Perspective Lesson

Matthew 26:30–46 ESV

30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 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.’ 32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same. 36 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.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 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.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 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. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

The disciple’s bad example

Jesus just had passover with His disciples and informed them yet again that He would be killed and risen from the dead.

Although He had been telling them this for some time, he added something new here. He informed them that one of them would openly betray Him and they would all deny Him.

This news would clealry have been shocking to them, and they all argued against Jesus saying that they could never do this.

They had a couple options when hearing Jesus tell them this. They could have seen the seriousness of what was said and fall on their face in prayer, recognizing that prayer is the only real option when faced with the knowledge that such extreme temptation is on it’s way, but they did not choose this option.

They chose, however, self confidence. They looked at themselves and their love of Christ and thought that there was no way they could ever fail in such large ways. In the knowledge that temptation was coming, they chose to rely on their own strength.

We see in verse 36 that Jesus takes them to the garden of Gethsemane to pray. He has most stand watch at the gate but he takes Peter, James, and John in with Him and tells them to stand watch and pray. Luke 22:40 tells us…

Luke 22:40 ESV

40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

Are you following here?

They have been told that Jesus would be crucified.

They have been told that one of them is a betrayer.

They have been told that each of them will deny Jesus.

They have been clearly told that they are reaching a pinacle of turmoil.

They have the head knowledge to know that what is coming is not going to be pretty.

It has been made clear to them that temptation is coming.

So What does Jesus tell them to do in preparation?

PRAY!

But what do we see happening? Instead of taking the command to pray so the do not enter into temptation seriously, they allow their human desires and temptations to take over.

Now we need to be fair here, i

t was likely past midnight.

They have had a very busy past few days.

They most likely walked over a mile to get to the garden.

But if they had taken the words of God seriously,

if the had not decided to rely on their self confidence but to tremble at the words of Jesus when He spoke of what was to come,

they would have taken the example of Jesus and fell before the father in prayer.

As we read however, this is not what they do.

If you know the story well, you know what ends up happening.

What do the disciples end up doing?

What does Peter end up doing?

Denying Jesus, running away, Rooster crows, etc.

Application

So what is the application here?

We know that temptation is always coming.

1) You know the sins in your life that you struggle with daily.

Are you praying to God about them?

Are you daily, multiple times a day, falling before God for help in resisting this temptation?

We also know that we will come across temptations similar to what the apostles faced here at some point.

The temptation to

Deny Jesus to professors

Deny Jesus to friends

refuse to bring up Jesus in a conversation.

hide the fact that you are a Christian.

Are you daily praying to God for wisdom for these situations, that you may stand strong?

Are you following the example of the disciples, or are you following the example of Christ?

Which leads us to our second point, the example of Christ.

Jesus’ good example

Let’s read verses 36-46 again.

Matthew 26:36–46 ESV

36 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.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 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.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 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. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Jesus is sorrowful here, even unto death. This may sound like an hyperbole, but we see in Luke 22:44 that this was not an exaggeration at all.

It says Luke 22:44

Luke 22:44 ESV

44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

He was in so much agaony and distress on what was to come, that he began to sweat drops of blood. This is a very serious and rare condition that occurs in times of high pain, stress, and agony. It can become quite dangerous.

But what had Jesus in this manner?

What could have the Messiah, the Son of God, in so much sorrow and pain?

Jesus was fully human and had all the emotions and pain that we humans have, but He was also fully God, who knew exactly what was coming to Him.

He knew that in a matter of minutes, he would be betrayed by one who walked with him for three years.

He knew that ten other of his closest friends and companions would run away at His arrest.

He knew that Peter, was going to deny even Knowing Him.

He knew He would stand before the courts of the people He came to save and have false testimonies given of Him.

He knew that the crowds that a week prior called out HOSSANAH! would now be calling out for His crucifixion.

He knew the cat of nine tails that would soon tear the skin and muscle from his back.

He knew the mockings that were coming.

He knew the pain and torment of crucifixion that was coming.

He knew he would soon have to pull up on his nailed hands for every single breath He took until He could no longer breath.

But I don’t think any of that is what caused Him so much torment in the garden.

The absolute worse part of what Jesus was facing, what He knew He was quickly coming to, was the moment my sin, and if you have repented and trusted in Him, your sins, were put on His soldiers.

At this moment is when He Cried out Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani or “Father, Father, Why have you forsaken me?

You see, God is too perfect, too righteous, Too Holy to even look upon sin. So in ways that I can never understand, for the first time in eternity past, God the Father was no longer in perfect union with God the son because of the sins of the world placed upon Him.

Can you imagine, knowing no sin, no shame, and at once bearing the sins of the world?

As bad as everything else must have been, it all could not compare with the pain of this.

So we see the words of Jesus here make sense when He says “if possible, let this cup past before me.” In the Old testament, God’s wrath and Judgment were often seen as cups to be drunk, and Jesus was facing the fullness of God’s wrath and judgment, not for His own wrong doings, but for my sin, and yours. Why would anyone want to go forward with this? Obviosuly Jesus would want another way. Obiously if there was any other way forward, Jesus would want to take it. Why would anyone want to drink from the cup of God’s wrath?

But His prayer, and the great example He left for us, was “not my will but your will be done”.

Jesus was willing to sacrifice it all for the will of the Father, so I ask, is that your prayer today?

Following the Will of God is not easy guys. Even Jesus, being fully God had to go before the Father in prayer because of how difficult it was.

How much more should we be daily on our knees crying out to God “Not my will, but your will be done.”

Please Lord, I want to do your will, but it’s hard. I don’t have the streangth to see it through, give me the streangth Father, it can only come you Lord!

This is the example Christ left for us. Is it the example you are going to take?