What Jesus Did

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 26

Psalm 26 ESV

Of David. Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind. For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness. I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked. I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O Lord, proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling all your wondrous deeds. O Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells. Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men, in whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes. But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me. My foot stands on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 52:13-15

Isaiah 52:13–15 ESV

Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind— so shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.

Sermon:

Good Morning Church! I was glad when they said to me let us go and worship in the house of the Lord!

Before we dive in, to try and get all our minds thinking in the correct direction, I want you to think about a time in your life where you expected something bad to happen, but it never did. Maybe it was a fight with your spouse that never really materialized, a situation at work that took care of itself. maybe it is something Big. I remember one year as a kid we we in part of the projected path for some hurricane. I honestly don’t remember much except for wanting to sleep in the bathroom because that would be the safest room in case the hurricane hit (it never did, btw).

But then moving on from that, we can think about something you thought was going to be worse than it actually was. Again we could think of a whole lot of options, a school project you are dreading that turns out to actually be fun, a dreaded conversation that actually led to forgiveness and reunification. I thik we have all been there too.

But what about, and here is the last thought: something that you knew would be awful, that was truly awful. What do you do ion those situations? what is the recourse that you have, how do YOU approach those things.

Because in our passage for today we are going to see how Jesus will prepare himself for the worst day of ANYONE’s life, not just his. We will see what he does and how he prepares for a betrayal by one of his closest friends, a scourging, a beating, mocking and shame, being hauled before not just one, but MULTIPLE authorities with varying power over his life, to ultimately be killed in the most brutal way possible and that is not the worst part, for he will experience in all the the very wrath of God. What will Jesus do to prepare for those things that he knows is coming? And the difference is that unlike us, who often miss-judge these situations, they are not as bad or they don’t even materialize, Jesus here knew EXACTLY what he was getting into.

So Lets read our passage for today. Matthew 26:36-46

Matthew 26:36–46 ESV

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

These are the words of the Lord for us this morning, Lets open with a word of prayer.

Our Father In Heaven, Holy is your name. We thank you for the precious gift of your son. Given to us while we were dead in our sin and trespasses that we might be made alive in christ. Thank you for the gift of your grace and your mercy. Thank you for the gift of salvation. We thank you for the holy spirit who's at work in our lives, shaping us molding us. Thank you for the spirit Who is bringing us, drawing us to salvation. We are grateful that you open our eyes to see your truth and pray that you would be with us this morning. Speak to our hearts. May we be conformed in the image of your son. For it is in his name that we pray. Amen. Amen.

So, as we approach this passage — a very powerful and important and rather famous passage -- I'd like to approach it by just trying to understand What jesus did here. What exactly is going on? But more importantly, what is jesus doing to prepare himself and also to prepare his disciples — which ultimately means to prepare us — for what is about to take place? What is, in particular Matthew, in his Gospel, Telling us about what is going on here?

It's important that we try to understand how jesus is approaching this because it speaks much to our hearts and our lives. And the first thing we can know, Part of what makes this whole narrative move and one of the most tragic portions, Of what's going on in jesus life at this point. Is that he went alone.

He WENT ALONE

We could take a big picture and sort of look at the whole book of Matthew in particular, we could look at this last week. We can go way back to chapter 21. And see the triumphal entry, the beginning of what is called Passion week. Jesus is marching into jerusalem. Riding on the colt of the donkey And there's great crowds around of them. And they all verse chapter 21 verse 9. They went before him and all that. Followed him were shouting hosanna to the son of david blessed. Is he who comes in the name of the lord hosanna in the highest. There's a great crowd around here singing jesus, praise lauding him celebrating his entry into jerusalem.

It's not one full week later. That we find in chapter 26, jesus. Alone in an upper room with his 12 disciples. Eating what will be his last meal. And even in this jesus says, one of you will betray me. Judas, the betrayer, he leaves dinner early, we know this by how other Gospel writers speak of this night. So Jesus is down to 11 as Jesus and the disciples travel to the Mount of Olives Singing hymn. Verse 30 of chapter 26 and going out to the amount of olives with his 11 disciple. But here at the beginning of our text for today, he gets to the place called Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives and he tells his disciples sit here. I have to keep going but you guys can sit here. Except for peter, James and john. Matthew tells us “peter, and the sons of Zebedee.” You guys can come with me a little further. And so they go a little further on And jesus looks to them. Conveys the depth of despair in his heart. He began to be sorrowful and troubled, verse 37, the words of jesus in verse 38, my soul is very sorrowful even to death. The weight and the burden presses upon his soul. And yet, he tells his disciples to remain there and he goes even further this time. he is ALONE.

