Matthew 26:36-56 "The Garden of Gethsemane"

Last time we were together, Jesus and the 11 disciples had finished Passover dinner, and sung an hymn… likely Ps 118… the traditional Psalm sung at the end of the Passover meal.

They left the Upper Room, departed Jerusalem, and crosses the Kidron Valley heading to the Mount of Olives… a 15 minute walk.

During this walk, Jesus told them “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’”

The night was upon them… darkness was ahead.

Thus, Jesus prepared them… they would fail… they would fall away, but He would not forsake them.

In fact, He instructs them… after He had been raised, they were to meet Him in Galilee.

Not just geographically… but He would meet them where they were… and He would re-center them on Him.

Peter, and eventually, all the disciples disagreed with Jesus… they said they would not stumble… they would not deny Him. That is where we left off.

We pick up in V36,…

… first looking at Jesus’ prayers in VSS 36-46,…

… then at His betrayal and arrest in VSS 47-56…

… as Jesus and the disciples now enter, “The Garden of Gethsemane”… our sermon title for today.

Let’s Pray!

Matthew 26:36-39 “Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” [Luke adds “Pray that you may not enter into temptation]. 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Before we look at these verses, I want to mention that in between VSS 35-36, there are 3 chapters of additional teachings that John records. John Chapters 15-17.

The teaching of the True Vine

The promise of the Helper coming… the Holy Spirit

And, my all time favorite Chapter… John 17… Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer.

So, for a rich side study, take a look at John 15-17.

So, they arrive in Gethsemane… an olive orchard on the Mount of Olives.

Today, if you visit Israel… there is an ancient olive grove. It’s a very serene place… except for all the tourists. I can only imagine how peaceful it was in Jesus’ day…

Not surprising this was a customary place for Jesus to visit, as Luke 22:39 tells us, “...He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed...”

And, this struck me how important it is for us to have a place of peace to retreat to.

Jerusalem was busy, and Jesus encountered hostilities when He visited there.

He wasn’t exactly a fan favorite… overturning the tables of the money changers… driving corrupt people out of the temple courtyard… twice.

And, sometimes there are hostilities in our lives. Sometimes the weight of the world feels like it is on our shoulders.

So, how do you handle that pressure?

Jesus went to a serene and peaceful place… prayed… and was accompanied by His disciples… His friends.

Something to consider for our lives today.

Now… in Israel today… there are Catholic churches at about every holy site… or even supposed holy site… sometimes you really wonder if they got it right, but at the Garden of Gethsemane… it seems like they did.

There is a Catholic Church named the “Church of all Nations”… also named the “Basilica of the Agony.”

The latter name seems most appropriate considering VSS 37-38… “He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.”

Perhaps even better portrayed in Luke 22:44 “And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood…”

The pressure Jesus was under… the great pressing of His soul that would cause Him to sweat blood… is vividly pictured in Gethsemane.

By it’s very definition… the word “Gĕthsēmanē” means, “oil-press.”

And, there were multiple kinds of oil presses, all of which required great pressure upon the olive to yield the most valuable end result… the oil.

There was the basic “olive crushing stone” typically driven by a donkey.

More sophisticated was the “olive press” which you can read about online.

And, there was the “olive screw press.”

At the ‘Garden of Gethsemane’… the ‘Garden of the Oil Press’… there would have been these olive crushing devices to extract the oil.

And, listen to this… olives when pressed… because of the crushed rinds of the olives… yield a brownish-red oil… giving it the appearance of blood.

How picturesque for all our Lord was experiencing!

He was sorrowful and deeply distressed.

He said, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.”

He was in agony… great pressure was upon Him.

Pressure that would cause Him to even sweat drops of blood.

… which is a medical condition called, “Hematidrosis” whereby one sweats or oozes blood from their skin without being cut.

Tiny blood vessels in the skin break open.

And, “...it seems to be caused by extreme distress or fear, such as facing death, torture…” Quote WebMD.

When Jesus came to this place of great pressure… there were two things that kept Him there...

His obedience to the Father’s will… fulfilling His purpose to redeem mankind.

And, His immense love for you… so that as you look to Him in faith… you will NEVER experience the pressure He did.

With this picturesque background in mind, let’s continue…

They arrive at Gethsemane… and Jesus “said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” Luke tells us He was just a “stone’s throw” away… a short distance.

V37, Jesus takes with Him, his inner three- Peter, James, and John…

And Jesus tells them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

In V47 Jesus adds “watch and pray” and here’s the idea:

Keep alert and pray with me.

Which was more than a request… it was an imperative… a command.

Jesus takes just a few more steps and falls on His face in prayer.

And, His prayer is a model for us… Truly all His prayers are models for us. When God talks to God… that’s something to listen to and emulate.

