Grief in the Garden - Luke 22:39-62

The 22 beginning of verse 39. Jesus went out his usual to the Mount of Olives and his disciples followed him and reaching a place. He said to him. Pray that you will not fall into temptation. He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond the Meltdown and prayed. Father, if you were willing to take this cup from me yet, not my will, but yours be done. Angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthen him and being an anguish, he prayed more earnestly and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When he rose from prayer, he went back to the disciples he found him asleep. Exhausted from sorrow. Why are you sleeping? He asked him get up and pray that you will not fall into temptation while he was still. Speaking of crowd came up, as a man who is called Judas. One of the twelve is leading them, he approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him. Did you just are you trying to sell a man with a kiss? In Jesus's followers saw was going to happen. They said, Lord, should we strike with our swords? And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear, but Jesus answered, no more of this and he touched the man's here and heal him. Then Jesus said that the chief priests the officers of the temple guard and the elders would come for him. And my leading a rebellion that you've come with swords and clubs every day. I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. This is your hour. When darkness Reigns and seizing him, they let him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when someone there had kindled, a fire in the middle of the courtyard and headset them together, Peter sat down with him, the servant-girl saw him seated there in the firelight she looked closely at him and said this man was with him but he denied it woman. I don't know him. He's a little later. Someone's Elsa. I mean said you also are one of them, man. I'm not get a reply. About an hour later another asserted, certainly this fellow was with him for. He is a Galilean Peter replied, man, I don't know what you're talkin about, just as he was speaking the rooster crowed, the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter and Peter, remember the word of the Lord had spoken to him before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times. And he went outside and it literally the word of God for the people of God. Thanks, be unto God. You may be seated.

Sometimes in the church, when we talk about salvation, which we have sung about a lot today, we've heard it expressed in the songs that we was sung, but also description it was red when we talked about salvation. How do we receive at Salvation? Or another words I'm asking a different way. How has that salvation come to us? Who purchased at Salvation make a little easier for you. Okay, Jesus. All right. Now is 1st Thessalonians, 4:14 says you. And I have salvation today because of two things to text highlights. Their first Thessalonians 4 verse 14. Somebody turn their, give me the answer. How do you? And I have that salvation 1st Thessalonians 4:14 who if you was quick in your Bible, who knows your Bible? I'll wait for somebody to turn their 1st Thessalonians 4:14.

Okay, I'll give you time for your glasses. Yes.

A first phrase there. Say it again.

