Garden of Gethsemane

I. Jesus took the disciples to Gethsemane.

A.

A. Gethsemane means oil press, and here probably gave the name to the place, usually a field or an enclosed piece of ground.

B. Jesus and his disciples often frequented this spot on the western slopes of Mount Olivet.

1. Jesus left eight of the disciples at the entrance to the Garden.

1. Eight disciples remain at some distance, perhaps outside the enclosure, and the inner three join him.

2. Jesus instructed them to sit here while I go over there and pray.

2.

2. Jesus took Peter, James, and John further into the Garden.

C. Why were the disciples placed eight at the gateway and three in the garden.

B.

1. Jesus is the master teacher.

2. Jesus placed them were they would see the events as they went down.

3. The presence of His disciples would be an encouragement to Him.

II. Jesus’ next words My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow.

II. Jesus’ next words My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow.

A. This is almost a quotation from the refrain of .

B. As he walks with them beyond earshot of the others, his agitation becomes visible to them even before he speaks.

1. It was so great that Matthew, like Mark, uses two strong verbs, “he began to be sad and worried.”

2. All his power seems to be gone; he is crushed and beaten down and has only one recourse: prayer to his Father.

3. All his power seems to be gone; he is crushed and beaten down and has only one recourse: prayer to his Father.

B.

1. Jesus is the master teacher.

2. Jesus placed them were they would see the events as they went down.

3. The presence of His disciples would be an encouragement to Him.

3. We have eye witnesses

III. We need to pay attention to the prayer that our Lord is praying.

A. We must not think that it was the fear of death that made our Lord so agonize in the Garden.

B. He did not fear death, but faced it with courage and peace.

C. So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

1. Dr. Luke tells us that Jesus touched the man’s ear and healed him.

a. Peter had a sword in his hand, but our Lord had a cup in His hand.

b. Peter was resisting God’s will but the Savoir was accepting God’s will.

c. Earlier, Jesus had prayed, O My Father, if it be p

2. Why didn’t they arrest Peter because Jesus is still in control because Jesus said, “You let these men go”.

D. Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

1. Peter takes us to the cross, reminding us that Christ died for us.

2. Our identification with Christ in death and resurrection makes it possible for us to live a righteous life.

3. Peter explained why the One who could have destroyed His enemies with a word patiently endured the pain and humiliation of the Cross.

a. God was justly judging our sins which His Son bore.

b. In the Greek the words “our sins” are near the beginning of the verse and thus stand out emphatically, while He Himself stresses Christ’s personal involvement.

c.His death makes it possible for believers to be free from both the penalty and the power of sin and to live for Him: so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness.

E. Jesus was yielding Himself to God’s will.

E. Jesus was yielding Himself to God’s will.

1. As perfect Man, He felt the awful burden of sin, and His holy soul was repelled by it.

2. Jesus knew that this was His mission in the world.

F. Peter and his fellow disciples had promised to be faithful to death, and yet they went to sleep.

1. They needed to pray for themselves, because danger was around the corner.

2. How much it would have meant to their Lord if they had watched and prayed with Him.

3. They had failed, but their Lord had succeeded.