The God Who Weeps

Scripture:

Hebrews 5:7–10 “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.”

Introduction:

I want us to just pause this morning and cast our attention to a very real night in history, in the garden of gethsemane just on the outskirts of city walls of Jerusalem.

Klaas Schilder the dutch reformed theologian- “Gethsemane is not a field of study for our intelect. It is a sanctuary of our faith.”

And here in the text before us we see the reasons why Christ truly is a worthy high priest. Worthy of our Faith in. Worthy of our love and deep affection. And worthy of our praise. For here we see the heart cry of of very passionate Lord Jesus. Today our Sermon proves verse two to be true. “He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.” Last week we looked at his ability to be gentle towards the ignorant and wayward, and if that is hard for you to believe and understand, today we will look to the holy scriptures yet again to prove this reality to us, and cause it to work its gospel truth deep down into our hearts afresh or for the first time.

Aim of the Sermon:

To cast our eyes of faith to the garden of gethsemane, so as to stir up trust and love in our Savior who wrestled with the Fathers will like you and I have, yet who willfully submitted in humble service

1. Christ understands suffering

Exposition: “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death.”What a strange and earth shattering scene this must have been to behold. To see God as a man, hunched over in pain and agony for hours and hours with no rest, praying to his Father. Our hearts and minds can barely take this scene in, and regularly we seek to explain away what happened that night in the garden of gethsemane.

But what we see here on this cold night, is the battle that our fully human Savior fought on his knees with his Father. This was no show, no lesson for us, no skit or act that Christ was playing to convince us of his tenderness, no what he felt was more real and far deeper agony that any human has felt. Yet, This was the begging of Christs darkest hour, and where he started to face the punishment of our sin. Fredrick Leahy - “Why does the divine record say that in Gethsemane Our Lord Began to be sorrowful, sorrowful in a new and terrible way? Was it not because God began forsaking him then? How else is this sorrow unto death to be understood?”

Christs life was marked by suffering

Isaiah 53:3 “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

“In the Days of his Flesh”

This phrase refers not to his “sinful” flesh, like when we refer to our own, but his “weak” flesh. We see this in verse 2, “Since he himself is beset with weakness.” And indeed in the garden our Savior began to receive the Load of our sins onto his back. Much like Abraham loaded down Issac with the wood for the alter, Christ was beginning to be loaded down with the sin of his children.Christs hour had begun here in the garden, For he himself when praying here said John 17:1 …“Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,” he started his journey to the cross here on his knees in prayer, as he was being fitted, suited by his Father to be the sacrifice and atonement for our sins.

The Garden -

I got to go to the garden of gethsemane and pray. I mostly just sat, listened, and let my mind soar back to that night where Christ toiled in prayer

The Word Gethsemane refers to the “oil press”. The process of the crushing of olives for their oil, which to the jews was very important to them ritually. One thing that oil was used for, was for a kingly anointing. And our King before he was “anointed with the oil of gladness”, as we saw in Chapter one, was prepared to be crushed himself as the sacrifice. In the days of his flesh. The weak flesh, the flesh subject to hunger, fatigue, pain, limitations, was being fitted for the cross with our sin. Here in the garden, Jesus knew what was happening. He was being loaded down with the burden of our sin, that he was to nail to the cross. The Son of Heaven was to be eclipsed with the sin of the world, and receive the due penality of our sin, the utter wrath of the Father. And Christ, who knew the scriptures, who was the living scriptures knew what this meant for him. Therefore he prayed, “Father, please, is there another way?” He “offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears.” One can barely stomach the cries of a morning person who had lost a loved one, but what would the cries of the one who made the stars, and upholds the universe do to you? “God doesnt cry!?”Many would say or feel

If you heard the Savior Cry, Would you mock? thinking “how could the God of the universe cry?” Like those who would soon mock him on the cross by saying “If you're the messiah save yourself!” Prideful people, want a prideful and powerful looking King. Crying is for the weak, and no King aught to be week. Weakness, is for the foolish!