The only perfect man to ever live. The only one truly worthy of glory honor and praise our lord and our savior. The one who we now know, has been given a name higher than any other name. Here Is alone. There's no disciples around him. no one To help him. In fact, the ones he brought to be close are asleep. Where his friends? Where's the crowd singing His name? singing Glorious praises to him. They are all gone. And jesus stands alone. Sort of.

He WENT ALONE (SORT OF)

There's some important distinctions that we can and should make here. He did take his disciples for their along with him. So as we say he's alone and even as we describe him being alone, His disciples are there. Until at least the next passage that we'll cover last week, they'll still be with him -- sort of. Though, as jesus says here. They may be willing to be with him at this point. The flesh is weak. And the weak flesh is what will ultimately win out. But there's something else i'd like to note. In this moment that we see jesus being physically alone. We have some of the most poignant, And beautiful, speech of jesus about the Father.

In fact, in every prayer that jesus prays here. He calls him “father”. Verse 39

Matthew 26:39 (ESV)

And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father,”

Though, the people may be far. The father is close. And it is doing the will of the father then that presses on jesus. For he knows that This is what must be done. Jesus is alone. But yet, he can still cry out to his father. He's still close. So Jesus spends these last moments passionately earnestly praying to his father. So yes, jesus is alone. And as we continue through the story, we will see this. This aspect of jesus being alone is magnified. As he stands before authorities, he will do so alone. As he's faces trial after trial, there's no one to defend him. In fact, he won't even defend himself, but yet, This was the will of the father. So what did jesus do? He went alone sort of And in the face of, Great pain and suffering, tragedy and betrayal. What is jesus do? He Prayed

He PRAYED

The whole point of them walking up to the mount of olives, the whole point of going here to the garden of gethsemane is taht this was jesus place to go and pray. In verse 36, he says clearly this is what his intention is

Matthew 26:36 ESV

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.”

WALK THROUGH THE TEXT

Jesus prayed. He prayed. And he prayed. Knowing what pain and suffering lies before him. He goes and prays. What's even more poignant in this is that: knowing what pain and suffering lies before him, and knowing that, that pain and suffering is the will of the father still He goes and prays.

Knowing that it is the will of the father knowing full. Well, what Isaiah wrote In Isaiah 53. Knowing that he will bear our griefs and carry our sorrows. Knowing that he will be verse 4 of Isaiah 53, smitten by god, he's still prays Knowing isaiah 53:10, it was the will of the lord to crush him still He prays. And he submits to the will of the father. Nevertheless, not my will.

Matthew 26:39 (ESV)

“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Verse 42. It's the same prayer if this cup pan up cannot pass. Unless i drink it, then your will be done. He surrenders. Jesus prayed. But we should know. With jesus, our great high priest, our king, our lord, our savior— He prayed, but he also taught.

He PRAYED (AND TAUGHT)

Even in the midst of his suffering and trial when his wayward disciples can't even stay awake for the last 12 hours of jesus life. He sees fit to teach them. He's teaching them by example as he goes and prays. For all of the disciples as they would face challenges and trials throughout all of their lives-- Starting really here with jesus death, but continuing till they're all martyrs. Here, he's teaching them by action: When you face trial, when you face difficulty, you must go pray.

But he teaches them with words too. He comes back in verse 40. Well, you could not watch with me one hour, one hour, you couldn't stay awake. Verse 41 watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation the spirit Indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Hey, peter. Peter who just, in the passage We just read last week said: “I will never deny you though. These fall away, i will die before i deny you.” His spirit indeed is willing. But we will see — we read last week — the flesh is weak. Three times peter will deny him. For all of us, we know this experience, the the spirit is willing: “I want to live a good life. I want to please god, i want to work on my sanctification. I want to grow in holiness.” The spirit may be willing. But truly the flesh is weak.

What's the solution? Watch and pray. Verse 41 watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The flesh may be weak. What's stronger than the flesh? Watching and praying. The power that's within us, through the working of our lord— That's what's more powerful. So, jesus taught us to watch and pray. Here's your practical application for this whole passage. Watch and pray. Jesus did. As jesus faced difficulty in trial and trouble. When he KNEW — He knew — what he was facing as he faced difficulty and pain as he faced these things, He prayed. And he taught us that we should do the same.

