Prayer and Obedience

Reading of the Word

Luke 22:39–46 NASB 2020

And He came out and went, as was His habit, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him. Now when He arrived at the place, He said to them, “Pray that you do not come into temptation.” And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, and He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you do not come into temptation.”

Prayer of Illumination

Introduction

Have you ever found yourself in the midst of immense, undeniable grief? Maybe you lost someone or found out a loved one was gravely ill. Perhaps you were dealing with a major loss of your own health. Or maybe, like Jesus, you knew that suffering lay ahead.

300 Illustrations for Preachers The Pressure of A-Rod’s Big Contract

The Pressure of A-Rod’s Big Contract

In 2001 baseball superstar Alex Rodriguez signed what was at the time the largest contract for a pro athlete: $25 million per year for ten years to play shortstop for the Texas Rangers. A-Rod immediately felt the responsibility to live up to the gigantic contract. Some believe this pressure led to his use of anabolic steroids. Former teammate Bill Haselman said, “He felt it. He had the mentality of somebody trying to hit a three-run homer with nobody on base.”

When you feel the pressure to do the impossible, how do you respond? When expectations overwhelm you, where do you turn? When Peter faced the performance pressure while walking on the sea he cried out to the Lord, “Lord, save me!” When the Lord felt the pressure of the crucifixion in the garden, he cried out to the Father, “Take this cup from me.”

—Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

In today’s passage, Jesus was praying in Gethsemane. He knew he was about to be handed over to the authorities to be beaten and killed, so he brought his disciples to pray. Although Jesus told them what was going to happen, they didn’t really understand. Maybe they were in denial. After all, they’d seen Jesus perform miracles. Surely he could handle anything that came their way. Maybe he was mistaken about what lay ahead.

Jesus told his disciples to pray that they wouldn’t fall into temptation. He’d already told Peter by this point that Peter would deny him. He also prophesied that the other disciples would all scatter. There would be plenty of temptation when Jesus was handed over, so he wanted his disciples to be prepared. After instructing his disciples, Jesus withdrew further to be alone with just his Father.

1. Prayer

a. Jesus prayed in his hour of need. He prayed, “Take this cup from me.” This part of Jesus’s story is sometimes called “the agony in the garden” because of his deep turmoil.

Jesus came to the garden.

Man was tempted and first sinned in the garden. The rest of humanity inherited the sickness that sprung forth from that day in the garden.

Jesus came into the garden to with the sole purpose to undo what happened in the first garden. In a short time, the curse of the garden would be shattered.

b. Jesus was in anguish. Scripture tells us that his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground as he prayed.

The odd thing was that God’s and Satan’s wills were about to collide.

Satan wanted Jesus destroyed.

God the Father was leading Jesus to His death sentence for the salvation of the world.

c. Prayer is an expression of our inability to meet the demands of life by ourselves.

i. When we face painful experiences, praying through our grief gives us space to vent the feelings we’re having. During these times, we might not know what to pray, but we trust that the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf (see Romans 8:26).

ii. When we face difficult decisions, prayer can be a helpful conversation with our trusted Heavenly Father. While we may have times when we struggle to hear God’s voice, we know we can approach God’s throne to seek comfort and counsel for what is ahead.

iii. Whatever is on your mind, take it to Jesus. He wants to hear it, whether good, bad, or ugly. He understands the agony life brings.

d. Jesus’s time of prayer at Gethsemane is a reminder that none of us is so capable that we do not need to take time to pray. If Jesus prayed when he was struggling, we should too.

Jesus needed His Father now more than ever before. He ran to Him and found everything He needed for the events to come through prayer. Jesus leaves us an example of the importance of prayer in the life of the believer.

Prayer is not just a ritual or a fleeting moment; it is our direct connection to the One who knows us, loves us, and strengthens us. In prayer, we find clarity when our thoughts are clouded, peace when our hearts are troubled, and hope when the way forward seems impossible.

2. The Sleeping Disciples

a. While Jesus was in anguished prayer, the disciples were fast asleep. Today’s passage tells us they were exhausted from sorrow. While we can certainly sympathize, we also know they did the exact opposite of what Jesus asked them.

b. This part of the story reminds us about the struggle between human frailty and divine purpose.

i. How often do we fall asleep—whether literally or metaphorically—when God has called us to get something done?

c. In his time of need, Jesus’s disciples failed to do what he needed them to do. In that regard, we experience a kinship with our Savior when those we’ve trusted haven’t provided the help we needed in our hour of need.

Jesus felt alone but He knew danger was lurking in the garden. It was the same danger found in the Garden of Eden. Satan was there and so was temptation.

As long as we are human, temptation is always a threat.

The devil will come to tempt us at our weakest and most vulnerable moments.

The disciples were overwhelmed with the reality of what was happening to Jesus .

It drained them both physically and emotionally, leaving them vulnerable to temptation at the precise moment Satan found most opportune.

Instead of the things of God (prayer) they chose the comforts of life (sleep).

Jesus recognized the threat too.