And rose again by. Those are the two big elements that we typically think about when we think about salvation, make sure not true. We believe that Jesus died on the cross, and he rose from the dead Easter Sunday, a good Friday and Easter Sunday. That is true. That is how we have salvation. But have you ever thought about like this? You and I have salvation today. If you are Christian, because of the life that Jesus lived, Jesus lived the life. We should have lived died. The death. We should have died and then rose from the dead so that we can rise at the end of time. For example, John 6:38 Jesus says, I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but to do the will of him who sent me. Jesus came not to do his own will, but to do the will of the father and what is the Father's? Will we read about it today in Philippians 2? But also in Hebrews chapter 10, if you want to look at that in your own time, later part of the father's will was for Jesus to die on the cross. But also part of the father's will is for Jesus to live in to walk in the path of obedience. We may not think about that a lot in our contact state. It like this, the father sent the son into the world to Faithfully live, the life that we should have lived one step at a time to live perfectly, the will of God to perfectly live out. The will of God in today's world. When you talk about or mention or hear somebody talking about the will of God, I think it's usually in reference to you know I want to know what God's will is for my life. I think we've all expressed that at one point or another. But honestly, when you say that, do you realize how waiting that statement is because God's will for your life, is rarely rarely easy. So do you really want to know what God's will is for your life? Do you really want to follow him in that will do you really want to obey his will for your life? Cuz in the text Jesus of all people knows the following, the Lord is not a walk in the park. There's a very hard dangerous road that Jesus was called the walking that likewise we are called to walk, as well as we are called to take up our cross deny ourselves and follow him. So in the text, what we are, where we are at on the in the week of passion, weakness is Maundy Thursday, the evening, the night before, right before the events of Good Friday that would unfold. And what we see in the text versus 39 262 is Jesus facing greater Darkness, greater pain, and greater heartache than any human being ever has faced or real face. And Jesus in particular right around the corner is the crucifixion. It's the cross and it's not as though Jesus is terrified by the physical torture that he would experience. Although that is a component of it. What Jesus fears and what petrifies him as we see him praying in the garden as it's just played in his physical body. What? Jesus is petrified with is the unrestrained. Wrath of God being poured out on him or about to be poured out on him. And it's Jesus inches closer to that moment on the cross, what we see in the text today is Jesus Faithfully obeying and Faithfully pursuing. The father's will In the text, what we see is Jesus faithfully, and obediently pursuing, the father's will, and doing so, in three ways, number one, on bended knee in prayer number to without a sword of his own accord. And the number 3 with the foreknowledge of what's to come, The first lie on bended, knee and prayer verses 39 to 46. Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives in his disciples followed him. Now the Mount of Olives is 2 1/2, mile-long stretch of a mountain ridge Towers over the city of Jerusalem when we think about amount or mountain today, I think of Mount McKinley or Mount Everest just a sharp Peak when we see the Mount of Olives here. Again, it's think about a ridge, think about big Ridgeline, what's behind us, the Blue Ridge Mountains if you don't mind going to the next slide, there's one. So this is very famous photo, if you ever seen a picture of Jerusalem before, but this is this pictures taken on the Mount of Olives and at this precise spot. But here, along this Ridge, this is where Jesus rode down or stop first looked over into the city of Jerusalem and wept over it if you recall when Jesus walked or rode in on the donkey, on Palm Sunday. So Jesus looked over the city on the Mount of Olives, Jesus rode down into the city, from the Mount of Olives Mount of Olives. Significant because the Olivet discourse, if you remember, Jesus talking about the temple being destroyed and the end times, he preached that on the Mount of Olives, but also the village of Bethany that might ring a bell. For you, that's where Lazarus, Mary and Martha some Jesus's closest friends, that's where they lived. It was on the Mount of Olives. And then last night, Luke chapter 24, which we'll get to in a couple few weeks, but this is where Jesus ascended back into heaven, physically. So Mount of Olives is quite a significant location The Jesus, as he traveled, as he was near Jerusalem, it is evident from the text. This was a favorite spot of his, because the text says, Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, Luke 21, verse 37, tells us each day, Jesus was teaching at the temple in the each evening. He went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives to the place. A frequent favorite place that Jesus would go to escape from the busyness of the world and commune and spend time with his father. To hear the text. Also says, the disciples followed him. Jesus Takes the 11 with him because remember Judas, Iscariot had left departed from the meal as we saw it in the previous passage. So it's just the 11 now with him. And he instructs them. Pray, that you will not fall into temptation. Stay awake is Matthew and Mark also record. Verse 41, Jesus. Withdrew about a stone's. Throw Beyond them, knelt down and prayed. I take note of what Jesus says in his prayer. Father, if you were willing, take this cup from me yet. Not my will but yours be done. Matthew record, that Jesus prayed that prayer, at least three different times. And first of all, we have to ask what is this cup that Jesus is referring to, we don't use that language today. Nobody, I doubt any of you have ever prayed that prayer. Take this cup from me. So was Jesus talking about will in the Old Testament. The cup is typically associated with God's Wrath. And if Nations to hear something go in the Old Testament, so Nations and people are given two options, choose life, choose death, walk in the path of obedience, walk in the path of rebellion, you can taste and receive my living water that I give you or you can drink from the Cup of Wrath. It is your choice, you choose. Turn Isaiah 51, verse 17, we see that the nation of Israel because of their wickedness because they had refused to come to the Lord for The Living Water. It says, as a 51 /, 17 Israelites drunk from the hand of the Lord, the cup of his wrath Ezekiel, 23 verse 33 refers to this as the cup of Ruin and desolation. It's on 75, or 27, 28 record. It is God who judges, he brings one down. He's also another in the hand of the Lord is a cup full of foaming. Wine mixed with spices, he pours it out and all the week of the earth, drink it down to its very dregs. What's going on here? In Luke chapter 22? One, Pastor records that are notes Here on the Mount of Olives. Jesus begins to taste. What is in this cup? Unmingled, and undiluted by gods and he begins to experience. What will be required of him on the cross? If he is to save his people. And again, what torment his soul is the thought the notion of God's unrestrained Wrath, all the fury, all the anger, All the Rage that God has against sin. And why is God angry? It's in because thin crops and destroys his beloved, his people and God hates sin because he loves his people so much to all the hatred against in Jesus would soon experience all of that in his body on the cross. And because of this overwhelming weight, Jesus, the text says was in English, Matthew 26 versus 37 to 38 records. Jesus began to be sorrowful some version. Say he was deeply distressed and trouble than Jesus said to them to the 11. My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. It's hard to really empathize with what Jesus is going through because no human being has ever come close to facing the wrath of God like this. And the thing about it is, remember Jesus is perfect, piano way, deserve any of it. But he received it. None, the less. With this gruesome weight upon his shoulders. The text house in verse 41. He knelt down and prayed. The typical Jewish posture to pray when they did pray was to look up to heaven in the stand and there's a sign of reference. But one commentator notes that the burden of this prayer of his prayer was so heavy, it board down on him so much that he sank to his knees to pray. What does he pray? Please take this cup from me. Father, if you were willing father, if you are willing, take this cup from me. Please find another way. There has to be another way. There is an element to do. What Jesus is saying here. Communicating I don't want to go through with this

