Luke 22:39-46

Introduction

Main point of text: Jesus is the Second Adam who resisted temptation and was obedient, in contrast with the sinful Adam who gave in to temptation and was disobedient

Main point of sermon: Jesus is the perfect man who invites us into a perfect humanity where the Garden is redeemed and restored

Set scene: (ex.) It’s the night of Passover. Jesus and His disciples have shared a meal around a table. As they leave the festivities of the night, they go to the Mount of Olives, to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. The city is full of Jewish celebrants who today brought tons of sacrifices to the Temple. From the sacrifices of the Passover festival, the Kidron brook is full of blood. The stench of sacrifice permeates the air as Jesus and the disciples walk along it, even crossing it, to get to the Garden. It is dark and sin is everywhere. The night is tense. Judas is missing. But Jesus knows exactly where Judas is. They arrive in the Garden; anxious, smelling the stench, and aware of their sin. Only Jesus knows exactly what is about to happen.

Adam was faced with temptation and gave in, Jesus was faced with temptation and resisted

Luke 22:39-42 cf. Gen 3:1-6

Luke 22:39–42 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.”

Genesis 3:1–6 ESV

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Adam was faced with God and was fearful in shame, Jesus was faced with God and was comforted in his fear

Luke 22:43-44 cf. Gen 3:9-10

Luke 22:43–44 ESV

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.

Genesis 3:9–10 ESV

But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”

Jesus resisted temptation and turns to strengthen sinful man in their temptation

Luke 22:45-46 Heb. 4:14-16 10:19-22

Luke 22:45–46 ESV

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.”

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 10:19–22 ESV

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Conclusion

Because of Jesus’ work in the Garden, culminating in His work on the cross, we now have a God who not just strengthens us in our temptation, but redeems us from the times where we gave in to our temptation. By His blood shed in the Garden and on the cross, we enter into a perfect humanity. Not one that has capability of sin, but one that has been in sin and has been glorified beyond it. We now look forward to a new Garden where we will dwell forever; where God dwells with us and He will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away (Rev. 21:3-4) and the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, will flow from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Rev. 22:1) and on either side of the river, the tree of life for the healing of the nations (Rev. 22:2) and we will see Christ’s face (Rev. 22:4) and He will be our light, and we will reign with Him forever and ever, amen (Rev 22:4-5).