1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

If you heard the Savior Cry, would you try to explain this phenomena away? In your theological wisdom would you search for an answer to make you more comfortable with this reality? Yet it was the humanity of Christ, that brought the divine love of the Father to us on full display. Christs humanity is hard for those of us who were raised in church to understand. Fredrick Leahy - “Evangelicals are so concerned to defend the deity of Christ, and rightly so, that they often hardley know how to handle his humanity.” It frightens us! We dont like thinking thoughts like “Jesus used the restroom” Or when he was sick “He threw up”. We dont want to degrade God of course, but dont miss God by turning a blind eye to the humanity of Jesus, of God! Seeing the humanity of God, is how we are able to see the divinity of God.

Instead, we ought to remain silent. In Awe and wonder, examine Christ suffering in the Garden, and let this gospel reality and tenderness of Jesus, melt our stoney hearts for him.

The Abandonment:

From Friends

Matthew 26:40 “And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour?”

His own beloved disiples couldn't even stay awake with him on his last night. He had no friends with him in his darkest hour.

From His Father

Jesus Knew That His Father was about to pour out all his wrath on him, and we know that when he does he cries “My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me!”

2. Christ received Silence, so you and I could receive salvation

Christs unanswered Prayer

Have you ever prayed something, to not have been given the answer that you longed for? So did Christ. Have you ever begged God to take something from you, whether that be a besetting sin, or trial, only for him to answer “No, My grace is sufficient for you.”

Matthew 26:39 “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.”

Christ knew this wasn't possible!! He preached over and over to his disciples that this was the reason he came to earth. To die. His own birth he displayed this! Laying in a stable, as the spotless lamb that would be used as the passover lamb would have! Yet we see the plea for mercy offered up from the sinless spotless lamb…Many say that Christ cannot relate to them because he never gave into sin. Yet the sinless one cried more fervently for mercy than the most sin stained saint ever has. He, through his sinless eyes, saw perfectly the blackness of sin, and the cup of wrath his Father has begun to fill.

When we look at the prayer in the garden of Gethsemane we see two main requests that Christ offered, “Let this cup pass from me.” and “Your will be done.” But the Agony in Christs prayer was founded in the first prayer, “Lord if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” And this prayer was not answered…

Why would Christ pray this?

Didn't he time and time again tell his disciples “The Son of man must be lifted up” Or “destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up”?

He prayed this because once the hour had come, he learned through human experience what that actually meant. He knew the Father would forsake him, but God in the flesh was about to feel the depths of human despair because of this reality

Luke 2:52 “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”

And indeed here in gethsemane he was increasing in the wisdom of the suffering of those cast off from the Father. How can he sympathize with the “ignorant and wayward”, as verse 2 tells us? Because here in gethsemane he was being treated like one.

And here in our text today it says 8“Although he was son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.”

He learned true human obedience, through suffering. Suffering is the greatest teacher.

Christ learned to obey Gods will, without Gods blessing

Leahy - “Again and Again the Savior casts himself on the Fathers bosom in earnest supplication, but there is no answer to his anguised cry. Heaven remains silent…For the moment the door of his Father’s house remains fast closed, Despite his repeated knocking. No Father meets him with outstretched arms! And so he learns that there is no other way.”

And inspite of him learning this, at the expense of his own riches, glory, power, majesty, love for and from the Father, he willingly laid it down…For you.

He prayed this because he feared

John Calvin - “He had before his eyes, the dreadful tribunal of God and the judge himself armed with inconceivable vengeance; and because of our sins, the load of which was laid upon him, pressed him down with their enormous weight. There is no reason to wonder, therefore, if the dread abyss of destruction tormented him grievously with fear and anguish.”

Christs unwavering perfection

Verse 9 “And being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.”

He is Perfect: This does not mean that Christ needed to be made perfect in the sense he had sin. But it means he was made perfect, the way the word actually means, “Complete” as our perfect high priest and source of salvation. Again Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

He is our source. Like a river that draws its water from a massive lake, or a morning dawn finds it home and strength 93 million miles away in the Sun, Each Christian finds their source of life in Jesus. Yet, he is not 93 million miles away. He walked this very earth. He worked with his hands as a carpenter. He slept many sleepless nights. Felt hunger, pain, sorrow, joy, friendship, betrayal. Our God is not aloof of our state. No he has fully embraced what it means to be human, and has stooped the greatest distance to rescue poor and needy sinners. And he does this, not out of hate or anger, but out of compassion! For you.

