willing, but they are weak.
Why the difference in the outcomes?
Jesus prays … the disciples don’t.
That is true for so many of us isn’t it. We don’t pray.
We are consumed by our work … but we don’t pray.
We find funny videos on the internet … but we don’t pray.
We fall into a routine eat, sleep, work … eat, sleep, work … but we don’t pray.
We follow 284 friends on facebook … but we don’t pray.
Life gets overwhelming, difficult, challenging, emotional … but we don’t pray.
Jesus is falling on His knees overwhelmed by the cost of the journey ahead, but willing to take all our sin and bring us into the kingdom.
We know the cost has been paid.
We confess our faith in Jesus.
Yet despite the resource we have … the Spirit of Jesus in us … we also have those times when we don’t pray.
In those moments is it any wonder that we feel like we have abandoned Jesus?
Is it any wonder we find Jesus saying … “You couldn’t do it; even for such a short time”?
Jesus has been abandoned. But Jesus never abandons us.
So even though He is overwhelmed and abandoned He still presses forward.
We see this in
Luke 22:47-53 - Jesus Arrested And Abandoned
In this specific case Jesus has been abandoned by Judas.
Jesus is with the disciples … on the Mount of Olives where He usually goes.
There are no crowds around.
This is the opportunity to betray Jesus.
But it is an opportunity Jesus could easily have avoided.
Right back in John 6:70-71 Jesus says:-
“Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)
These words were spoken at least two years before the arrest. Jesus knew. He could have dumped and replaced Judas at any time – but He doesn’t.
John’s gospel also tells us what happened when they finished the Last Supper.
Jesus left with the disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and He and His disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed Him, knew the place because Jesus had often met there with His disciples.
John 18:1-2
All Jesus had to do was go to a different spot, not the regular spot. Judas would never have found Him. To get to the spot … well it is easier to show you a map.
(Google for a map show Jerusalem in the first century).
The group comes out of the city, across the Kidron Valley – and over to a garden on the Mount of Olives. Jesus is well and truly out of the city. If He stayed in the city He could have hidden among the crowd. But he doesn’t.
But even outside the city Jesus has a strategic advantage. There are no lights outside the city. And even though the Passover is celebrated when there is a full moon it is still dark. Especially when we remember that Jesus is on the Mount of Olives. This is what an olive tree looks like. You could easily hide yourself behind one of them couldn’t you - or run through them and disappear. But Jesus doesn’t.
And what about the size of the group coming to find Jesus. Luke calls them a “crowd”. John uses a Greek word that can mean at least 200 … and up to 600 … soldiers.
They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. At night the light formed by the group would be seen a long way off. Not to mention that voices travel a long distance at night.
It’s not like they can sneak up on Jesus. But Jesus just lets them come.
Then there is the fact that when they try to arrest him they all fall over.
And the fact that Jesus could call on 12,000 angels for help.
But Jesus stays while Everyone keeps abandoning Him.
The Jerusalem religious establishment who should have welcomed Him and identified Him as the Messiah … they have long ago abandoned Him.
Judas for the sake of 30 pieces of silver … abandons Jesus.
After the arrest takes place we read in Matthew 26:56 that all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Later on the crowds will abandon Him .. and chose Barabbas.
Pilate … who knows He is innocent … will abandon Him.
And us? Do we abandon Him?
Living like the Prodigal Son, or the Lost Sheep.
Being out in the wilderness or finding ourselves in darkness.
Knowing the Word but living our own way.
Being hard of heart, or stiff-necked, or rebellious.
Being distracted, or not willing to get out of our comfort zone, or allowing temptation to take hold.
Or course we abandon Jesus. We do it all the time.
Everyone abandons Jesus.
But even though He had every opportunity to do so … Jesus still doesn’t abandon us.
If we need any more assurance of this truth we just need to look more closely at
Luke 22:54-62 - Jesus Abandoned By His Closest Friend
Peter is in the inner circle.