This prayer isn’t long, nor as beautiful as Jesus’ High Priestly prayer in John 17.

This prayer isn’t as comprehensive as Jesus’ model prayer… “The Lord’s Prayer” Matthew 6 & Luke 11.

But, what I love about this prayer in Matthew 26… is it’s honesty… and how Jesus yields to the Father.

Jesus says in V39... “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Note: when Jesus prays, He addresses His prayer to the Father. I personally pray this way… that’s my conviction.

If you start your prayer, “Dear Jesus...” I don’t think God will strike your prayer from the record saying, “Nope! That’s not the formula. I’m not going to hear that prayer.”

There are some prayers that I don’t think God heeds… because they are just words… they are not actually addressed to Him.

The Pharisees prayed loud, and often, and in public, but they didn’t pray to God… they prayed for people to hear. I don’t think those prayers were heeded by God.

In Matt 6:5 Jesus said, “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.”

Gentiles or heathens in Jesus’ day, as well, prayed with babblings… sometimes repeating the same phrase over and over…

Like in Acts 19… where a large crowd in one voice cried out … “Great is Diana of the Ephesians… Great is Diana of the Ephesians...” … for 2 hours!

Jesus said in Matt 6:7, “And when you pray, do not use vain [or meaningless] repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.”

As a young child in Catholic church… it seemed to me that every Sunday a drove of people mindlessly recited, “Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name...”

I truly hope some of the people were praying, but the impression on my young heart was most of the people were simply reciting rote prayer.

And, if that’s all it is… that’s a prayer not heeded.

But, Jesus’ prayer here in Matt 26 is heard. It’s a simple 1 sentence petition…

Jesus addresses the Father in an honest and authentic way… that’s the kind of heart God desires to listen to.

Jesus petitions the Father “let this cup pass.”

To clarify, this is NOT Jesus trying to avoid the cross, but asking, “if mankind can be saved in any other way… reveal it now.”

In John 12:27 Jesus said, “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.”

Jesus fully knew the cross was unavoidable… it was foreordained before the foundation of the world.

Jesus is God, and was with the Father when the world was being fashioned by Jesus.

John 1:1 testifies of this, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.” John 1:14 “… and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...”

Heb 1:2 testifies that Jesus is the “… heir of all things” and He “… also made the worlds.”

So, coming from eternity… Jesus knew the plan of salvation was… what is sometimes called “The Great Exchange”… which is a beautiful act of love and grace.

Simply speaking… God laid our sin on Christ, and laid Christ’s righteousness on us.

2 Cor 5:21 states it this way, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

The great exchange was not a surprise to Jesus.

From the foundation of the world, He knew that He must die physically, so that we may live spiritually.

Redemption by His blood.

In 1 Pet 1:19-20 Peter wrote you were redeemed “… with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you…”

Before the creation of the world, the payment for sin was planned.

And, that’s what’s so staggering about Jesus’ prayers in Matthew 26.

Jesus is fully God… fully aware there is no other way to save mankind…

But, He is also fully man… and in His humanity He cries out to the Father… exceedingly sorrowful and deeply distressed… “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me...”

That’s honest. That’s authentic. This was a petition … a prayer that would not be answered, except that an angel would appear to strengthen Him, as Luke records.

God hears all honest prayers, and answers them all.

Sometimes He answers, “Yes,” sometimes, “No,” and sometimes, “Wait.”

And, sometimes He sends angels to strengthen us, so we may endure.

We don’t always like His answer, but He answers all prayers.

And, I love about what Jesus says next.... “… nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Jesus submits to the Father’s will. His prayer is yielding to the perfect will of God, even at His cost.

Friend, there are great applications to our prayer life here in these verses.

What a model on how to pray. Honest… vulnerable… humble... direct to the Father... presenting requests, BUT submitting to His perfect will...

As reflected in Isa 55:9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Father knows best.

One more important point in V39… notice Jesus states, “… let this cup pass from Me…”

What cup? What is Jesus referring to here?

Notice Jesus does NOT want this cup… He wants it to pass by Him. He doesn’t want to drink it.

That’s because, in relation to this context… this is a cup of suffering… and Jesus’ passion and death approaches… His hour is quickly approaching.

But, even more specific, this cup contains the wrath of God…

God is Holy… and the cup represents His judgement on all that opposes His holiness… sin… evil… wickedness… from past, present, and future. And, His separation from that evil. That’s what’s represented here.

There are many verses that refer to this same cup… Job 21:20, Ps 75:8, Isa 51:17, Jer 25:15…

But, I think this cup is most vividly pictured in Rev 14:9-11 when an angel announces, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

Jesus had no desire to drink this cup. He did not want to experience God’s wrath. He did not want to be separated from the Father… “… nevertheless, [He said]… not as I will, but as You will.”

