Jesus' Agony

Introduction

You learn what people are really made of when things are at their hardest. I’ve told you before how pastors are like first responders. We find people at the worst moments of their lives, when things are at their very worst, and we run at them when a sane person would run away. And, I can tell you definitively that this is what reveals the character of a person’s faith. It is isn’t the catastrophe or the circumstance or the hardship. It isn’t even the sin. Not a single person in this room will avoid rock bottom in your life and not a single person in this room will not experience catastrophic system failure or sin. But, those are not the things that define you. That’s what the gospel teaches us. It’s our response. It’s our faith, our trust, and if it’s sin, our repentance and restoration.

I think most people have a distorted view of Jesus that sales short his humanity. Here’s what I mean by that. We don’t think of Jesus as having to face weakness in any significant way like we have to face weakness. We think of Jesus like we think of Clark Kent. He’s really Superman with glasses. Jesus is really just God with a beard. He’s not actually weak. He wasn’t actually tempted. He didn’t actually struggle. He didn’t actually know the hardship and circumstances and rock bottom the way that I know them. Now, while it’s certain that Jesus never sinned as we did, Jesus certainly knew weakness and Jesus certainly knew hardship, and today we’re going to see Jesus at rock bottom. Jesus wasn’t Clark Kent. He wasn’t Superman on the cross. He was really a man, and He really was weak. He really was tempted, and He really did suffer. Listen in as we read one of the most painful and dramatic scenes in the Bible.

God’s Word

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Jesus Seeks Companionship

“taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee he began to be sorrowful and troubled” Within the Mount of Olives, there was a place that Jesus apparently liked to frequent, according to John, called Gethsemane. Gethsemane just means press, so it’s probably just a walled off area where there was a press that they would press the olives and make olive oil, which probably made for a good place to retreat and pray. On this occasion, it’s late into the night and Jesus leaves eight of his disciples outside of the gate and takes his three closest disciples, the same three that He took with him upon the Mount of Transfiguration, into Gethsemane with him. Those three are Peter, James, and John, and Jesus is taking them into Gethsemane with him because He is seeking companionship with them. Matthew is making perfectly clear the humanity of Jesus for us as He is heading to the cross. There are a lot of heretics throughout church history that have made Jesus out to be all God and no human, and so the cross isn’t really a place where there’s real human weakness and suffering known. Here, Matthew is demolishing all of that. Jesus is in his lowest moment, and this is even demonstrated by how he desires the presence of his closest friends.

Discipleship is a Two-Way Street

There is much to be learned by Jesus 'taking with him' Peter, James, and John.

There is much to be learned by Jesus 'taking with him' Peter, James, and John. We learn a lot about the nature of discipleship here, I think. And, I want you all to know that we're going to continue to be relentless in our conversation about discipleship, because that's the mission of that we've been given by Jesus. But, here's what I want you to especially notice about the nature of how the discipleship relationship is supposed to work. Now, there's a failure here, but there's something here for us to learn about how the discipleship relationship is supposed to work. The discipleship relationship is supposed to be a mutually beneficial relationship. Discipleship is a two-way street. This is how things operate in the Kingdom of God. Each part needs each part. Paul tells us that in . No part of the body of Christ can look at any other part and say, "I don't need you." That means that the more mature Christian, the discipler cannot look at the younger Christian, the less mature Christian, the disciple and say, "I don't need you." It's a co-beneficial relationship.

The Disciple Benefit from the Disciple-Maker

We learn a lot about the nature of discipleship here, I think. And, I want you all to know that we're going to continue to be relentless in our conversation about discipleship, because that's the mission of that we've been given by Jesus. But, here's what I want you to especially notice about the nature of how the discipleship relationship is supposed to work. Now, there's a failure here, but there's something here for us to learn about how the discipleship relationship is supposed to work. The discipleship relationship is supposed to be a mutually beneficial relationship. This is how things operate in the Kingdom of God. Each part needs each part. Paul tells us that in . No part of the body of Christ can look at any other part and say, "I don't need you." That means that the more mature Christian, the discipler cannot look at the younger Christian, the less mature Christian, the disciple and say, "I don't need you." It's a co-beneficial relationship.

