The Garden
Notes
Transcript
Handout
The word passion is from the Latin pati, which simply means “to endure” or “to suffer.” The term passion of Christ has taken on a technical or semi-technical meaning in theology, referring to the time from Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane to His death on the cross—the time of His greatest suffering. Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ covers these events. Likewise, “passion plays”—re-enactments of the last few hours of Jesus’ life in which He suffered—are popular around Easter. The passion of Christ is recorded in Matthew 26:36–27:56
Scripture often highlights the suffering of Christ. Indeed, the crucifixion of Christ is the apex of human history and the grand theme of the apostles’ teaching: 1 Corinthians 2:2
2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
So we will take the next several weeks for our Lent observance--to unpack this period of time from the Gospel of Matthew— Each week, I’d like to review a snapshot moment from this 48 hours of time.
It is through the passion of Christ that we are made right with God.
It is important to note that Christ’s suffering—His passion—was real. It is not as though He simply appeared to suffer; He actually suffered and he actually died. When Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me” We will see that this special place— a garden Jesus had visited probably many times before— would be a place of pain, and sorrow— but it would also be a place of resolve and strength.
There are many connections we can make with another garden mentioned in scripture— the original habitat for Man and Woman— the Garden of Eden:
In the first garden, the first man fell by yielding to temptation— They chose independence and their own way. They believed the lie of the enemy— and they separated themselves from God, causing sorrow and pain to enter the world.
In the second garden, the Second Man (cf. 1Co 15:47) conquered sin and death by yielding to the will of God, in spite of his own pain and suffering. I Corinthians 15:47
47 The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven.
Jesus and His disciples then came to a place called Gethsemane...
A garden outside the city, across the Kidron brook and on the Mount of Olives
It's name means "olive press", and was possibly a remote walled garden
A place where Jesus often went with His disciples - Jn 18:1-2
So we come to this garden
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
These are the same three that see him transfigured in Matthew Chapter 17
THE GARDEN WAS A PLACE OF SUFFERING
THE GARDEN WAS A PLACE OF SUFFERING
JESUS EXPERIENCED GREAT STRESS.
He went to the garden to pray.
38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
Later, Luke records that He was "in agony", and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground - Lk 22:44
His blood began to flow for our sins— not on the cross, but here in the garden— what would happen here in the garden is the powerful beginning of his submission to God. Just as it was in the garden that Adam and Eve began the choice to deny God, and move away from Him— Jesus continues to move TOWARD God.
The “will” is a key word in all this interaction— isn’t it? What is the Father’s will? What is Jesus’ will?
The “will” to have a baby doesn’t happen on the date of the birth— the “will” to have a baby happens way before that.
The “will” to accomplish any great act often doesn’t happen on the day of— it is forged in the fire of training and discipline and decision— far in advance.
The “will” to win a championship— or even just to be healthy and life well— isn’t about the day of. It’s a process and sequence of decisions— everyday, every moment— to decide and act.
27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.
He knew what was imminent, for He had told His disciples three times in Matthew’s gospel - Mt 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:17-19
There was not only physical pain to endure, but also the burden of our sins and separation from His Father as He bore our sins on the cross! - cf. Isa 53:6; Mt 27:46
He asks his closest disciples to “keep watch with him”. That means he had no intention to flee— or run away from the moment. He simply wanted his friends to be with him.
JESUS ENDURED INTENSE SORROW.
He described Himself as "exceedingly sorrowful, even to death" - Mt 26:38
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
Jesus knew He would bear the sin and sorrow of all people.
Matthew–Mark (7) Gethsemane (26:36–46)
We simply cannot fathom his sorrow, nor know the extent of his trial, nor understand all that his cup meant.
Again, His grief was due to the fact that He was taking upon Himself our own griefs and sorrows! That includes you and me— that tough circumstance that you’ve been through— that difficult situation you are in right now— he’s felt it. He’s endured it with you.
This is a fulfilment of who the prophet Isaiah would speak about when he talks of the Messiah:
4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Not just stress, or sorrow:
JESUS ENCOUNTERED TERRIBLE LONELINESS.
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.
He wanted His closest disciples to be with Him.
Those who had been with Him from the beginning. His friends.
Those who were privy to His miracles
Those who saw Him transfigured on the mountain
Those who really “knew” who he was--
Yet after each episode of praying, He found them sleeping
He desired fellowship, but there was none.
The Psalmist foretold this would happen:
20 Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none.