He went to His favorite place in the garden, fell on His knees and trusted God for the strength to endure the cup at hand.

If He ever needed God, it was now and He knew that He had to pray.

Pray in the good times…..Pray in the hard times…..Pray in the weak times….Pray at all times.

Prayer and Scripture will be the things that God will overcome Satan with.

He told the disciples to pray they wouldn’t fall into temptation.

His burdens overwhelmed Him to the point that His sweat became as heavy as drops of blood.

It shows how heavy the burden was that He carried in the garden.

He witnessed the effects of sin, but now He was experiencing its weight in a way no other human in history ever would.

3. Obedience

a. Although Jesus was honest about his anguish, he was also fully obedient to God. Even as he prayed to ask that the cup might pass from him, he also immediately voiced his obedience: “yet not my will, but yours be done.”

i. What was this cup?

Physical Suffering

Carrying Our Sin

Separation From the Father

Death

b. Jesus’ humanity is revealed to us in a deeply profound way.

He didn’t want to die. He loved His family and disciples. He found joy in teaching and healing people.

If there had been another way to fulfill His mission, He was open to it. 

Yet, as Jesus wrestled with these thoughts, each alternative led to a dead end. They weren’t aligned with His Father’s will, and He knew it.

b. Jesus surrendered to God’s plan, even in the face of suffering. We are called to do the same.

i. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor who voiced opposition to the Nazi regime in Germany under the leadership of Adolf Hitler. Bonhoeffer’s obedience to God in opposing genocide led to his imprisonment and eventual death.

Consider the biblical story of Job, who endured tremendous suffering through the loss of family, health, and wealth. In the midst of his trials, Job remained faithful and proclaimed, 'The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord' (Job 1:21). Job’s unwavering faith, despite overwhelming grief, serves as a profound example of surrendering to God’s sovereign plan. His story encourages us to trust God even when we cannot see the purpose behind our suffering, reminding us that God is in control.

c. After Jesus prayed and voiced his obedience, an angel from heaven strengthened Jesus for the task ahead.

i. When we suffer, we have the Holy Spirit to help us. We do not need to do it alone. God’s presence is there to strengthen and guide us, even when our human friends fall short.

ii. We want someone we can depend on. God is and always will be that Father we can always run to, even in our brokenness, sorrow, regret, shame, ________________(name your sin here). He will never love you less because you fall short.

d. Following God means opening ourselves up to suffering. But we’re also recipients of God’s blessings and the fulfillment of God’s purpose for our lives.

No matter the cost, we must be willing to bear our cross daily and follow Jesus.

The price may be costly. If God calls us to do something difficult, would we follow God’s will?

Those with Jesus fell asleep that night, but when it came to pay this price, they did so with joy.

Just as with Jesus, the Holy Spirit will give you everything you need to endure the cross to the end.

He will come and strengthen you for the road ahead. Call upon His Name.

To Sum It Up: Just as Jesus relied on prayer and obedience in Gethsemane, we too must turn to God in our moments of suffering. Trusting in His will, we can be confident that He will provide the strength we need to endure.

Conclusion

As Christ followers, we’re called to follow the example of Jesus. In the garden, Jesus’s example reminds us to pray and obey. We’re called to pray through our struggles. Be raw and honest. The great thing about serving a big God is that God isn’t threatened by our feelings. In fact, the Psalms are a perfect example of how believers have offered raw and sometimes even angry prayers. You don’t have to shy away from letting loose the breadth of your emotions in prayer! Then, when you’ve prayed, move to a place of obedience as you take your next steps in faith. Like Jesus, pray “not my will, but yours be done.”

Just like the angel comforted Jesus, the Holy Spirit offers comfort to us today. There is a reason we call God’s Spirit our divine comforter. The Holy Spirit provides the comfort and strength we need to face whatever is before us. As you leave this place today, I invite you to deeper, richer prayer and a life marked by obedience to the One who led the way.

Through prayer, we discover God’s will, gain strength to overcome temptation, and feel the unwavering comfort of His love—even in our moments of failure. Run to Him. Surrender your heart and life in His presence. Trust Him completely. You will be forever changed!

Prayer Following Message

Heavenly Father,

In our moments of fear, sorrow, and uncertainty, we look to Jesus in Gethsemane. Just as He turned to You in prayer and surrendered to Your will, help us do the same. When we face trials that feel too heavy to bear, remind us that You are our strength, our refuge, and our ever-present help. Give us the courage to trust You fully, even when the road ahead is difficult.

Lord, shape our hearts to seek You first, to rely on You in prayer, and to walk in obedience, knowing that Your will is always good. Strengthen us in our suffering, fill us with Your peace, and guide us by Your Spirit so that our lives may glorify You.

We ask this in the name of Jesus, who overcame through surrender. Amen.

Blessing and Sending

As you leave this place, may you rest in the assurance that God is with you. May you trust in His perfect will, seek Him in prayer, and walk in obedience, knowing that He provides all you need. When suffering comes, may His Spirit sustain you, His love surround you, and His peace guard your heart.

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

Go in His care and confidence. Amen.