First of all, there is the most obvious beneficiary. The disciple benefits from the disciple-maker. Here Jesus, the discipler takes the three disciples with him, and they benefit by being given a front row seat to seeing how He operates in a moment of crisis. It's been said that discipleship is more caught than taught, and I subscribe to that. You're discipled more by being around someone than you are by reading a book with somebody. Really being discipled by somebody requires you to see how they battle through crises and hardship. It's having them to ask questions to and to receive counseling from. It's them holding you accountable and rebuking you at the right time. Book club isn't discipleship. Life-on-life is discipleship. Seeing someone in their marriage and parenting and decision-making and lifestyle and conflict management. Observing how someone copes with tragedy and stress and criticism and self-discipline. That is discipleship. And, that is exactly what we find the disciples doing here and throughout Jesus' ministry, isn't it? Here is Jesus in his lowest moment. He's sorrowful unto death. He's being betrayed by one of his closest friends and on the eve of his trial and execution. He's soon to be abandoned by all of his disciples and face the wrath of his heavenly Father, and He's invited these three to have a front row seat to observe his life in this intimate and private time to see how He handles it.

First of all, there is the most obvious beneficiary. The disciple benefits from the disciple-maker. Here Jesus, the discipler takes the three disciples with him, and they benefit by being given a front row seat to seeing how He operates in a moment of crisis. It's been said that discipleship is more caught than taught, and I subscribe to that. You're discipled more by being around someone than you are by reading a book with somebody. Really being discipled by somebody requires you to see how they battle through crises and hardship. It's having them to ask questions to and to receive counseling from. It's them holding you accountable and rebuking you at the right time. Book club isn't discipleship. Life-on-life is discipleship. Seeing someone in their marriage and parenting and decision-making and lifestyle and conflict management. Observing how someone copes with tragedy and stress and criticism and self-discipline. That is discipleship. And, that is exactly what we find the disciples doing here and throughout the Jesus' ministry, isn't it? Here is Jesus in his lowest moment. He's sorrowful unto death. He's being betrayed by one of his closest friends and on the eve of his trial and execution. He's soon to be abandoned by all of his disciples and face the wrath of his heavenly Father, and He's invited these three to have a front row seat to observe his life in this intimate and private time to see how He handles it.

Open Up Your Life

APPLICATION: “he began to be sorrowful and troubled” The disciple-maker, like Jesus, commits to living his or her life in a glass house so that others can follow them as they follow Christ. Disciple-makers make public their lives for a few what they'd like to keep private so that others can benefit from their lives and their difficulties. If you’re serious about making a difference in people’s lives, you’ve got to be willing to let them into yours. Can I be honest with you? This hasn’t always come naturally to me? Now, notice that Jesus didn’t let give equal access to all people. Jesus doesn’t begin to be sorrowful and troubled UNTIL He is alone with Peter, James, and John. He is close and revealing to the other eight, but even more so to these three. My church family gets a personal side to my preaching that my itinerant preaching doesn’t get. D-group more personal. Elders even more. Staff even more. Wife even more. But, if you’re going to change someone’s life, you can’t just open up a book, you’ve got to open up your life.

The Disciple-Maker Benefits from the Disciple

APPLICATION: The disciple-maker, like Jesus, commits to living his or her life in a glass house so that others can follow them as they follow Christ. Disciple-makers make public for a few what they'd like to keep private so that others can benefit from their lives and their difficulties.

But, then there is the less obvious beneficiary -- the disciple-maker themselves. It might even sound like a conflict of interests to think that the disciple-maker should benefit from their disciples, except that we see here, in his lowest moment, that Jesus did not feel that way. Where on earth did Jesus turn for comfort in his lowest moment? To whom did He go as He felt such stress that the capillaries in his body were on the verge of bursting? He turned to his friends. And, his friends were his disciples. Can I tell you that I am comforted in that Jesus didn't just turn to his heavenly Father but also turned to his earthly friends? And, He didn't just turn to his earthly friends, He turned to his very own disciples! The ones that He was teaching and training and leading. He expected this to be a co-beneficial relationship, a well from which He could draw and drink and live. For Jesus, His disciples weren't just takers, they were givers! This wasn't just a host with 12 parasites, which is what I think we imagine. Certainly, Jesus is the strength and the grace and the goodness of this group. But, this is a group of 13 friends! This is what disciples and disciple-makers should be -- friends! Regardless of the age differences or the spiritual maturity differences or the life experience differences, they should be friends. My goodness, what a gap there was between Jesus and the 12! But, Jesus knew that if there was anybody that He should turn to to pray, it was these men. If there was anyone in whom He could confide, it was these men. If there was anyone in whom He could let known his sorrow and his agony, it was them! And so, He comes to these three men, and He asks them to pray with him through the night!

“May This Cup Pass from Me”

“he fell on his face and prayed” It's important for us to notice how it is that Jesus begins to pray. Jesus goes just past where He has left the three disciples, and He collapses on his face. He is so filled with sorrow and his body is so distressed that He tells us himself that He is near death. Luke tell us in his account that Jesus was so distressed that He suffered from a condition called hematidrosis in which the capillaries burst and blood actually begins to come through the pores of the skin. This is a prayer that is as intense as it is desperate. The word translated here as ‘troubled’ can mean ‘despondent’ or ‘to be almost without all hope’. Jesus cries out in desperation and agony, praying that 'if it be possible, let this cup pass from him'. The question becomes what is it that has Jesus so rattled? In the months, weeks, and days, leading up to these moments, Jesus has shown nothing less than valor and steely courage. He has talked about his own fate as though it were matter of fact and has sought to encourage his disciples. He talked about their mission, his Father’s glory, and even his certain return. So, what has changed now? Brothers and sisters, as terrible as the cross was, as agonizing and terrorizing as its pain was, it won’t stand that this was the reason. Many men, including his own disciples have faced the same fate with while singing hymns and praising God. Peter himself did. Paul said we were to rejoice if we were able to share in Christ’s affliction. Bonhoeffer was hanged totally composed. Stephen was stoned with his eyes toward heaven. James the Just was clubbed while praying for his executioners lifted on broken legs. So, it cannot stand that Jesus was suddenly less courageous than all of them.

But, then there is the less obvious beneficiary -- the disciple-maker themselves. It might even sound like a conflict of interests to think that the disciple-maker should benefit from their disciples, except that we see here, in his lowest moment, that Jesus did not feel that way. Where on earth did Jesus turn for comfort in his lowest moment? To whom did He go as He felt such stress that the capillaries in his body were on the verge of bursting? He turned to his friends. And, his friends were his disciples. Can I tell you that I am comforted in that Jesus didn't just turn to his heavenly Father but also turned to his earthly friends? And, He didn't just turn to his earthly friends, He turned to his very own disciples! The ones that He was teaching and training and leading. He expected this to be a co-beneficial relationship, a well from which He could draw and drink and live. For Jesus, His disciples weren't just takers, they were givers! This wasn't just a host with 12 parasites, which is what I think we imagine. Certainly, Jesus is the strength and the grace and the goodness of this group. But, this is a group of 13 friends! This is what disciples and disciple-makers should be -- friends! Regardless of the age differences or the spiritual maturity differences or the life experience differences, they should be friends. My goodness, what a gap there was between Jesus and the 12! But, Jesus knew that if there was anybody that He should turn to to pray, it was these men. If there was anyone in whom He could confide, it was these men. If there was anyone in whom He could let known his sorrow and his agony, it was them! And so, He comes to these three men, and He asks them to pray with him through the night!

This is what our discipleship groups must look like, Iron City. Our discipleship groups must become groups of best friends. Groups of co-beneficial friendships that can be trusted to sustain you through anything. I know that this hasn't been everyone's experience, but I know that it can be, because it's been mine. If I've ever had the privilege of discipling anyone, I can promise you that I have benefited far more than any of them. I think of being so sick and at UAB and having Chris and James and Justin and John and Andrew coming by to pray with me to lift up my spirit. I think of a time not that long ago when I was really low, and I received two letters from two different disciples, one from Bray and the other from Daniel in the same week, that God used to lift up my head and reset my heart. I think of Keith and Chris praying with me over my headaches, and Daniel Hall hugging me until it was uncomfortable. I think about how I always have somebody that I can text, somebody that I can call, somebody that I know will pray for me at any given moment of any given day. Brothers and sisters, that's powerful. That's friendship. That's the glory of what Jesus is demonstrating for us here in Gethsemane. Disciple-makers don't just pour out. They receive. Disciple-makers don't have to be invincible, but accessible. Disciple-makers like Jesus must invite their disciples into the vulnerabilities and crises of their lives like Jesus does.

And so, you can imagine the scene as Jesus calls out to his Father. He pray that 'if it be possible, let this cup pass from him'. Now, that may be an interesting phrase for you to hear, but Matthew's original audience knew exactly what Jesus was referring to. The cup that Jesus was referring to was a frequent OT allusion to the stored up wrath of God.

“this cup pass from me” The answer is found in what is meant by the phrase ‘this cup.’ Now, that may be an interesting phrase for you to hear, but Matthew's original audience knew exactly what Jesus was referring to. The cup that Jesus was referring to was a frequent OT allusion to the stored up wrath of God. Since the time of Adam and Eve, for thousands of years, God had been patient and longsuffering with the sins of mankind. He had told us from the beginning that if we sinned, if we rebelled against him that we would surely die, and yet, He had allowed us to live far longer than we should have and forgiven many and allowed them to live in relationship with him. And, stored up in that cup was the wrath owed to them all. Stored up in that cup was the wrath that was owed to Eve for eating the fruit of the tree and for Adam for standing there and doing nothing. Stored there was the wrath owed to Cain for killing Able and Abraham failing to trust God. Stored there was Jacob's deceitfulness and his son's jealousy and David's murderous conspiracy. In the cup was the wrath owed for Solomon's promiscuous eye and the Israel's unfaithful worship and the abandonment of God's Law. Stored in that cup was the wrath that was owed for the temple's thievery and the Pharisee's hypocrisy and Israel's murder of the Son of God. Stored in that cup wasn't just the wrath stored up for sins past and present though, but looking forward to sins future. You see, the cup that Jesus prayed would pass represented all those that would be led astray by wicked popes and forgiveness sold to the highest bidder. Stored in that cup was the wrath stored up for the crusades and for the death of millions of Jews, Christians and others during the Holocaust. Stored in that cup is the wrath of God stored up for the slaughter of millions of unborn babies through abortion and the apathy and consumerism that plagues the modern church. As Jesus prays to the Father in heaven that the cup would pass, He prays that God's wrath stored up from all sin past, present, and future would be spared from him, that the Father would search his unsearchable sovereignty to seek out some other way to satisfy his own justice and holiness that He might be spared the forsaking of the cross.

It's important for us to notice how it is that Jesus begins to pray. Jesus goes just past where He has left the three disciples, and He collapses on his face. He is so filled with sorrow and his body is so distressed that He tells us himself that He is near death. Luke tell us in his account that Jesus was so distressed that He suffered from a condition called hematidrosis in which the capillaries burst and blood actually begins to come through the pores of the skin. This is a prayer that is as intense as it is desperate. And so, you can imagine the scene as Jesus calls out to his Father. He pray that 'if it be possible, let this cup pass from him'. Now, that may be an interesting phrase for you to hear, but Matthew's original audience knew exactly what Jesus was referring to. The cup that Jesus was referring to was a frequent OT allusion to the stored up wrath of God.