At times like this— we are tempted to flee from the moment— but God is there for Jesus, and they remain one. In our deepest sorrow, we too want to run away— but remember God is there, and He has a purpose for our pain.
[Alone in His distress and sorrow, our Lord found "The Garden Of Gethsemane" to be a place of great suffering for Him. Then something happened. Before He left to face the mob led by Judas to arrest Him, Jesus found that...]
THE GARDEN WAS A PLACE OF STRENGTH
THE GARDEN WAS A PLACE OF STRENGTH
JESUS EXPRESSED AGONIZING PRAYER.
The evidence in His prayer is:
Seen by His posture: "He...fell on His face" - Mt 26:39
Heard in His words: "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me" - Mt 26:39,42,44
Jesus displayed Godly fear, and his prayer was heard.
Not that the cup (of suffering) was removed, but that He would be able to drink it— or endure it.
He expresses an echo of the model prayer that he taught his disciples :
“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done...”
JESUS EXTENDED COMPLETE SURRENDER.
As evidenced by His words:
"Not as I will, but as You will." - Mt 26:39"if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done." - Mt 26:42
When Adam and Eve first said "My will, not Thine be done..."
It opened the flood gate of sin
It turned man out of the Paradise of God
But when Jesus said "Not as I will, but as You will..."
Victory over sin became possible.
This prepared Jesus to go to the cross to make it all possible.
19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
JESUS ENJOYED A SPECIAL COMFORT.
Jesus received an answer to His prayer.
43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.
Luke’s gospel mentions a visit from an angel from heaven. (Luke 22:43)
Not the answer He requested (let this cup pass from Me)but strength from an angel to overcome!
Receiving an answer different than what he requested, but more than sufficient to meet the need he had!
JESUS EXPERIENCED RENEWED RESOLVE.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.
Very interesting that “sinners” is the word the Jews used for the Gentiles, when it’s Jesus’ own people who are rejecting him— they are the sinners here who choose
46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Jesus was ready to face the crucifixion and overcome death for us.
Strengthened, Jesus was ready to face the hour at hand - Mt 26:45
Jesus never sought out the crucifixion— but when it came to him, he met it face to face.
We too do not seek out pain, suffering, or sorrow— but when it comes to us, we can remember Jesus’ encouragement to us:
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
This was said before the crucifixion and resurrection. The overcoming was already complete.
He was ready to meet His betrayer and those with him - Mt 26:46-47
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
So "The Garden Of Gethsemane" was a place of both suffering and strength...
Jesus entered the garden suffering, but left strengthened.
We must understand and catch this last point. I hope I’ve been clear enough here—
Notice what turned the place of suffering into a place of strength:
Prayer!
Prayer that is fervent and persistent
Prayer in which one submits to the will of God
Prayer through which one is strengthened
Prayer that enables a person to face the cup of life given them
There will be times when we must enter our "Garden of Gethsemane"...
Times of distress, sorrow, loneliness
But such times can also be a time of comfort and strength-- Provided we spend them in prayer, and be willing to accept the Father's will.
Jesus found prayer to be the key for turning a garden of suffering into a garden of strength. As Christians we have a similar blessing in prayer:
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
May we never neglect to utilize this wonderful gift, especially since we now have Jesus Himself to intercede on our behalf! Drive us to our knees Lord. Meet us there with your compassion and resolve. Give us courage to know that you are sovereign and rule over everything. Remember the storms? Remember the fear?
“Oh you of little faith--- why are you afraid?”
There are countless stories of martyrs and Christ-followers that have displayed this kind of resolve, throughout history.
One modern incident that comes to mind is Todd Beamer, one of the passengers of Flight 93, a plane hijacked on September 11, 2001.
Todd Beamer was born on November 24, 1968, in Flint, Michigan,- Attended Wheaton College, and was a certified physical therapist, travelling that day for his job— working for Oracle Corporation as a field sales rep.
He travelled quite frequently, and was headed from Newark to San Francisco that day.
After Todd realized what was going on during the flight— he made a phone call on the on board phone at his seat. He was routed to speak with a GTE airphone supervisor Lisa Jefferson.
Beamer told Jefferson that a group was planning to take control back from the hijackers by force. This conversation ends with the fateful words heard from Todd to the group— “Are you Ready? Okay. Let’s Roll.” These were the last words heard from Todd that day. They were successful in stopping a more sinister plan, but gave up their lives in the process.
If you find yourself in a garden today— make it a garden of strength and intimacy with God— rather than a garden of rebellion or running away.
God knows.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Jesus knows our every weakness— take it to the Lord in prayer.