Mark, 14 verse 36 Abba, Father would slightly different their Abba Father. Everything is possible for you. You could take this cup from me. There has to be, there has to be some other options, some other substitute, think about the context of Abraham when he was called, to sacrifice his son, Isaac on the altar, there had to be some resistance. Lord, I know you called me to do this, but there has two. Maybe, maybe Jesus is thinking it is, my baby, there's something else, a lamb or go through come in last minute. So I don't have to go down this path. But then we find some of the most powerful humble words to ever come out of Jesus's, mouth yet, not my will, but yours be done.

This is echoing. Reminiscent of what Jesus said, in John 6:38, I've not come to do my will, but the will of him who sent me. I've heard it explained like this before. Each and everyone of us, we have desires in our hearts. And here, it's not as though Jesus is will Jesus? His heart is out of sync with the father because remember, Jesus is God, the father is God, they do have one will one mind, one heart. but here, like mini View, For example, let's say. If you wanted to tell you what, you want to serve your spouse and you want to wash the dishes, okay? So part of you wants to wash dishes. To serve your spouse but the other side of you, there's also part of you, maybe. I'm just describing myself. All right? Part of you wants to sit on the couch. All right? And just chill. It's been a long day. Fill in the blank. 32 desires, there's somewhat conflicting but isn't there? One desire? That's greater, it's stronger. And by that, I mean the desire to love my wife, right? That's that's a stronger desire. And we all face this, we all know this, we love the Lord but at the same time we still somewhat desire to send at times but there is a greater desire, a stronger desire more abiding, permanent lasting Meaningful desire. And that is the desire to obey. God to serve God, to follow God. And Jesus hear, he's not tempted to sin, all right. But Jesus nonetheless falls back on and leans on his greater desire to follow the lord. To follow the father's will not my will but yours be done. In the garden here. What we see is Jesus's humanity and his humility on full display. And let you know, as we seen the taxes, were going to impact the next couple weeks. The path that Jesus has been called to walk on is a very difficult path. For Jesus to take another step in this passive obedience, he dropped to his knees in prayer.

