INTRODUCTION
If you were given a choice, how would you Choose to Die?
-- In an accident - quick & relatively painless?
-- In your sleep?
-- Surrounded by your friends and loved ones?
Of course, none of us are given the choice of how we die -- we don’t know until the moment comes. Jesus, however, was aware of how He would die. For the past few weeks, we’ve been Following Jesus to the Cross...
-- To see not only WHAT Jesus experienced for us, but also HOW He approached His death -- What was Jesus’ Attitude like?
-- What did Jesus do on the Way to the Cross?
-- What was Important to Jesus as the Time of His Death drew closer?
Two weeks ago, we looked at how Jesus Prepared to die, seeing that He faced His death squarely with His Focus on the Future, and that He continued to carry out the Mission that His Father had given to Him -- a Mission of Teaching and Caring for those around Him.
And then last Sunday, we discovered how Jesus Drew A Line In The Sand -- how He chose to Confront the religious leadership of His day, condemning their outright hypocrisy; and how He Challenged His Followers to be faithful in the coming days.
But then, as the Cross begins to loom closer, we begin to see Another side of Jesus...
-- Jesus... began to be filled with anguish and deep distress. He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death." (Matthew 26:37-38 - New Living Translation)
We’re not used to see this side of Jesus, are we? We’re used to seeing the confident Jesus who confronts and challenges. In some sense, many of us picture Jesus walking the road to the cross with a kind of John Wayne / Arnold Schwarzenegger type of attitude -- NO FEAR! Models of grit and determination.
And yet, that is not what we see! Instead, we find a man who is Vulnerable and somewhat Uncertain. Not the picture of a hero that we’re used to, is it? In fact, if we were writing the story, many of us would have left this passage out, choosing to present a strong, confident hero -- not one with doubts.
Why was Jesus so distressed? Well, consider this:
1. JESUS UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN TO HIM.
Jesus had a strong sense of what was going to happen in the next number of hours. Look at what Jesus says to His followers:
-- While they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will BETRAY me..." (Matthew 26:21 - New International Version) Jesus knew that one of His own followers would deliberately turn his back on Jesus, betraying Him for money.
-- They went out to the Mount of Olives. Jesus said to his disciples, "During this very night, ALL of you will REJECT me..." (Matthew 26:31 - Contemporary English Version) Jesus knew that all of them would turn and run, fearing for their lives, leaving Jesus to face death on His own.
And in case someone thinks that Jesus just wandered into His fate, not knowing what was ahead, consider these words:
-- Jesus told his followers, "You know that the day after tomorrow is the day of the Passover Feast. On that day the Son of Man will be given to his enemies to be CRUCIFIED." (Matthew 26:1-2 - New Century Version) Jesus knew not only that He was going to die, He knew HOW He would be dying -- by crucifixion, which was the cruelest, most torturous way for a person to die. Death by Crucifixion was designed to produce the greatest degree of SHAME, and to Inflict the maximum amount of PAIN for the longest possible period of TIME. Jesus knew what was about to happen.
2. JESUS UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS AT STAKE.
Jesus understood that this was more than just a physical struggle, it was a spiritual struggle. In his death, he would be taking on the guilt and sin of all humanity.
-- He was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on HIM the guilt and sins of us all. (Isaiah 53:5-6 - New Living Translation)
These words by author Max Lucado from his book "And The Angels Were Silent" describes the scene well:
"The final encounter of the battle has begun. As Jesus looks at the city of Jerusalem, He sees what the disciples can’t... He sees the Evil One preparing for the final encounter... Hell is breaking loose... History records it as a battle of the Jews against Jesus. It wasn’t.... It was a battle of God against Satan. AND JESUS KNEW IT. He knew that before the war was over, he would be taken captive. He knew that before victory would come defeat. He knew that before the throne would come the cup. He knew that before the light of Sunday would come the blackness of Friday... AND HE IS AFRAID."
We don’t often think of Jesus being afraid, but He was -- He could not be human without really knowing what it meant to be afraid, especially of His own death. But that leads us to another helpful question: How Did Jesus Face His Fear?
1. JESUS SOUGHT ENCOURAGEMENT FROM OTHERS.
-- Jesus took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John... He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief... Stay here and watch with me." (Matthew 26:37-38 - New Living Translation) Jesus knew that this was going to be a huge challenge, and He realized that He needed some help and encouragement to face it.
(ILLUS.) Yesterday we faced a daunting task as a congregation -- planting all the trees and shrubs around our property -- one of the last steps of our building program. Thankfully, we had a bright young man, Greg, to provide leadership and coordination for this project. And as he has already stated this morning, the job was completed with the help of many volunteers -- many of you who gave of your time and energy to help.
But let me ask you a question: how do you suppose Greg would have felt if no one had shown up yesterday? Consider how he would have been feeling if, after he had made all the arrangements for this work to be done, and after announcing it publicly last week and contacting people personally through the week, how would he have felt if no one had shown up to help? Probably disappointed. Perhaps even angry. And probably very overwhelmed by the task at hand -- a task that would have been virtually impossible for one person to do. I’m sure his demeanor this morning would have been quite different as well -- instead of saying "thank you for your help" he would have said something like "WHERE WERE YOU? WHY DIDN’T YOU COME TO HELP ME?"