Whenever the twelve disciples are listed, Peter’s name is always first.
Jesus calls Him the rock - a foundation of the church.
3 disciples are at the transfiguration … one is Peter.
3 disciples are closer to Jesus as He prays in the garden … one is Peter.
Peter is a close friend of Jesus who stumbles and temporarily abandons Jesus.
It is such a large stumble that every single Gospel writer tells us about it. Matthew 26. Mark 14. Luke 22. John 18. You put these stories together and you have this very powerful understanding of what is going on and all that Peter is facing.
The first denial.
This accusation is made by a servant girl.
As a servant she has very little status.
As a girl … well what is she compared to a seasoned fisherman like Peter?
It’s kind of like David and Goliath … except it is more like Davina and Gutless.
She is half his size. She isn’t armed. All she says to this man standing in the courtyard by the fire, You also were with Jesus of Galilee.
I don’t know what you are talking about.
It happened so easily didn’t it. Fear has taken hold. The first denial – just as Jesus predicted. But it doesn’t call Peter to his senses.
The second denial
Peter has moved out of the courtyard and over to the gateway. Hoping to be a little inconspicuous. Maybe trying to make sure he can get away easier.
When you put the four gospel accounts together you get the sense that the servant girl is talking to a few people around her and that people are starting to talk in a group.
This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.
This time with an oath “I swear by God himself” … I don’t know the man.
Fear is growing. Self preservation is growing. It is more than just a girl now, it is a growing group of people. The second denial – just as Jesus predicted.
But still that doesn’t call Peter to his senses.
The third denial
An hour passed … then it happens again.
It seems that what happens is a group of people have been talking about this strange man in the courtyard who is hiding in the shadows. Something about him makes them realise that they are definitely on the right track. - his accent makes it very clear that he is from Galilee.
(accent) They speak a little different up from that way.
They are a little bit country.
Now the accusations are happening again, by more people. Peter is finding himself more and more in the spotlight.
Now Peter called down curses on himself – If I am lying may God strike me dead.
I don’t know the man.
With each accusation the denials become more intense.
Then the rooster crows. Every one hears exactly that … a rooster crowing.
But Peter hears words
This very night before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.
I’m the best friend you could ever have. I have never done anything to make you doubt my love and care for you. And now look at what you have done.
Now look what you have done.
That is what is going on in Peter’s head … isn’t it.
Then this moment happens.
Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.
Luke 22:60-61
Can you imagine that moment as their eyes met. Jesus betrayed and abandoned by His disciples.
Jesus blooded and bruised from the first of many beatings He would have to endure.
Jesus being taken off in triumph by the Sanhedrin who were going to kill Him.
And He looks to Peter in the middle of all that suffering.
And Peter sees it straight away.
Jesus knows!!
You know the feeling, don’t you. The feeling that comes when you know you have let God down … again.
Maybe in a small way.
Maybe in a very big way.
There is that real sense where we know that Jesus has seen exactly what we have done.
He knows!!
Jesus knows our frailties.
Jesus sees the times when good intentions become mist.
Jesus appreciates the disappointment you have when that sin you have been struggling with for so long takes hold of you again.
Jesus shares your heartache when life just seems to go all wrong.
Jesus understands the guilt and the shame which arises as you realise you have messed up badly.
Jesus realises how much you love Him and how you want to serve Him and how you wish you could be better.
Jesus knows the times of denial.
Jesus knows when you have abandoned him.
Just as it was for Peter … so it is for you … Jesus looks your way. What is being said in that look?
Was it an “I told you so” look?
Was it an “I'm so disappointed in you” look?
Was it, “you’re just a failure” look?
No it wasn’t.
What is in that look on Jesus’ face? “You have abandoned me - but I will never abandon you.”
Then to prove He meant it… to make it absolutely crystal clear … Jesus goes to the cross.
Dying … Redeeming … Forgiving … Restoring … all those who have abandoned Him
Prayer