And you notice in the text interesting verse verse 43, the father gives him just enough strength to keep going. Just enough strength to take one more step. Verse 43 says, an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. Give me write. This text is overwhelmingly about Jesus, about how he is faithful. How he is? Good? How he remained true to the path of obedience? But it is instructive for you. And I, because when you and I face the hard path of obedience, when we find it difficult to proceed, to follow one more step to obey the Lord, the strength that you and I need can only be found on our knees in prayer before the father in humility. In Jesus exemplify that. But then the second way in which Jesus obeys the father's will is worth without a sword and of his own accord versus 47 2 verse 53. Chihuahua. Jesus was still speaking a crowd came up in the man who was called a Judas. One of the 12 was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, Judas. Are you betraying the son of man with the kiss on Jesus's followers. So it's going to happen. They said, Lord should we strike with our swords and one of them struck the servant of the high priest. Cutting off his right ear.

Now, we have to try to picture the scene. What's going on? This isn't as though people are just Jesus in the disciples are standing Macomb, everything's kind of chill. The other crowd is his silence and they just come quietly marching along. Now, there's got to be some Ruckus amongst these people because they are hell-bent on seizing and carried away. This messiah self-described messiah, Jesus Christ. So, they're coming, they have animosity. They are having tension to use, brute force to restrain him to take him as Jesus says, in verse 52. At least you and Monday, evening, or Rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs to the Mob. That it's come to take. Jesus away came with swords and clubs. I mean, how would you feel right? If somebody came and approached you with a sword that had anger in their hot eyes or gone or something, right? Is not a calm environment, very very tense. So disciples are there the 11 watching and observing all the tapping? And then, as Judas gets closed, does that kiss as betrayal, which a kiss act in today? You communicate to affection communicates closeness? That's why it's betrayal. It's not just a handshake, it's something deeper than that. What is the straightest fastest and the mom gets closer to Jesus and the disciples retaliate self-defense, and they use physical violent retaliation and keep in mind, the disciples are not initiating this fight. They're merely responding to the threat of violence against them against Jesus.

The disciples love their master. So part of this is slightly good right there. Angry against them, doing harm to Jesus.

but, The other thing, I, I kind of think about you've ever seen the TV show, The Chosen kind of interesting, but the disciples kind of act like bodyguards for Jesus. Sometimes you see that some of the texts as well, there could be some Merit to that, that is Jesus navigated, massive swarms of people, the disciples stay close to him said, hey, hey, keep your distance. Give him a little breathing room or I just settle down. We know, we've got to go, we got places to go so it's kind of shoved his bodyguards. So here in the garden, the disciples are not just going to stand and watch everything. That's unfolding. They want to act. They act with violence. Verse 49 Lord. Should we strike with our swords? In Jesus is not respond. Are you think somebody was ordering that? And then the rats right in the middle of when they were ordering that we know from the Gospel of John, that it was Peter that struck the high servant servant of the high priests cut off his ear. But then, what is Jesus do? He gives a verbal rebuke in a physical recompense or healing, he says no more of this. In Jesus, look at the text verse 51. He touched the man's ear and heal him. The final moments of Jesus's life. This is the last miracle. That's recorded that Jesus did before the resurrection and the last miracle is of Jesus, healing is in a me This is foreshadowing. What Jesus would soon say on the cross? Father, forgive them for, they do not know what they are doing. You can even see the heart, the love, the beauty, the patience of Jesus. Jesus, his own heart here, and these few verses, And what is that? What is that mean for us today? Right? Let's this remember, Jesus is a sovereign Authority. He is the king. He has all the power in the universe and he does not Advance his cause with violence, he does not Trump over his enemies with violence with four sphere. Because Jesus came first lie. As a lamb in humility, we do the second time he comes. He's coming as a lion to make all things, right? But firstly, he comes as the lamb, humble, gentle and lowly Jesus uses his power to serve in accomplish the will of the father. But also here, we see that Jesus lays down his life or goes with him off his own accord. John chapter 10 verse 9 verse 18. Jesus says no one takes my life from me. Play. Lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up. Again, this command I received from my father, this is crucial in understanding and interpreting the gospels. Jesus is not a mere helpless victim, where the world is coming in on him of Jesus, is Sovereign Lee in control. Through this darkness is so important to remember, cuz Jesus willingly turns himself in willingly submit to himself to the powers that be to the darkness is worth $0.53 to the darkness around him and darkness will rain, will it have its moments? So, Jesus obeys, the father's will. Without a sword and of his own accord. The last Lee versus 54 262 Jesus obeys. The father's will with the foreknowledge of what's to come.

