Reluctant Obediance

Mark 14:32–42 NLT

They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Then Jesus left them again and prayed the same prayer as before. When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. And they didn’t know what to say. When he returned to them the third time, he said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But no—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”

“Submission isn’t submission until it feels like submission.”- Tim Ross

We’ve all been told to do things we didn’t want to do. That is part of life. Do you always want to go to school? Practice? Church? Youth? Do you want to hug that aunt who wears bright red lipstick and insists on kissing you all over so you have lipsticks marks everywhere? But you do it because you love them and they love you.

We all have things in life that we do because they have to be done or, more importantly, because they are the right thing to do. But what happens when there is no one to hold us accountable. Or worse. Everyone we care about is telling us we are wrong or to do the opposite.

**Review last 2 weeks**

Samuel, Eli, hearing and obeying so we hear more

Good Shepard, we know His voice if we are His sheep

Jesus heard, knew and obeyed. But now it was hard. He knew the next step was to go through a lot of pain. By being obedient and doing what His Father asked, Jesus shows us what to do when God asks us to do hard things. And what to expect.

Where:

Gethsemane- Oil Press

Obedience requires:

1.Submission

“Submission isn’t submission until it feels like submission.”- Tim Ross

Walking with God isn’t always easy or fun. Sometimes its hard and requires us to give up good for great.

2. Loneliness

Not everyone will understand why you are doing what you are doing. That doesn’t change God’s direction in your life. Jesus was alone and His closest friends didn’t understand what He was doing. He was alone.

3. Betrayal

Those closest to you will either abandon you or turn on you. Jesus had both. That doesn’t change anything God still has a great purpose and calling for you. There is a reason He spoke to you. Listen.

4. Suffering

Jesus was stressed and anxious because of what God, His Father, had spoken to Him. He asked God to change the plan, take back what He had said, multiple times. But in the end, Jesus was obedient to what God was saying. The Bible even tells us that Jesus sweat great drops of blood.

5. Reward

Jesus did even that God spoke to Him. He completed everything. Even when it didn’t make sense. Even when it was painful and lonely. Jesus was faithful. Because of that, He showed us how to receive that great reward. Eternal life.

1 Samuel 15:22 NLT

But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

This is the heart of God