Is There Another Way?

I want to do a series entitled 

"The Gospel: From Gethsemane to Glory" 

Luke 22:39–42 NLT

39 Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. 40 There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.” 41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

I would like to explore how we got from Gethsemane to Calvary to Jesus ascending our sins forgiven and we now have new life. Who can tell me what the Gospel is?

Introduction: What is the Gospel?

The Gospel isn’t just a churchy word. It’s real life. It’s good news in a bad world. It’s God stepping into history to rescue us when we couldn’t rescue ourselves.

In one sentence, the Gospel is this: "Jesus Christ lived the life we couldn’t live, died the death we deserved to die, and rose again so we could have eternal life and real purpose."

and

Tonight, we arrive at a crucial moment in the Gospel story—Gethsemane.

All of us have had moments in our lives where we did not want to walk in what God was calling us to. There have been times when we’ve looked at the assignment in front of us and thought: "Do I really have to do this? Why do I have to go through this?"

Maybe it was a tough decision you had to make,

a relationship you had to walk away from,

or a sacrifice you didn’t want to make.

Jesus, in His humanity, had that moment too. And in that moment, in the Garden of Gethsemane, He wrestled with His calling just like we do.

Jesus has spent years doing the work of the Kingdom. He has healed the sick, raised the dead, made the lame walk, the mute talk, and the blind see. But what He has not yet done is suffer for the sins of the world.

And now, in Gethsemane, that suffering begins—not on the cross, but here in the garden.

The Suffering of Jesus

"The suffering starts before He ever makes it to the cross."

Luke 22:42a – “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me…”

Before Jesus ever walks into His purpose, He wrestles with the thought of a cup He does not want to drink. The suffering of Jesus begins in Gethsemane, not at Calvary.

This wasn’t just about what He had to do, but how He had to do it. Jesus had to endure suffering in order to fulfill the plan of salvation.

The cup represents God’s wrath against sin (Psalm 75:8, Isaiah 51:17). Jesus wasn’t just facing physical death—He was facing separation from the Father as He bore the sin of the world.

His suffering was threefold:

Physical suffering – His body began to react to the coming pain. The stress was so extreme that He experienced hematidrosis, a rare condition where the capillaries burst under intense stress, causing sweat to mix with blood.

Emotional suffering – Jesus faced betrayal and abandonment. Peter, one of His closest disciples, would deny Him. Judas, one of the twelve, would betray Him.

Spiritual suffering – The weight of the world’s sin rested on Him. For the first time, He would experience separation from the Father as He became the sacrifice for sin.

Life Application

Suffering is part of the process of purpose. Jesus didn’t just suffer on the cross—He suffered before He ever got there. Many of us want to fulfill our calling without going through the process, but suffering refines us.

A college student dealing with overwhelming pressure—finals, tuition struggles, family expectations—knows this feeling well. Sometimes the hardest battles are fought in the mind and heart before they’re ever seen on the outside.

What burden are you carrying right now? Like Jesus, bring it to prayer first—before making any decisions.

The Surrender of Jesus

Luke 22:42b – “…yet not my will, but yours be done.”

True surrender means choosing God’s plan over personal comfort. In the Garden of Eden, Adam failed when he chose his own way over God’s command (Genesis 3). But in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus succeeded—He chose God’s will over His own.

Philippians 2:8 tells us that Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient, even to death on a cross. His surrender was not about weakness—it was about trust.

Jesus could have said no. He could have walked away. But instead, He chose obedience over ease.

Life Application

Faith doesn’t mean the absence of fear; it means trusting God in spite of it.

A student-athlete wakes up at 5 AM to train, not because they feel like it, but because they are committed to a greater purpose. Surrender isn’t about feelings—it’s about discipline and trust in the process.

What area of your life do you need to surrender to God right now? Instead of asking for an escape, ask for endurance.

The Strength of Jesus

Luke 22:43 – “An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.”

God didn’t remove the struggle—He gave Jesus strength to endure it.

Paul echoes this in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.

Jesus didn’t leave Gethsemane weakened—He left empowered to fulfill His purpose.

Life Application

God may not take the trial away, but He will strengthen you through it.

Think about a student exhausted during finals week, ready to quit—until a friend encourages them, prays for them, and reminds them that they’ve got this. Jesus had angels strengthening Him, and we have God, our community, and the Holy Spirit lifting us up.

When you feel weak, remember that God sends help. Instead of asking “Why me?” ask “What’s next?”

Conclusion: From Gethsemane to Glory

Jesus suffered, surrendered, and was strengthened.

The suffering started before the cross, but He didn’t give up. He wrestled, but He chose God’s way. And in the end, He walked forward in divine strength.

Call to Action:

Where are you suffering right now?

What’s keeping you from full surrender?

Who needs your encouragement this week?

Worship Response:

Songs like "O Come to the Altar" (Elevation Worship) or "Make Room" (Jonathan McReynolds) can serve as a response to this message.

Looking Ahead:

Next week, we will continue the series with “The Love of the Gospel – 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'”