And when Jesus drinks that cup… in Matt 27, we will read the one time Jesus calls the Father… God.

As Jesus hung on the cross, and as darkness was over the land for a span of three hours… just before Jesus yielded up His spirit… He cried out in a loud voice, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?”

Jesus always called the Father… “Father,” but not in that moment when He was drinking the cup… and experiencing God’s wrath… in that moment of judgement, Jesus called the Father, “God.”

Jesus drank the cup… so you never have to… as you look to faith in Him.

That’s why He said, “It is finished!” That’s the great exchange.

As mentioned earlier, and I love this, immediately following this prayer, Luke 22:43 records, “Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening [by def. invigorating] Him.”

There may be a difficult trial that is unavoidable in your life, but He is not going to have you go it alone. His very angels will strengthen you.

Now in VSS 40-46 we see a great contrast… Jesus is pouring His heart out to the Father… greatly distressed, but spiritually victorious… resting in the Father’s will and being strengthened by an angel.

Certainly a contrast to the disciples… starting in V40...

Matt 26:40-46 “Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

So, now, Jesus prays, and His inner three disciples sleep.

As I read Jesus’ response, I sense no condemnation, but only compassion and He takes advantage of this moment to coach them.

The lesson highlights the importance of prayer to feed the spirit… in order to have victory over temptation.

Because our flesh is weak… If we don’t pray, the likelihood is falling into temptation.

And, how much are we like the disciples? After a long day, and a big meal… we are much quicker to slumber than to pray.

Spiritual disciplines safeguard our very lives.

Before moving on, quickly notice that Jesus prays three times.

There are those who would suggest a prayer of faith need only be said once. This is nonsense.

Persistent prayer does not equal a lack of faith. In fact, scripture teaches just the opposite.

Jesus said, in Matt 7:7-8 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

Ask, seek and knock are all present imperatives… which carries the idea “Ask and keep asking… seek and keep seeking… knock and keep knocking… “

Be persistent in your prayer.

One more example, Luke 18- the Parable of the Unjust Judge. The widow persistently asked for justice, and though unjust, the judge granted her… not for justice sake, but to silence her.

The lesson was to be persistent. Luke 18:7 “And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?”

And, if those two examples are not good enough, keep in mind that here in Matthew 26, three times… Jesus prays the same prayer to the Father. “… let this cup pass...”

I’ll follow Jesus’ example over someone who says, “pray only once.”

Well, now after praying and being strengthened by an angel, and finding His disciples unable to stay awake three times, Jesus tells them… V46 “Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

Continuing in V47…

Matthew 26:47-56 “And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” 49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. 51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” 55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. 56 But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.”

The last time we saw Judas Iscariot was at the Passover meal. Jesus predicted Judas would betray him. Satan entered him. And, Judas left to meet up with the Religious Leaders who had already paid Judas thirty pieces of silver to deliver Jesus to them.

Appropriately, John concluded this scene with the words, “And it was night.”

Now here in Matthew 26:47, Jesus’ hour had come.

“My Hour” or “My time” is a repeated phrase in the Gospels referring to Jesus’ passion, trials, death, resurrection and glorification… all of these events. His hour.

Five times in John, we see the phrase, “My time” or “My hour” has NOT come...”

First in Jn 2… Jesus said that to His mother.

But, when the final Passover approaches, Jesus shifts this phrase to, “the hour has come...”

Vividly, in Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer, John 17:1, Jesus prays, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You…”

This hour is in full view now at the Garden of Gethsemane.

A significant scene that is recorded in all four Gospels.

The Garden scene opens with Judas and, as John tells us, “… a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.”

If you combine the Gospel accounts you get a full picture of those coming to arrest Jesus.

Judas… the pawn.

The chief priests, Pharisees, scribes, elders of the people (representing the Sanhedrin- the high council), and the Temple guard or police… as Luke 22:52 describes them, “captains of the temple.”

AND, Roman soldiers. The word “detachment” in Gk. “speiran” by def. means “a coil”… fig. “a mass of men” or “cohort.”

These were Roman soldiers, and a lot of them. A “cohort” is a tenth part of a legion (about 600 men).

And, during Passover, it was customary to have additional Roman troops on hand to squelch potential uprisings… to ensure order.

There was great pressure on Pontius Pilate from Caesar to maintain order.

And, he was likely swayed by the Jewish Religious Leaders who “… plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him” (Matt 26:4).

The Religious Leaders likely twisted the truth, and alerted Pilate that Jesus was “an evildoer” (Jn 18:30) and claimed He was King.

Pilate will later question Jesus, “ Are you the King of the Jews?”

So, being that Roman soldiers were in the Garden… Pilate was likely swayed and responded with force.

Judas established a “kiss” as a signal to identify Jesus as the one to arrest.

The word kiss is mentioned twice, but they are two different Greek words.

