Strength In Surrender Series

Ways that we demonstrate strength

wealth

Physical

Knowledge

Force of personality

Legal

as Jesus prepares to suffer, he demonstrates that our strength comes not through ability or self- sufficiency, but through surrender.

Luke 22:39–46 ESV

And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

Big Idea: Our greatest strength is found in honest surrender to God who transforms our fears into faith in Him and resilience as we seek His guidance in adversity.

Over the course of this week, Jesus has traveled daily between some place on the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem (Luke 21:37). The Mount of Olives is just east of the city and overlooks Jerusalem. It seems like He would retreat to the mount in order to have more quiet time with His disciples and rest. On this night, He goes to pray. In this time of prayer He demonstrates…

Seeking Solitude for Strength (39-41)

I think it’s not so much that He is trying to be completely alone, but that He is seeking some time where He can focus in prayer. Over the course of our study in Luke, we’ve witnessed Jesus going away, even going to mountains to pray several times.

Luke 5:16 - reveals that Jesus had a habit or pattern of going to desolate places to pray

Luke 6:12 - Jesus retreated to a mountain to pray before selecting those who would be his disciples/apostles

Luke 9:18 - Jesus was praying alone (with His disciples close by) when He asked them who people say that He is - it was then that Peter acknowledged that He was the Christ.

Luke 9:28-29 - He went up to the mountain with Peter and John to pray - it was there that He was transfigured and Moses and Elijah appeared, along with the voice of God.

Luke 11:1 - Jesus had been praying “in a certain place” and His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray.

The passage we’re considering today is the final instance in Luke’s gospel where we see Jesus praying.

Jesus made it a habit of going away - changing His environment to pray. Luke notes that Jesus also knelt down as He prayed.

There is something profound that happens when we change our environment and our posture in prayer.

By changing our environment, we remove distractions and give ourselves an opportunity to focus our attention specifically. We may not be able to do this each day, but I do think that periodically, we would be helped in our times of prayer if we would change our environment.

go to a different room in the house

go outside

go up to Sugarloaf or out to the River or simply to a park.

Put the phone down, turn it off and get away.

But as Jesus modeled here, I believe our prayer lives are helped when we change our posture as well. I know, some of us can’t kneel down - or at least for long periods of time - but we can change where we are.

There was a season recently when changed up how I was doing my morning devotions - I moved to a different room, sat at a desk. This gave me a good place and posture to make notes more easily in my bible and even to write out some of my prayers.

kneeling suggests an attitude of submission

laying face down on the floor suggests utter dependance on God

standing communicates an attitude of respect but also a familiarity as one friend to another.

In these moments of utter need, Jesus sought solitude with the Father in order to gain strength from the Father. He changed His environment and His posture as He communed with God.

But secondly, we get to witness Jesus…

Submitting to Sovereignty (42, 44)

His plea was that the Father would “remove this cup” from Him. He was pleading to be freed from the suffering and pain that He would endure.

But what is this cup? Several commentators suggest two options - wrath and suffering.