Its not “What Christ did” that saves us, “But who Christ is” that saves us. What Christ did was fulfill the law. Jesus says in Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” We dont follow after what Christ did, good luck, We follow after Christ who has done the work. Thats what take up your cross and follow me means. It doesn't mean “now do what I did”. No it means die to “doing” and pursue what is “done!”

And what is it we see when we look to Christ in his suffering? Yes he was afraid, yes he wept loudly, and cried great drops of tears like blood. But even still, He never wavered…Never once did he turn from his obediance from his Father. Never once did he question His charcater, and not once was his hand forced! He volunterily went to the garden. He willfully submitted himself over to the Roman soliders. He carried his own cross!! He drank the bitter cup of wrath to the bottom “Who but Christ had dared to drain, steeped in gall the cup of pain”….Not one drop remained, and not one drop was forced on him. And he, when ready, rose from the grave..

He is for us: “to all who obey him.” Christ’s perfect unwavering source of salvation is for any soul who comes to him in humble submission. “ALL”! No one is off limits no one is out of reach, why because our God is a God of love. Our God is a wonderful, lovely God, who came to seek and to save the lost! The one who lives life aimlessly. The One who is drowning in sin, in the cares of life. Who is being sold a lie that God does not love them, that he is cruel. How could a good God allow suffering? They say? Because without suffering, The price and pentalty of sin could not be met! Without the shedding of blood, there can be no forgiveness of sin! God allows suffering, so that we can be forgiven!!

In the Garden of eden “God said where are you?” and Adam hid. In the Garden of Gethsemane, When God asked, “where are you?” Christ said “Here am I Lord, send me. And Matthew 26:42 “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”

3. Closing: Christs Silences Doubt

To the suffering soul: Christ suffers right next to you

If you ever feel like the Lord is careless towards your suffering or doesnt “get you”. Beloved think again. It is we who dont “get Christ” because the suffering that he endured, is far greater than any human will ever endure, lost or saved. Why? Because the suffering he endured, was unjust. Its unfair that he should not only take my cup, but billions others…He didnt just recieve the due penality, of the sin of lust, therefore I get to walk free. No the punishment of every lustful thought and act that I ever have or ever will commit, was poured out on him..and thats just one sin, and one person…Imagine how endlessly deep was his cup… So, do not believe the lie, Christ doesnt understand my suffering..No he does, far greater than you could imagine. And it is because of that suffering, he then looks at you as says “ I am unashamed to call you brother.”

Charles Spurgeon - “God had one Son without sin, but He never had a son without suffering.”

Suffering is something that every human experiences. But the lost soul suffers alone. When you find yourself in the garden of pressing, suffer right next to Jesus.

Spurgeon - Be not ashamed of your weakness, your Lord did so before you. Strong man as you are, you weep like a child. Do not apologize lest you seem to accuse your Saviour. Behold, you are not alone! Jesus is passing through the deeps with you. See you not the blood-stained foot-print of your Lord? Your utmost anguish is known to him. Fear not. Commit your way unto the Lord, even in this worst part of it. Trust him when the iron enters into your soul. Leave all in his experienced hands.

To the one who doubts: Christ alone silences it

What if don’t, feel saved?

Many would preach this text by saying “Christ prayed this hard, therefore you better pray this hard or you're a lousy Christian.” HOGWASH! I dont need to see another failure of mine to see Im a lousy Christian, I already know that! This text isn't about me!! Christ isn't someone Im trying to act“like” Christ is someone Im trying to let live through me. What blows my mind is that Christ would pray that fervently not only for the cup to be passed, but Christ prayed for lousy Christians like me. Christ prayed for me that night

Stop looking at yourself. Stop going to the garden and running to the applications of how you should live, before first looking at the gem being preped to be thrown in the refining fire of Gods wrath for you.

Martin Luther - Every time I look to myself I say “How can I be saved?” But every time I look to the Savior I say “How can I be lost?”

Do this time and time and time again believer! He is the source of “eternal” salvation. Come and drink more and more of him everyday. He will never run out.

To one whos lost: Believe!

Dr. Daniel Stevens - “Do not fear, only believe”. This is not some shallow saying. We have by faith seen him risen from the dead and ascend on high in glory. Jesus HAS already calmed the storm. He HAS cast out demons. He HAS defeated death. This command to us is not a call to blind faith, or a mere positive attitude. Rather, it is to look death and loss squarley in the face and to have faith in the Christ who has already broken its teeth.”