Surrendering to the Father
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Jesus has just spent Passover with the disciples and informed them that one of them would betray Him.
Establishing the Lord’s Supper, or communion and the foretelling of the New Covenant established in the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
We ended with Verse 30
And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
speaking of the traditional Psalms that would be sung at a Passover Meal Called the Hallel, Psalm 116-118. There are all Psalms embedded with messages of deliverance which is why they were sung at Passover but I’m certain that some of those cries for deliverance were a foreshadowing of the passage we will cover now.
Denial Foretold
Denial Foretold
After singing the Hallel they went out to the Mount of Olives. Right before going there he prayed over His disciples, but not just His disciples, He prayed over you and me. Listen to the last part of this prayer.
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
On the heals of that prayer, Jesus hits them with this staggering truth. Just as shocking, I think, as the word that one of them would betray Jesus.
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.”
You will all fall away: Here Jesus warns the 11 that because of Him and the persecution that would come even because of their association with Him, they would “fall away”. He didn’t just do this to warn them, but also to show them that He really was in control of the situation, but not just the situation. He was in control of Himself in light of being betrayed and deserted and beaten, crucified and killed. All of this information, He not only knew but stated with the intention to fulfill. The suffering of the Christ must be fulfilled. That was the Command of the Father and Jesus not only loved us enough to do it for us but He loves the Father even more because He submitted to His commandment to die.
For it is written:
This quote is from:
7 “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,
against the man who stands next to me,”
declares the Lord of hosts.
“Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered;
I will turn my hand against the little ones.
But after I am raised: is completely filled with hope! Did you notice that? “After I am raised up!” Jesus is already speaking about their time together after he’s been killed, buried, and raised from the dead. Not only is He telling them about a time with them after His resurrection but He’s also saying, “I’ll see you back Home” They had spent most of their time I’m ministry with Jesus in Galilee.
Peter, speaking up in true Peter form speaks up again and rebukes Jesus. He makes the statement that I will not do what you just predicted I will do. Notice he’s not saying that collectively “they” won’t deny Jesus, he only speaks for himself. Matthew here only records part of the conversation though. In Luke Jesus has a little more to say.
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
Jesus knew Peter far better than Peter did, and in over-estimating himself, Peter was ready for a fall.
Here Jesus gives a reminder, not only to Peter, but to all 11 disciples that there is a spiritual battle going on around them. That this isn’t just a situation where “you are just so week in your faith that you will deny me”, no, Satan demanded to have you Peter and He was granted the ability to sift you like wheat, but I prayed for your faith not to fail. Jesus even informs Peter that He will fail but he will return. “when you have turned again, (turned back to me) strengthen your brothers.”
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.
Jesus reassures Peter and gives him a time line. Before dawn, before the rooster crows you will deny me not just once, but three times.
I think we tend to bag on Peter because he’s the one that denies he will deny and does it three times not just once but verse 35 shows that all of the 11 made the same statement that they would follow Jesus to His and their death and not deny Him. They all said the same.
This just goes to show that Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves. As strong as we think we are, He knows how we will respond when it comes to making a stand for Him or shrinking back.
Grief in Gethsemane
Grief in Gethsemane
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.”
The name Gethsemane literally means olive press. They were on the mount of olives. The place where olives were brought to extract the life blood out of them to produce Olive Oil.
“And again, he chose that garden, amongst others contiguous to Jerusalem, because Judas knew the place. He wanted retirement, but he did not want a place where he could skulk and hide himself. It was not for Christ to give himself up-that were like suicide; but it was not for him to withdraw and secrete himself-that were like cowardice.” (Spurgeon)
Soon Jesus would feel the intense pressure of the situation to the point of sweating blood. Notice how He has the disciples sit down and tells them to pray. But he doesn’t tell all of them to stay there. He takes the three that were closest to Him to follow him. This is when he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
Here he is, leaving the company of the 11 to go be alone with and vulnerable with Peter, James and John. This is where He showed his sorrow and let them see how troubled he was. Other translations say “grieved” instead of sorrowful and distressed instead of troubled. This, once again, shows the true human nature that Jesus took on as the Messiah. He didn’t just laugh it off like it was nothing. The thought of what was about to happen stressed Him out. Not to the point of giving up but to the point almost breaking under the stress.
“My soul is very sorrowful, even to death” he said. Watch with me. “Keep and eye on me and the situation”. Jesus here is entrusting his life and well being to those he was closest to. Those he trusted the most. Those that knew him the most. Then he walked farther and spoke with the One He knew the best!
“My soul is very sorrowful, even to death”But more so, Jesus was distressed at the spiritual horror waiting for Him on the cross. Jesus would stand in the place of guilty sinners and receive all the spiritual punishment sinners deserve; He who knew no sin would be sin for us. Not only this but more so He felt the grief and horror of the Father turning His back on Him.
“My Father! If it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Here we see Jesus emotions come through His human nature. His fear of what was coming allowed Him to ask the Father, “if it be possible” but being God in the flesh, His fear of the Father overrode His fear of man as He submitted His will to the Father’s. This is a prime example of Jesus learning obedience.
Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
The cup was commonly used to mean “one’s lot or experience”. He also had just passed a cup that held a liquid that symbolized the sacrifice He was going to make.
God the Father would never deny the Son any request, because Jesus prayed according to the heart and will of the Father. Since Jesus drank the cup of judgment at the cross, we know that it is not possible for salvation to come any other way. Salvation by the work of Jesus at the cross is the only possible way; if there is any other way to be made right before God, then Jesus died an unnecessary death.
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 comes back, seeking the companionship of His closest disciples only to find them asleep. He’s not frustrated with Peter, James and John because they fell asleep, I would imagine that He was frustrated that they didn’t seem to grasp the extent of the situation. He’d already told them that they were going to abandon Him, because of Him.
Here Jesus warns them again stating, “watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.” Jesus goes back to pray to the Father again and notice a slight change in his heart. He’s not asking for it to pass, he says, “if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” He’s accepting fully the truth that He must drink in order to fulfill the will of the Father.
10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Jesus did not die as a martyr. “Jesus went to his death knowing that it was his Father’s will that he face death completely alone (Matthew 27:46) as the sacrificial, wrath-averting Passover Lamb. As his death was unique, so also his anguish; and our best response to it is hushed worship.” (Carson)
As we reflect on the truth of scripture and how we apply it to our lives, we need look no further than the person of Jesus Christ. He is our example. He is our example that tells us to:
Submit to the Father’s will.
That we show our love for the Father through obedience.
That we not only accept that suffering is coming, but expect it and welcome it.
That we do all of this in order to glorify the Father and so prove to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
“‘Not your will but mine’ changed Paradise to desert and brought man from Eden to Gethsemane. Now ‘Not my will but yours’ brings anguish to the man who prays it but transforms the desert into the kingdom and brings man from Gethsemane to the gates of glory.” (Carson)
Communion