Passage famously or inFAMOUS Libra forwards heater disowning or denying Jesus three times. I don't want to repaint the picture of Peter's denial. I did that a couple of weeks ago. But to keep it simple. when you today, when you go through a trial of any kind, whatever it might be, Having a close friend by your side helps. It helps alleviate the pain. It doesn't resolve the pain. It doesn't make it completely 100%. Everything's okay. But you have to testify today that having a friend, by your side or family member. Somebody Love Somebody Loves You by your side. It helps through the trial. Amen, to that church. The same is true with Jesus right in his darkest moment, perhaps his closest friend is closest, L closest Partners, closest brother in the faith being Peter. It did not show up. But it's not just that he didn't show up, he didn't, he just ghosted him know, Jesus, Peter actively denied him actively betrayed him. It has 61 says, from this passage after Peter, had denied him. Three times, the text says, Peter remembered, the word of the Lord, if he had spoken to him for the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times. And Rewind a little bit back to the Last, Supper Jesus prophesied or predicted, what was going to happen. It's not as though Jesus was taking a shot in the dark. Jesus knew what was going to happen. That's why he said it. But even though Jesus knew his clothes, perhaps his closest friend was going to betray him. Jesus kept Faithfully obey, the will of the father. and you see today and in our context, We know we have knowledge of what's to come. Jesus is total. Scripture is quite clear that the path of obedience is hard, but if you want to follow the lord, you will face trials. You will face Temptation. You will face difficulty. We know there's hardship around the corner. Jesus knew that more much more than us. He knew the particulars, but even knowing that he's still Faithfully pursued, the will of the father one step at a time. In church today. If you are Christian today, you and I can experience healing, hope salvation, peace, Joy because of Jesus, his life, because of his dad because of his resurrection. Jesus said, in John 6:38, I have come down from heaven, not to do my will, but to do the will of him who sent me. What is the will of the father for Jesus? Vs 39 and following in John, chapter 6. The father's will for Jesus's this. The Jesus would raise up his people at the last day. What is God's will for Jesus? The father's will, is it Jesus with securely, hold on to his people. The father's will for Jesus is that people would look up to Jesus to believe in him and have eternal life through him. But, here's the key, here's the gospel in a nutshell, for Jesus, to raise up his people. Jesus must first be lowered into the Realm of Darkness, so that he could pull out of it. For Jesus, to hold on securely to us which were saying about, he will hold me fast for Jesus, to hold on, securely to us, he must first experience. What it feels like to be. Let go from the secure loving hand of the father. Ad for people to receive eternal life by believing in him. Jesus must first experience, Eternal death in his body on the cross. Church today. We can thank God we can thank our father that we serve a savior who did not back down, who did not give up, but who kept obey and who kept the feeling? The father's plan one step at a time, this is the savior that you and I serve let us rejoice and be glad in him. Will you join me in a word of prayer and then we'll close with the doxology.

Our Father may your kingdom come.

Jesus, may we Delight in your love. And holy spirit, may we stand upon the truth of your word. All for the glory of Jesus Christ. It's in his name that we pray. Amen.