That’s probably how Jesus felt. Especially when, after asking for their help and encouragement in prayer...
-- When he came back to his disciples, he found them FAST ASLEEP. He said... "Can’t you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert, be in prayer..." (Matthew 26:40-41 - The Message)
2. JESUS POURED OUT HIS HEART IN PRAYER.
Prayer, for Jesus, was not just something he did in moments of crisis. It was a routine for Jesus, a habit that He had developed and maintained. It was his foremost coping skill -- the way that He stayed connected to His Father. And at the moment of His deepest need, what did Jesus do? He hit his knees!
-- Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, "My Father, if there is any other way, get me out of this... Let this cup of suffering be taken away from me." (Matthew 26:39 - The Message & New Living Translation) Again, this is not the way we would portray a hero -- and yet that is how we see Jesus. Vulnerable, uncertain, afraid -- "Father, won’t you please get me out of here!" No covering up, no faking it for the camera -- what we see in Jesus is total honesty! He shares what is really on his heart!
-- Jesus was in great pain and prayed so sincerely that his sweat fell to the ground like drops of blood.(Luke 22:44 - Contemporary English Version)
-- While Jesus lived on earth, he prayed to God and asked God for help. He prayed with loud cries and tears to the One who could save him from death, and HIS PRAYER WAS HEARD. (Hebrews 5:7 - New Century Version)
3. JESUS HUMBLY YIELDED TO HIS FATHER’S WILL.
Jesus was open and honest to His Father, asking for a reprieve, asking if they could find any other way to accomplish this task. And yet, when the answer did not come, what was Jesus response?
-- Jesus: "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not MY will, but YOURS be done." (Luke 22:42 - New International Version)
-- Jesus: "My Father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I’m ready. Do it your way." (Luke 22:42 - New International Version)
From Max Lucado - "And The Angels Were Silent"
"He knows what it’s like to beg God to change his mind and to hear God say so gently, but firmly, "No." For that is what God says to Jesus. And Jesus ACCEPTS the answer."
4. JESUS RECEIVED COMFORT AND STRENGTH FROM GOD.
-- Then an ANGEL from heaven appeared to him to STRENGTHEN him. (Luke 22:43 - New Century Version)
Isn’t this interesting? No fanfare, no deep flowery language -- just a simple phrase -- an angel came to strengthen Jesus -- to support Him, to encourage His spirit, to help Him in this time of uncertainty. And because of its simplicity, I can almost picture in my mind this scene of Jesus, in obvious distress, lying prostrate on the ground, and an angel simply coming up behind Jesus and laying his hands on his shoulder -- a soft, gentle touch to remind Him "you’re not alone!" What Jesus needed, He received graciously from His Father.
5. JESUS COMPLETED THE JOURNEY TO THE CROSS.
After the time of prayer is completed, after He had communed with His Father and received strength from that angelic presence, what did Jesus do?
-- Jesus went back to his followers and said, "The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinful people. Get up, we must go. Look, here comes the man who has turned against me." (Matthew 26:45-46 - New Century Version)
With renewed strength and determination, Jesus steadfastly faced His death and walked towards it.
-- Judas came straight to Jesus... and gave him the kiss... Then the officers grabbed Jesus and arrested him. One of the men with Jesus pulled out a sword and slashed off an ear of the high priest’s servant. "Put away your sword," Jesus told him... "Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled...?" (Matthew 26:49,51-54 - New Living Translation)
Jesus was not some poor, helpless victim - unwittingly caught up in circumstances beyond his control. Jesus freely, willingly, deliberately completed the journey to the cross. Notice Jesus words:
-- "I freely lay down my life... No one takes it from me. I lay it down of my own free will. I have the right to lay it down... I received this authority personally from my Father." (John 10:17-18 - The Message)
-- Jesus learned obedience from what he suffered and... he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him." (Hebrews 5:8-9 - New International Version)
Max Lucado - "And The Angels Were Silent"
"The battle is won. You may have thought it was won on Golgotha. It wasn’t. You may have thought the sign of victory is the empty tomb. It isn’t. The final battle was won in Gethsemane. And the sign of conquest is Jesus at peace in the olive trees. For it was in the garden that he made his decision... He would rather go to hell for you than go to heaven without you."
How Do We Respond To This?
1. With GRATITUDE and PRAISE.
2. With Humble SUBMISSION.
3. By Following His EXAMPLE.
-- Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed... he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God... When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls. (Hebrews 12:2-3 - The Message)
4. By Reflecting On His SACRIFICE.
-- This week, read a chapter a day from Matthew 21-28, starting tomorrow (Monday) and ending on Easter Sunday morning.
-- Join us on Thursday evening as we share in communion and foot-washing.
-- Take time to remember all that Jesus did for you and for me.
