The Battle in the Garden

Matthew 26:36–56 NKJV

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.” And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

Intro:

AG: Think about it. How have your friends helped you through difficult times in your life?

(1) it would take me a long time to list all the acts of kindnesses done for me over the years…

(2) When Shannon was fighting cancer, the churches we served at time and people from around the world lifted us up in prayer and sent encouragement and gits.

(3) when was paralyzed the church and community rallied around us and carried us through my recovery. From meals, rides to therapies, babysitting, yard work, you name it, they did it.

(4) From the day we arrived in Jacksonville, you have also been there for us and been some of the best encourages we have ever had!

(4) sometimes you want to be with those you love; sometimes you want to be alone; sometimes you want to be alone with the people you love (as here)

TS: Jesus was going through the ultimate difficulty—ready to serve as the final sin offering for all mankind for all time….

(1) He wanted His friends to share this time with Him; He wanted to be near His Three Closest disciples, yet alone with the Father at the same time: “Watch and Pray”

(2) He could not impress upon them the nearness of the trauma awaiting them…they were fatigued because of emotional stress (read Luke 22:45)—another “hidden verse” of Scripture…

Luke 22:45 NKJV

When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.

(3) Why were they so stressed? (going away/betray/ Jesus acting in ways they had not experienced)

This is the struggle of “the second garden.” Mt. Olives/Gethsemane

In Eden, Adam lost the first battle when he sinned.

Now, Jesus faces the 2nd battle of the garden.

Main Idea: We Need To Fight Some Battles on Our Knees and Then Translate Them Into Behavior

I. The Battle in Gethsemane

1. Jesus finds a place to pray and tells the disciples to sit down

2. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death”

---Jesus had always been a giver, now the disciples need to give support to Him…very different….

.He is asking for their help….STAY HERE AND KEEP WATCH WITH ME

He wanted His friends to support Him as He faced this battle.

3. Jesus falls on His face and prays, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will…

(1) The cup = cup of God’s wrath that Jesus had to drink for us

(2) It was the Father’s will that Jesus suffer for us

(3) Isaiah 53:6, 10

Isaiah 53:10 NKJV

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.

(4) Praying for GOD’s WILL is not a cop-out

It should be the heart of every prayer.

We should be submissive servants

As we approach God’s throne of Grace, we come humbly before our Sovereign Lord.

(5) Here you see the human nature of Christ submitting…

He modeled this for us perfectly

4. God sends strength to Jesus

(1) an angel comes to strengthen Him (Lk. 22:43); like at temptation

Luke 22:43 NKJV

Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.

(2) then He sweat drops of blood….

Only when He prayed do we see Him agonize and toil over His petitions, even to the point of sweating great drops of blood.

John F. MacArthur

The issue was not just the physical suffering, but the spiritual

Isaiah 53:11---His soul

Isaiah 53:11 NKJV

He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.

(5) “My God, my God…..”

5. All this stress made the disciples more weary, “Simon could you not…”Watch and pray that…”

6. Jesus prayed the same prayer again and again they were asleep; then a third time. “Enough; the Son of man is betrayed…..”

Application:

1. How do you think God wants you to respond to overwhelming experiences in your life?

2. What role could prayer play in times of trial?

3. In what areas do you need to say to God, "Not my will, but yours be done"?

Main Idea: We Need To Fight Some Battles on Our Knees and Then Translate Them Into Behavior

II. Jesus Arrest and Follow Through

1. Why makes someone betray a cause he had once embraced?

2. Judas knew about the place where Jesus and His disciples had gone because they frequently went there for prayer (18:2)

3. Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss as the crowd of Temple guards and others carried torches and clubs….

What a way to identify the Savior

Betrayed by a kiss.

4. Jesus shows concern for protecting His disciples: Who do you want?

(1) Jesus of Nazareth

(2) I AM—drew back (I AM = Yahweh; "he" added by translaters)

They were knocked to the ground by His force

6. Peter, ever ready to fight, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”

(1) Did you ever ask the question, “Why did the disciples have swords?”

Luke 22:38 NKJV

So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.”

Jesus was aware of it and accepted it

7. Simon Peter did not wait for an answer

(1) Strike the high priest’s servant ear….Jesus heals

(2) Put your sword back…I could call 12 legions (72,000) angels

Jesus had fought and won the Battle of the Garden, and the decision was made.

He would willingly submit to the cross and did NOT call 72,000 angels nor did He order His disciples to attack.

(3) Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me? Follow thru

-decision already made in Gethsemane….follow through now

(4) Because the fight had been won in Gethsemane, the temptation to call the whole thing off was now lessened…

healed the servant’s ear

(5) Why did you come at night with clubs? Any day….

Pointed out their cowardice

(6) Young man with nothing on but a sheet….disciples fled…

Jesus left alone

Application: The disciples were willing to practice FIGHT OR FLIGHT; sometimes it is God’s will for us to do neither….that’s tough. To keep sitting in the hot seat without running away or destroying the seat takes a chunk out of our innermost being… Jesus had to go through with the beatings and the mockery and the crucifixion so that You and I could be free from the wrath of God…It was not accident or chance event….

Main Idea: We Need To Fight Some Battles on Our Knees and Then Translate Them Into Behavior

CONCLUSION

1. What about you? Have you appreciated what Jesus did for you? How should one respond….have you? Or are you like a spoiled, bratty kid who takes the sacrifices of others lightly?

2. You will never be called upon to bear the sin of the World…but you will be called upon to suffer for Jesus Christ and to make some tough decisions…will you struggle in prayer? Will you submit to God’s will, or will you rationalize a compromise of God’s plan?

3. Do you accept the reality that God’s will for you is not all roses? Sometimes God wants you to be in the hot seat---and to stay there. Is this the God you worship, or have you created a false god according to your preferences?

4. If the cross or Gethsemane was where matters end, that would be tragic indeed. But Easter Sunday came after Good Friday. So the Bible promises us great reward if we endure for Jesus Christ. Let’s not forget! After the Tribulation comes the Millennium!