The Darkest Of All Nights – The Garden (2020 Sermon) Series

SERMON OUTLINE:

(1). The Place - Obedience (vs 39-45)

(2). The Kiss - Treachery (vs 47-48)

(3). The Sword - Rebellion (vs 49-51)

(4). The Cup - Submission (vs 52-54a)

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• In the Peanuts comic strips, Snoopy often tries to be an author.

• In one particular comic strip,

• Snoopy is pictured in his kennel (doghouse) typing a novel.

• He begins his story with, "It was a dark and stormy night."

• Because that is the way he always begins his stories.

• Lucy who is a bossy and opinionated girl,

• Who bullies most other characters in the comic strips,

• Sees what Snoopy is doing and bluntly shouts out,

"You stupid dog! That is the dumbest thing I've ever read. Who ever heard of such a silly way to begin a story? Don't you know that all good stories begin, 'Once upon a time'?"

• Then, the last frame shows Snoopy starting all over again.

• This time he types, "Once upon a time, it was a dark and stormy night."

• TRANSITION: Snoopy is close to the truth about life.

• For many people not just in the UK but around the world,

• We are experiencing a dark and stormy night!

• And there will be no shortcut through this dark and stormy night,

• To experience the light that comes in the morning,

• We will all have to go through the gloomy and turbulent night!

• For us at this moment in time, it is the Corona virus,

• But when that passes, and it will.

• Quote:

• “It might pass like a kidney stone! But it will pass.”

• But when that passes, and it will.

• Life will start to get back to what we refer to as normal!

Note:

• The Bible has been described as a picture book,

• As well as a book of history and biography.

• And rather than do a verse by verse study this morning,

• I would rather look at four pictures, four symbols, four images,

• That dominate this story,

• And these images will help us get a better understanding of this passage.

(1). The Place - Obedience (vs 39-45):

“Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.

On reaching the place….”

(Don’t miss those two words, “the place”)

On the western slope of the Mount of Olives is the Garden of Gethsemane:

• Jesus often went to this garden with His disciples,

• To rest, meditate, and pray,

• Note: the words, “As usual to the Mount of Olives.”

Quote: Publius Syrus was a Latin writer, (42 B.C.)

He once said, “Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.”

Ill:

• In some old castles are found deep wells,

• These wells were deliberately dug so that in times of siege,

• Those inside the castle had water to survive.

• Any source of water entering the castle from the outside,

• Could easily be obstructed and blocked by the enemy,

• Forcing those on the inside to surrender.

• But the attacking enemy has no power over the well inside.

• It is a constant source of life to those who draw from it!

• TRANSITION: For the many people that we encounter,

• Their peace depends on their surroundings,

• And in time of trouble its source is cut off.

• But for the Christian, the peace of Christ is a spring on the inside.

• We see that demonstrated by Jesus in these verses.

Remember that Jesus came to this planet with a mission, the greatest mission ever:

• He came to be the saviour/rescuer of the world.

• e.g. Message of Christmas (Matthew chapter 1 verse 21).

• “Give him the name Jesus for he will rescue his people from their sins”

• It is and was the greatest of all missions,

• No other human being whatever their task, ever faced a greater mission than this one!

• Because Christ’s mission not only changes our lives here and now.

• But it will save and rescue us for the whole of eternity!

• Now with the weight of responsibility on his shoulders:

• Notice that in the life of Jesus, there is never any panic, never any worry,

• He is never quashed by the burden and responsibility of his task.

• He simple moves from one situation to the next,

• Never phased, never panicking, never alarmed, never frenzied and never rushing!

At this particular time Jerusalem was filled with pilgrims attending the Passover festival:

• At Passover numbers in the city swelled from 600,000 to 2 million people.

• That’s four times as many people as usual!

• So, when Jesus needs some isolation from the crowd,