The Son Forsaken

Since the time of Adam and Eve, for thousands of years, God had been patient and longsuffering with the sins of mankind. He had told us from the beginning that if we sinned, if we rebelled against him that we would surely die, and yet, He had allowed us to live far longer than we should have and forgiven many and allowed them to live in relationship with him. And, stored up in that cup was the wrath owed to them all. Stored up in that cup was the wrath that was owed to Eve for eating the fruit of the tree and for Adam for standing there and doing nothing. Stored there was the wrath owed to Cain for killing Able and Abraham failing to trust God. Stored there was Jacob's deceitfulness and his son's jealousy and David's murderous conspiracy. In the cup was the wrath owed for Solomon's promiscuous eye and the Israel's unfaithful worship and the abandonment of God's Law. Stored in that cup was the wrath that was owed for the temple's thievery and the Pharisee's hypocrisy and Israel's murder of the Son of God. Stored in that cup wasn't just the wrath stored up for sins past present though, but looking forward to sins future. You see, the cup that Jesus prayed would pass represented all those that would be led astray by wicked popes and forgiveness sold to the highest bidder. Stored in that cup was the wrath stored up for the crusades and for the death of millions of Jews, Christians and others during the Holocaust. Stored in that cup is the wrath of God stored up for the slaughter of millions of unborn babies through abortion and the apathy and consumerism that plagues the modern church. As Jesus prays to the Father in heaven that the cup would pass, He prays that God's wrath stored up from all sin past, present, and future would be spared from him, that the Father would search his unsearchable sovereignty to seek out some other way to satisfy his own justice and holiness that He might be spared the forsaking of the cross.

And, what this meant was that the eternal object of the Father's love, the Son, would become the momentary object of the Father's wrath. Think of it! All God the Son had known was perfect fellowship and love with God the Father, and yet, He looks forward and knows that He will experience a fracture in that moment knowing unrelenting and unfiltered wrath owed to every one of us. He who was sinless was to experience the full suffering of all sin. He who was righteous was to be made as though He was all unrighteousness. And yet still, He is able to pray, "Not as I will, but as you will." That is, "If you will that I be cut off from your love, if you will that I but cut off from your goodness, if you will that I be the object of your wrath, if you will that I be the object of your hatred, if you will that I be the object of punishment," please, Father, let it be! Please, Father, if that will glorify you more, do it! Please, Father, if that will prove you just, do it! Please, Father, if that is your plan, bring your plan to be!" Can you imagine? Can you imagine loving God's glory that much? We can't even pray honestly to God that we're willing to move wherever He wants us to go.

APPLICATION: We don't need more book clubs. We don't even need more Bible studies. We need more disciple-makers like Jesus. We need more people that will build friendships around the gospel.

And, what this meant was that the eternal object of the Father's love, the Son, would become the momentary object of the Father's wrath. Think of it! All God the Son had known was perfect fellowship and love with God the Father, and yet, He looks forward and knows that He will experience a fracture in that moment knowing unrelenting and unfiltered wrath owed to every one of us. He who was sinless was to experience the full suffering of all sin. He who was righteous was to be made as though He was all unrighteousness. And yet still, He is able to pray, "Not as I will, but as you will." That is, "If you will that I be cut off from your love, if you will that I but cut off from your goodness, if you will that I be the object of your wrath, if you will that I be the object of your hatred, if you will that I be the object of punishment," please, Father, let it be! Please, Father, if that will glorify you more, do it! Please, Father, if that will prove you just, do it! Please, Father, if that is your plan, bring your plan to be!" Can you imagine? Can you imagine loving God's glory that much? We can't even pray honestly to God that we're willing to move wherever He wants us to go.

We Have No Concept of Wrath

APPLICATION: And, this is how we can know that we have no concept of the wrath of God. You hear of it and continue in your sin without so much as a drip of sweat or a passing thought. You believe religion is contrived, church is unnecessary, and you are justified. Or, we who know Christ, we hear of it, our heart do not shatter into a million pieces for those we love who are certain to face it. We do not screech to think of how our children know more of the Kardashians than they do of Jesus. But, Jesus, when faced with the wrath of God is so distressed that the blood vessels in his face burst, and He began to bleed through the pores in his skin. Oh, my friends, this mornings, may you truly comprehend the wrath of God.

