The Battle of Gethsemane
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We must not forget the background that is taking place here.
As we went displayed the difference of pure worship of Mary vs. The show of Judas and the religious leaders.
Then coming into last week of the Glorious deliverance by the mighty hand of God
First by delivering the Israelites out of the hands of the Egyptians
This being the event which inspired the passover celebration to which they observed as they remembered the Works that God performed on their behalf.
Then Jesus gloriously redefines the fuller picture of the passover lamb as it points to him as the Passover Lamb.
As John testified the spotless lamb who takes away the sin of the world.
After this explanation we see Jesus get up and wash the disciples feet even his betrayers.
Then begins to unfold the reality of his mission that is coming to a close and the desertion of his disciples.
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Pray.
No human can relate to that which Jesus battled with in the Garden as He looked into the cup He was about to drink, He cried out to the Father that this cup might pass from Him. As He was in agony and great sorrow he sweat drops of blood. Only to find His disciples sleeping clueless of what the night might hold. Regardless of the 3 times Jesus came back to wake them up nevertheless he still found them sleeping.
Jesus told them previously that night that the prophecy was to be fullfilled, I will strike the shepherd and sheep will be scattered. That all were going to desert him. Peter exclaimed all but me Lord, I will not! Yet the hour that has come where he was to sifted as wheat he was sleeping.
Clueless of what the night was going to demand of him and his dear Lord he promised to never desert.
Nevertheless through the cries of Jesus in the Garden when time came He was ready and determined to carry out the Fathers Will.
V.41-42.
We see Ready to do what the Father calls and is betrayed with a kiss
Beaten by men
Deserted by his disciples
Denied by Peter
V.61-65.
They spit on their creators face, and struck Him with the palm of their hands, Yet he sought to honor the Lord and obey him in all that He did.
By there own words in which they condemned Jesus they condemned themselves. He was not the one crying blasphemous words but they were.
Its in this violent dealing with Jesus that we see Peters faith grow weak for what he could not see Jesus could.
V.66-72
V.66-72
Earlier that night Jesus told Peter satan has asked that he may sift you as wheat but i have prayed that your faith may not fail.
Then in the garden he said pray lest you enter into temptation.
And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”
Peter could see the Lord from a distance and Jesus not only foretold his denial but also witnessed it.
We see Peter run away weeping.
Jesus betrayed by Judas
Beaten by men
Deserted by his disciples
Denied by Peter
Yet He still pressed on.
Jesus with an unwavering faithfulness to God knowing what the evening held prayed earnestly.
Peter with self-determination and ignorant of the future slept.
Do you not see yourself in this picture?
There are times the Lord calls us to pray and we foolishly reason it away for the sake of uphold the schedule or for notable good need of sleep.
The trials that will befall us are to great for us to determine success with our own power. Let us learn from shortcoming of Peter and the example of Christ we need the discipline of humble submission and prayer in our lives for we do not know when the gethsemane is on our door post.
We need this spiritual discipline in our lives.
This is what begins to draw my mind to what gave David the strength to see God when the Goliath bellowed for a man that they may fight. He had seen the Lord at work in his life when no one else was around. In the secret place. Seeing the faithfulness of God there help him to see the faithfulness of God when his life was on the line. Not just his but the nations.
This week may have been a real eye opener for many of us as to where our faith resides. When a pandemic of this sort sweeps across our country in a moment did we find our eyes gazing heavenward ready to do the Fathers work or was it found looking inward in fearful trembling of the unknown.
Were you resting in the word of God
When our world is shattered by the unforseen (which God knew all along) and we doubt like Peter becoming fearful, we have lost sight of the works and words of Jesus.
He had forgotten the power of God who calmed the sea.
Who said to the lame man rise and walk
Who said to the leper be cleansed
Who raised Lazarus from the dead
Who prophesied this day would come and so that they would not be weary when it came but believe.
Its in this context just before they go to the garden that Jesus gives us beautiful instruction in .
Go ahead and read
and see the encouragement that Jesus gives his disciples before his death.
Despite knowing their dessertion he proclaims Im coming back for you.
I will not leave you as orphans.
How would these words have encouraged you then and how do they encourage you now?
This week may have been a real eye opener for many of us as to where our faith resides. When a pandemic of this sort sweeps across our country in a moment did we find our eyes gazing heavenward ready to do the Fathers work or was it found looking inward in fearful trembling of the unknown.
Were you resting in the word of God?
The promises that He gives us
His faithfulness in the past? Or did you forget all his works and words?
He clothes the lillies of the field and feeds the birds of the air how much greater are you?
He clothes the lillies of the field and feeds the birds of the air how much greater are you?
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you?
Be anxious for nothing but in all things by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God that the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and mind through Christ Jesus.
And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!
2 Timothy
This is where theology and the pavement meet. Putting to play what you really believe.
Do you believe that the Lord will sustain you until your work that he has prepared for you is accomplished?
Then whats left brothers and sisters?
The GAIN. For me to live is Christ and die is GAIN.
Heaven has to be the GAIN for you to see through earths PAIN.
What if this is the week the Lord calls you home, are you ready?
So we need to build the discipline.
We read in
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
What Jesus could see was eternity.
In times of trials we cannot become shortsighted and look at only what lies before us but we must gaze heaven ward or as He says we will grow weary and discouraged.
We will fail for noone is perfect so let us be comforted by Jesus’ tender care with his feeble disciples of whom we are.
And be comforted by the words of Paul
Romans 8:31-
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This is where the psalmists says the horse is prepared for battle but the victory is the Lords.
We wash our hands but at the end of the day whether we live or die it is in the Lords hand.
The salvation of the world rested in the hand of God who struck down his own son that we may live.
Let us not walk in fear but in the power of the Lord not forgetting what He endured on our behalf.
Self determination does not breed perseverance but rather the grace of God supplies it.
The bible tells us God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
So lets us therefore be imitators of God and humble ourselves before the throne of God and ask for what we lack and only he can supply so that when our world is shattered our hearts may not grow weary but be ready for what the battle will hold.
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
Ephesians 5: