A Time in the Garden
Gospel of Mark: Jesus a life to serve • Sermon • Submitted
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· 13 viewsJesus in the garden the prelude to the cross
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On the Way
On the Way
It’s the last night Jesus life before the sacrifice. We are now coming into the garden a place of suffering a place of strengthening, a place of resolve and victory.
On the way Jesus issued a warning (Mk14:26-27)
26 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.’
What was the warning, prophesy given? - all would fall away; all will be scattered
On the way Jesus offered a promise (Mk14:28)
28 “But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”
What was the promise? - they will be reunited in Galilee, even though all will fall away, all will scatter, Jesus will bring them all back together in Galilee under the power of the Holy Spirit.
On the way they stop at an all too familiar place (Jn18:1-2)
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, in which He entered with His disciples. 2 Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with His disciples.
So the garden was a familiar place to them, Jesus often went there, across the brook Kidron to the garden. God in the garden, in the first garden the first man fell by yielding to temptation by disobeying God; in this garden the second man conquered by yielding to the will of God.
47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven.
On the way may we consider some things to help us to better understand the significance of the garden and the strength and resolve Jesus found there.
May we look at the verses, ask a few preliminary questions then get into breaking it down.
32 They came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.” 33 And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled.
34 And He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.” 35 And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by.
36 And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” 37 And He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?
38 “Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 Again He went away and prayed, saying the same words.
40 And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. 41 And He came the third time, and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
42 “Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
(prayer in the garden picture)
In looking at (vv32-34) what is Jesus emotions? -Commanding (v.32); Distressed, troubled (v.33); Deeply grieved (v.34)
Commanding (v.32)
Distressed, troubled (v.33)
Deeply grieved (v.34)
Do you ever feel distressed, troubled, deeply grieved (maybe not to the point of death, though it may feel like it at times like what you are feeling is going to kill you)? - Look at the solution to his feelings
What did Jesus do (v.35)? - prayed
What was Jesus resolve (v.36)? - not my will but your will be done
what were the instructions given (v.34); were they followed (v.37)? - keep watch, no they all fell asleep
Look at instructions again in (v.34) and compare to instructions in (v.38) - prayer is added; reason prayer is needed was added.
So, what was Jesus solution to his feelings? - prayer and petition (v.35-36; 39)
What was Jesus frustration (implied) (v.37, 40, 41)?
What was Jesus command at the end (v.42)? - get up, let’s face this!
Do you pray up and prepare for whatever God is bringing you through? Do you become resolved knowing that God is with you, God is for you and God will not abandon you in your time of distress, trouble and grief?
Now there is much more we can get from this passage so let’s dive in.
A place of suffering
A place of suffering
There is much we can learn and apply from Jesus time in the garden so let’s dig in.
Who likes to suffer raise you hand? OK, we don’t like to suffer, we are willing to endure suffering as a Christian, as a parent, as a spouse too, if needed, but if we are honest in our flesh we don’t like it.
A place of suffering
A place of suffering
Gethsemane means “press” - to press, stomp, squeeze, and isn’t that what Jesus is about to endure, Gethsemane is place where Jesus in the flesh came to grips with what He was about to endure.
Who likes suffering? Now, if we are honest, it is hard to say “me” for we don’t like to suffer nor have anyone around us suffer. Jesus did not, in the flesh like it either, but still he endured for you and me. May we see what we can learn and apply from Jesus place of suffering.
It is a place where Jesus felt great distress and trouble (Mk14:33; Jn18:1-2; Mk5:35-43; Mk9:2; Mt9:1-2)
(prayer in the garden picture)
He went to pray as was His custom (Jn18:1-2) which we already read.
Gethsemane means “press” - to press, stomp, squeeze. Isn’t that what is about to happen to Jesus, it is in revealed knowledge that the time of His suffering is upon Him. The garden while it is a place of suffering is also a place of victory too.
Who did He go with (v.33)? Anything special about these three?
In the garden who did Jesus take with Him (Mk14:32-33; Mk9:1-2; Mk37:43)?
He took with him those who had seen some of the greatest miracles (Mk5:35-43) were witness to the transfiguration (Mk9:2; Mt9:1-2)
These are the three who have witnessed some of Jesus greatest miracles (Mk9:1-2; Mk5:37-43)
In
In times of suffering, great distress and trouble we want friends to be there to help us.
They witnessed the transfiguration; and the raising of the synagogue official’s daughter.
Isn’t that one of the times we want our friends close to us, when we are in distress, troubled?
In the garden notice the order of things (MK14:33-34; Lk22:44)
First was distressed and troubled, Luke add’s in “agony” to place of blood; then came prayer
No better place to go then to the Lord in prayer in our times of distress or trouble.
Maybe it is because Jesus knew His hour had come that He is troubled, distressed, in agony (Jn12:27)
27 “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
In the garden where Jesus encountered lonliness (Mk14:37, 40, 41; Ps69:20
Do you ever feel lonely in the midst of trying times? Like no one is there, no one understands?
Jesus closet people where there, but the were sleeping when He told them to be watching.
Jesus in the flesh I’m sure wanted fellowship and comfort but found none.
some say that Ps69:20 is a prophesy that is fulfilled in the garden.
20 Reproach has broken my heart and I am so sick. And I looked for sympathy, but there was none, And for comforters, but I found none.
In the garden Jesus wanted communion with God and fellowship with men.
In the garden Jesus displays the difficulty in prayer
Lloyd Ogilvie said this about Jesus and prayer in the garden
“Prayer is never easy, simple or quick. The price is too high, the issues too great and the results too far reaching. It is complex, prolonged and hard.”
While the garden of prayer may be a place of suffering it is also a place of resolve, strength and victory to come!
A place of strength
A place of strength
Where do you find your strength? Where do you find your resolve, your victory? Is It in the garden of prayer that watered with your tears, cultivated in your heart with words?
Strength even in the agony of prayer (Mk14:35)
It is seen in his posture, He fell to the ground
In the plead of words (Mk14:36)
it was heard in the plead of His words “Abba Father . . .”
It was in godly fear that the prayers were heard (Heb5:7)
7 In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.
Strength in resignation to the Fathers will (Mk14:36; Mt26:42)
42 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
Not my will but Thy will be done.
It was about to go from theory to reality.
His flesh wants to rebel
His friends will deny Him
His father will forsake Him
For He had to go the the cross alone for you and me!
Because of man’s will; sin entered into the world; but because of God’s will victory over sin was made possible and acceptable access to the tree of life made possible. Because of the garden of Gethsemane Jesus is prepared to go to the cross.
In the garden Jesus received assurance and comfort (Lk22:42-43; 2Cor12:7-10)
42 saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” 43 Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.
May not have been the answer Jesus wanted in the flesh but in the spirit He knew what He had to do for this is the hour in which He came (Jn12:27 as read before)
Paul offered prayer that was heard and answered but not how He wanted
7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.
9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Look at screen, look at (vv.9-10) what was God’s answer, and what was Paul’s resolve? - God may not give us what we want, but will give us what we need. For his grace is sufficient his mercy is renewing daily so that when we are in the garden of suffering it can become a garden of strength, resolve and victory for us too!
In the garden was a place of renewed resolved for Christ (Mk14:41-42)
Able now to face the task at hand - the mock trial, the prophetic beating will be fulfilled, the cross, the death, the burial and the victorious resurrection.
He was resolved to face those who were against Him the betrayer and the crowd.
Where Jesus entered into the garden in suffering; He exited the garden strengthen and had renewed resolve.
There will be times when we have to enter our own garden, may we remember to turn to the Lord in prayer and find comfort through the Spirit and by His Word.
May we follow the instructions given to “watch and pray” for this is not the only time this has been said (Mk13:33; Eph6:18; Col4:2)
33 “Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come.
We do not know the day, or hour when He is going to return, but know there is an hour, a time that has been set, may we be people who are resolved through prayer and study to be ready, to watch and to pray as we wait so we are prepared.
18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
Watch and pray not just for you but for all the saints. Don’t give up, persevere in prayer and petition.
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
In prayer, in petition with an attitude of thanksgiving.
In our garden of suffering times may we exit from those times having found comfort and strength as well as finding and walking in the Fathers will in our lives and being willing to walk in it.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Jesus prayer was
Fervent and persistent
It was submissive to the will of God
It was where Jesus found strength and comfort
That enabled Him to drink of cup given to Him.
(expand if time permits; pray and close)