Whose Will?
The Life Of Christ • Sermon • Submitted
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
Theme: The Life Of Christ.
Hope: To draw closer to God through an in-depth study of Jesus’ life and teachings here on earth.
When you are facing an important decision, what is your first instinct?
Do you try and just figure it out on your own?
Do you seek advice from others?
When you are facing great stress in your life, what is first instinct?
Is it to worry and fret about whatever is causing the stress?
Is it to “count to 10” with deep inhales and exhales?
In our text today, Mark 14:32-42, Jesus finds himself with a most important decision and stressful situation.
On previous occasions when Jesus was pressed with these situations he often spent the night in prayer alone and away from everyone.
Before we read our text remember…
The passover meal was concluded.
Jesus had shared some encouragement and warnings as we have been studying (John 14-16).
Jesus had prayed the prayer of John 17 seeking unity with his brethren.
Now they come to Gethsemane and we read this…
Now let’s read Mark 14:32-42.
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. 36 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.”
37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 41 And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
With this in mind let us consider for a moment…
The Uniqueness Here
The Uniqueness Here
Jesus’ Emotions On Display.
Jesus’ Emotions On Display.
We are rarely given insight into the inner feelings of Jesus or those emotions that surged within him.
We are told of what he “did” here numerous times but his inner emotions are rare though we do see glimpses of them from time to time.
We are told of his groaning at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:33).
We are told that he wept over the city of Jerusalem (Luke 19:41).
We see his righteous anger when he cleansed the temple (John 2:13-22).
In our text today, Jesus shows us his heart in a way that had never been seen before.
The Hebrew writer gives us a brief overview of the emotions of Jesus in Gethsemane.
7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.
The authors of the differing gospel accounts use four different phrases to describe Jesus’ intense inner struggle and emotional pain.
Deeply Distressed
33 And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed.
Very Sorrowful Even To Death
38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”
34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.”
In Agony He Prayed More Earnestly
Luke 22:44 (ESV)
44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly…
This was after an angel had come and strengthened him.
Sweat Like Great Drops Of Blood
44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Summary
Summary
Jesus’ emotions were on full display as we see his humanity in full view.
In that garden our Lord and Savior was deeply distressed, very sorrowful, even unto death, and in agony so severe it is possible literal drops of blood were flowing from his brow.
Knowing this then helps us see the power and as our we will see in our next point…
The Passion Of This Scene
The Passion Of This Scene
His Prayers.
His Prayers.
Three times Jesus prayed for this cup to be removed from him.
35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
36 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.”
39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.
This was Jesus’ flesh and spirit doing battle.
The flesh recoiled at the thought of the cross, but the spirit knew what had to be done.
Three times Jesus prayed, “not my will but thine.”
39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”
44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.
Here we see the outcome of the flesh and spirit battle.
The spirit was overcoming the flesh.
Three times Jesus prays for an hour.
40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour?
Mark 14:39 (ESV)
39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.
With each passing hour the battle between the flesh and spirit became easier and easier until Jesus was able to tell Peter who would try and stop it in John 18:11…
11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
Let’s now consider…
His Struggle.
His Struggle.
The physical struggle he knew he would have to endure was tremendous.
The idea of death for a man in his 30’s could not have been welcoming.
The contemplation of death by crucifixion could not have been welcoming for any age.
Not to mention the beatings, scourging, crown of thorns, and other physical torture he would endure.
This would certainly explain his struggle emotionally as if the physical pain wasn’t enough.
Jesus was going to have to endure his friend betraying him.
45 And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him.
Jesus was going to have to endure all his friends abandoning him.
50 And they all left him and fled.
Jesus was going to have to watch as one of his best friends, Peter, cussed out loud that he did not know him.
71 But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.”
60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
And if the physical and emotional pain wasn’t enough Jesus had to suffer “as if he had sinned” because he took on our sins.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.
Summary
Summary
Every first day of the week we gather like we are doing today and we partake of what is commonly called “The Lord’s Supper.”
In that moment, that memorial, we remember these things our Lord and Savior went through for this reason, that we may follow in his footsteps and find eternity with him.
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Jesus, when in the most might battle between the flesh and the spirit, showed us the blue print that will give us success in this battle.
Make no mistake we are in a battle for our soul every single day and though we might not be looking at death’s door (knowingly) we don’t know when it is coming and so we must…
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.