None of us, I say this with confidence knowing that Many of us will face many difficulties through the course of our lives, but none of us will face anything as difficult as jesus will face this night. So we watch and we pray. But as we get towards the end of this thought, We have to end with. Some deep theological truth. What did jesus do here? And maybe not just here. What? What did jesus do? And what is he doing? As we get to the whole last part of the book of matthew He DRANK THE CUP.

He DRANK THE CUP

This is what he prays verse 39. My father would be possible. Let this cup pass from me. Verse 42. My father, if it cannot pass, unless i drink it, your will be done.

What is jesus talking about here as he says he drinks the cup? Well. It's a different cup than we had earlier in chapter 26 verse 26, that cup was the blood of his covenant poured out for many But how do we get to that blood of the covenant? Well through the cup jesus drank. We could go back to Isaiah again (51:17 and 22). It is the cup of the wrath of god almighty, What jesus did -- As he went to the cross wasn't “just” suffer and die. There's an important theological point that we have to wrestle with and grasp. Too many times, So many people, look at the cross is just well that's pain and suffering. It is. Well, it's it's It's just jesus had to endure that. But why? It's because the wrath of god is poured out on sinners. And so, when jesus says, i must drink this cup, what he is saying is that he must take upon himself, the wrath of god for sin and sinners. The cross is not some picture of “Enduring because that's what god wants.” Thew Cross is a brutal picture but ultimately it is not just a picture but in a real way it IS God's wrath and anger towards sinners.

A holy just righteous perfect God must punish sin. His eyes are so pure, Habakkuk writes, to even look upon sin. Towards sin God has unbridled wrath. And THIS is what jesus took upon himself. What did jesus do? He drank the cup. Charles Spurgeon in preaching on this passage, and in thinking on the cup said that our savior would “drink damnation dry”. In other words, every last drop of wrath that god had towards sin and sinners, For those who are IN CHRIST, Jesus, drank it all. But there's a final thought a final note that we have to make here. Jesus drank the cup. That i deserve.

He DRANK THE CUP (THAT I DESERVED)

This is what makes. This passage in Gethsemane and ultimately What makes the cross— What makes all of these things-- So impactful and important to us. When we talk about jesus drinking the cup, it's not just the cup of god's wrath In some hyperbolic, hypothetical, situation. It is not just like: “yeah well god had to punish “some “sin.” The truth of the matter is god had to punish MY sin. And the beauty, and the glory of the cross, is that my sin -- My sin that deserved god's wrath — And therefore the wrath that should have been directed towards me -- is placed upon jesus. This is the hope that we have. The hope that we have is not that we'll all just be a good person. You're a sinner. You deserve god's wrath. The hope we have is the christ upon himself, took that wrath. He drank the cup that i deserved. And so now the hope is that god will not punish twice sin committed once.

My sin, and truly the just punishment for my sin, has already been placed on jesus christ. Therefore, i bear that guilt and shame no more. Knowing that christ drank the cup that i deserve is how Paul would write in the book of Romans “there is therefore now. No condemnation for those in Chrsit Jesus” The only reason there can be no condemnation is because the sins were already punished. Jesus knows what he's heading towards.

We could sort of twist around the thought picture that i tried to start with this morning. Some of the things that we sometimes look forward to. Looking for is not the exact right word. We anticipate happening. We remember back maybe to being a kid. And you knew you were in trouble. And you knew something was happening. And you knew you were about to face the consequences of your decision. Maybe you were a little one and you heard “wait till your father gets home. He'll deal with this.” Maybe you were a little older and your parents, say you need to go to your room, your mom and i are going to talk about this and we're going to figure out what punishment there is. Jesus knew What punishment he was facing. And he knew that it wasn't even his To begin with. And yet, he Willingly endured. He drank the cup. The one that I deserved.

As this passage draws to a close, There's almost a sense of Bizarre matter of fact-ness. As he comes back to his disciples from his third time praying. They're still sleeping. Wakes them up.

Matthew 26:45–46 ESV

Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

We'll get to this tomorrow verse 47, while he was still speaking. Judas came. It's here. In his last moments. Before being arrested betrayed before, all of these things will happen. Jesus knows what he's doing. He knows what he's facing. He does it. For us. Let's pray.

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