Untitled Sermon (2)

The Son of Man Predicts Abandonment

Matthew 26:30–35 ESV

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

They sung a hymn after taking the Lord’s supper.

Gethsemane:

  Though the Gospels of Luke and John do not mention the word “Gethsemane,” they both record Jesus’ agony before his betrayal. Luke says the location was on the “Mount of Olives” (22:39). John describes the area as “across the Kidron valley” (18:1); John’s is the only Gospel to call the spot a garden. From those accounts it is also evident that Jesus and his disciples gathered in Gethsemane often for fellowship and prayer (Lk 22:39; Jn 18:2).

The Gospel narratives indicate that the garden was large enough for the group to separate into different parts of it.1

1 Price, J. D. (1988). Gethsemane. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 1, p. 859). Baker Book House.

Jesus knew they would all fall away because of Him (31)

You WILL ALL FALL away (31)

The flock SHALL BE SCATTERED (31)

After I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee. (Jesus offered hope)

Even though ALL WILL FALL away, I will NEVER FALL AWAY (Peter) (33)

“Peter, you WILL DENY Me 3 times (34)

Peter said, “I WILL NOT DENY you” (35)

To refuse to recognize or acknowledge.

While Peter said he would not deny“ALL the disciples said the same thing too (35)

FALLto be appalled ⇔ trip v. — to be or become filled with disgust or revulsion for someone (and therefore reject him); conceived of as stumbling and falling.

Impulsive denial versus Contemplated Betrayal...there is a difference.

Jesus knew His friends would desert Him, but He continued with His plan of salvation anyway.

What can you do to show your thankfulness, knowing Jesus was willing to face death to bring about salvation?

Jesus’ disciples failed, but they still remained Jesus’s disciples whom He loved.

How does the gospel change the way we view the disciples’ failures the night of Jesus’ arrest?

The Son of Man Trusts in God’s Plan

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.”

Two gardens play a role in salvation: the garden of Eden, where sin entered the world, and the garden of Gethsemane, where sin met its match in Jesus

John was the only one to call it a garden (John 18:1)

Sit here while I go and PRAY.

Jesus didn’t pray with the disciples, but rather went away from them to pray.

Left the distractions.

It was Him and His Father.

He took Peter, James, and John (Sons of Thunder) - Perhaps as an example. Perhaps to demonstrate. Perhaps so they would know his sorrow, grief, and distress.

TO WATCH - to stay awake and pray.

Jesus was “overwhelmed with sorrow”

Phillips’ translation probably tells us best “Terrible distress and misery” and Weymouth’s “crushed with anguish”

What does Jesus being deeply grieved (swallowed up in sorrow) and distressed tell us about Himself?

Hebrews 5:7

THE CUP refers to His suffering.

Jesus fell facedown, fell on his face and PRAYED (39)

What happens when God doesn’t answer in the way we pray?

James 4:15

Depression and grief are not sins. They are natural responses to pain, distress, misery, and being crushed with anguish.

Prayed for approximately 1 hour (40)

How often do we pray when we are in distress, misery, and crushed with anguish?

Calls out Peter specifically. This may refer back to vv. 33-34

God is in control of all these events, however tragic they may seem to others. Jesus is the Son of God who is suffering and dying. His death is humiliating but voluntary, an act of obedience fulfilling God’s will.11 Blomberg, C. (1992). Matthew (Vol. 22, p. 397). Broadman & Holman Publishers.

What can we learn from Jesus in the garden when we are grieving and sorrowful?

Through Jesus’ prayer, we learn that He didn’t reject His role but gave Himself up to God’s plan, knowing it would come at an immense cost.

How does Jesus’ accpetance of God’s will instruct us on how we should pray during difficult times?

Jesus prayed 3 times - Paul prayed about his weaknesses

The Son of Man Exercises Restraint

Matthew 26:47–56 ESV

While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Judas’s word of greeting (chaire is roughly equivalent to a hearty Hello!) and kiss further suggest that he is coming in peace; with this approach he may be trying to avert any hostile uprising by the rest of the disciples. Once again he does not address Jesus as “Lord” but as “Rabbi” (cf. v. 25 with v. 22), still betraying his distance from Jesus (recall also the use of didaskalos, “teacher,” in 8:19; 12:38; 19:16; 22:16, 36).11 Blomberg, C. (1992). Matthew (Vol. 22, p. 398). Broadman & Holman Publishers.

The guard may thus be seen as complying with Jesus’ orders. Interestingly, one of his disciples does turn out to be armed and begins to fight a little. John mentions that this disciple was Peter and that the slave’s name was Malchus (John 18:10). Perhaps Peter had interpreted Jesus’ previous teaching about swords (Luke 22:36) too literally. Luke adds that Jesus immediately healed the man’s ear (22:51).11 Blomberg, C. (1992). Matthew (Vol. 22, p. 398). Broadman & Holman Publishers.

“Jesus thereby affirms that it is better to suffer injustice than to use violence as a means of protection or retribution, and this affirmation is underscored by his willingness to walk the route of suffering and death.” Recall also 5:39 and comments there.11 Blomberg, C. (1992). Matthew (Vol. 22, p. 399). Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Again events follow a scripturally predetermined path (v. 56). No one text is in view here but the “prophets” in general (as in 2:23). Probably the sense is that all of the events leading to Jesus’ arrest worked together toward the scripturally prophesied theme that God’s servant must suffer (as paradigmatically in Isa 52:13–53:12). The specter of similar arrests, imprisonment, and possible execution frightens the eleven away before they too are taken captive. Their behavior demonstrates how hollow their previous boasts had been (v. 35).11 Blomberg, C. (1992). Matthew (Vol. 22, p. 400). Broadman & Holman Publishers.

  Peter was not to be outdone. (Only John identified him by name [John 18:10].) Having just awakened and perhaps still not fully aware of what was going on, he grabbed his sword and attempted to defend Jesus by striking out at one of those in the arresting group. He struck Malchus, the servant of the high priest (John 18:10). The Lord immediately stopped the violence and reprimanded Peter for his efforts. He did not need anyone’s defense, for He could have called on His Father who would have sent 12 legions of angels to defend Him. A Roman legion numbered about 6,000 soldiers. Such angelic protection (of about 72,000 angels!) could easily have defended Jesus from any opposition. But it was not God’s will for Jesus to be rescued. Jesus’ arrest occurred because He permitted it. Though Matthew did not mention it Luke, the physician, noted that Jesus healed the man’s severed ear (Luke 22:51).1 1 Barbieri, L. A., Jr. (1985). Matthew. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 84–85). Victor Books.

Jesus gave Himself up without a fight because it was all part of God’s salvation plan in His timing.

How does knowing God’s timing is different from our timing help us in dealing with hardships?

Seeing prophecies fulfilled, what do we learn about Scripture?

ALL FLED and HID (John 20:19)

Fulfilled Prophecy

Matthew 26:56 ESV

But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

All the sheep scattered. The disciples left. They ran. They were fearful.