Praying Like Jesus

“Rise, let us be going” This seems to have stood out in Matthew’s mind as a marker for prayers. Jesus had taught his disciples to pray to their Heavenly Father and to pray specifically that his will would happen on earth as it did in heaven. And, it’s really a remarkable thought that Jesus prayed. He practiced what He preached. Prayer is an acknowledgement of weakness, and Jesus prayed. Prayer is an act of submission, and Jesus prayed. Prayer is seeking to understand, and Jesus prayed. Prayer is an exercise of faith, and Jesus prayed.

“The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” It’s not just Jesus’ humanity that is proven in this passage, is it?

Here Jesus wasn’t telling them how to pray. He was showing them. Do you see what it means to pray like Jesus? It is to say to God: "Your glory before my well-being. For I am better off when you are glorified. Your glory before my good. For your glory is most essential to my good." Are you daring enough to pray like Jesus and mean it? This is what will change your family. This is what will change our church. This what will change our church. Not nursery rhyme prayers. Not rudimentary list prayers. But, daring, desperate, painful, sorrowful prayers that emulate Jesus.

Will You Pray in Your Gethsemane?

APPLICATION: Gethsemane moments are coming in your life. Moments in which you are distressed and sorrowful unto death. Moments in which you are scared and depressed. Moments in which you aren't sure what you want and what God has for you are the same thing. Moments in which you want health and God has for you illness. Moments in which you want wealth and God has for you poverty. Moments in which you want you want to stay and God moves you. Moments in which you want a child and God leaves you barren. Moments in which you want home but God has for you Asia or Africa or South America. God is going to bring you into the Garden of Gethsemane and just over the crest you'll see the cross there. And, you'll be greatly distressed and you'll agonize in prayer. And, that's when you'll learn how much like Jesus you are. That's when it'll be decided whether or not you'll be used to change a generation or not. That's when it'll be decided whether or not you'll be used to shape your family tree for God's glory or not. That's when it be decided whether or not God will use you as bedrock of a great church and a great movement of his Spirit or not. Will you pray like Jesus? Will you pray 'not my will', not my comfort, not my desire, not my hope, not my small aspirations, not my tiny ambitions, but your will be done, your glory be shown, your fame be advanced, O God?

Do you see what it means to pray like Jesus? It is to say to God: "Your glory before my well-being. For I am better off when you are glorified. Your glory before my good. For your glory is most essential to my good." Are you daring enough to pray like Jesus and mean it? This is what will change your family. This is what will change our church. This what will change our church. Not nursery rhyme prayers. Not rudimentary list prayers. But, daring, desperate, painful, sorrowful prayers that emulate Jesus.

APPLICATION: Gethsemane moments are coming in your life. Moments in which you are distressed and sorrowful unto death. Moments in which you are scared and depressed. Moments in which you aren't sure what you want and what God has for you are the same thing. Moments in which you want health and God has for you illness. Moments in which you want wealth and God has for you poverty. Moments in which you want you want to stay and God moves you. Moments in which you want a child and God leaves you barren. Moments in which you want home but God has for you Asia or Africa or South America. God is going to bring you into the Garden of Gethsemane and just over the crest you'll see the cross there. And, you'll be greatly distressed and you'll agonize in prayer. And, that's when you'll learn how much like Jesus you are. That's when it'll be decided whether or not you'll be used to change a generation or not. That's when it'll be decided whether or not you'll be used to shape your family tree for God's glory or not. That's when it be decided whether or not God will use you as bedrock of a great church and a great movement of his Spirit or not. Will you pray like Jesus? Will you pray 'not my will', not my comfort, not my desire, not my hope, not my small aspirations, not my tiny ambitions, but your will be done, your glory be shown, your fame be advanced, O God?