Judas’ plan was to “kiss” Jesus… the Gk. word “philĕō”… the same word we define as “brotherly love.” So, the plan was giving a kiss… perhaps as a European man may kiss another man on the cheek.

But, when Judas actually “kissed” Jesus, that Gk. word is “kataphilĕō” which is an affectionate or fervent kiss… implying repeated or demonstrative kissing.

Judas was not being subtle… this was full betrayal… and he used a symbol of love and friendship… a kiss to do it.

And observe Jesus’ response to betrayal from a friend. His example is challenging to emulate.

He says, “Friend, why have you come?”

He calls Judas friend.

Luke records Jesus said, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

What a soft, but honest response.

Jesus is no doubt heart broken, but responds with love and grace to His betrayer.

Pro 15:1 states, “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Betrayal is hurtful, and we typically don’t handle it well. Jesus handled His betrayal softly and with grace.

Seemingly after the kiss of betrayal… John records, and I love this… John 18:4-7 “Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” 5 They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. [over 600 men… like dominoes] 7 Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” And they said, [I imagine more hesitant] “Jesus of Nazareth.”

John also records, Jesus told the guards to let the disciples go, which would fulfill words spoken by Jesus earlier in His ministry that He would not lose any, except the son of perdition (Jn 17:12).

I love that Jesus holds His own words in the NT as authoritative… as significant as prophecies in the OT.

From cover to cover the whole Bible is the inspired word of God.

At this point, the guards seize Jesus and took Him.

The guards are likely walking away with Jesus, and in V51 we read one of the disciples, identified as Peter in John’s gospel… pulled a sword and cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest.

This is not surprising given Peter’s earlier statements of loyalty. “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”

John wrote this was the right ear of the servant.

Being that 85-90% of people are right handed, it is likely the guard was walking away… and Peter struck with his back turned.

Hard to cut off a right ear with a right hand when front facing.

That’s just free information… you do with it what you want.

John also identified the servant as “Malchus.” Why is his name known? Was he later saved? Some think so.

It wouldn’t surprise me… Dr. Luke records Luke 22:51 “But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.”

Jesus puts His ear back on. It’s hard to have an encounter like that with Jesus and not be saved.

What if Peter lopped off Malchus’ head? What would Jesus have done then? Would He have put his head back on?

Very interesting. This is the last recorded miracle of Jesus, prior to the cross, and it’s in response to the mistake of one of His disciples.

How often is He still performing miracles for our mistakes?

Jesus corrects Peter. John 18:11 “So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

Matthew 26:52 records, “… Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.”

This was not the time for violence. This was Jesus’ hour… and He didn’t need a bodyguard.

There may be a day that you need to defend yourself, or your family… but you don’t need to defend Christ with violence.

Spurgeon, in several sermons, said, “The Word of God is like a lion. You don’t have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.”

Jesus furthers this point in V53 pointing out that He could pray, and the Father would send over 12 legions of angels.

A Roman legion of soldiers was about 6,000 soldiers, so over 12 legions of angels would be roughly 72,000 angels.

In 2 Ki 19, ONE angel killed 185,000 Assyrians in a single night.

With those numbers… Twelve legions of angels would be capable of wiping out 13.3 billion people in a night.

The current world population is 7.9 billion. So, that angelic force could end the world.

Even Jesus’ very words were defense enough. Over 600 men fell to the ground, when He simply said, “I am He.”

In Rev, His words destroy His enemies at His second coming.

Heb 4:12 states, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword...”

The Lion of Judah needs no humanly defense.

In V54, Jesus settles the disciples… assuring them that God is in control.

Jesus will not call down angels, because how then will scripture be fulfilled?

As discussed earlier, Jesus submitted to the Father’s will… to the plan of redemption… the Great Exchange… foreordained from the foundation of the world.

And, then in V55, Jesus addresses the multitude…

Why did they need to come at night to arrest Jesus in this way as though He were some kind of criminal?

I think He shamed them a bit here for their methods.

This was unnecessary. Jesus sat daily with them in the temple and taught them, why not seize Him then?

The reason was, as stated in numerous places… they feared the response of the people.

Next week, we will see how the arrest and trials at night are illegal… in violation of their own oral law.

How they respond to Jesus here is not a reflection on Jesus, but only on the wicked intentions of their own hearts.

As Luke records in Luke 22:53, “But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

In V56, this Garden scene concludes with Jesus once again citing how, “… all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”

Again… God was in total control.

John 18:12 records, “Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him.”

And to further show God was in total control, we read, “Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.”

Fulfilling Jesus’ words in V31, and fulfilling Zech 13:7… ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

The scene ends with our Lord bound, and His disciples fleeing… and it won’t get easier next week as we look at His trials.

The Garden of Gethsemane… a hard scene, but...

Beautiful lessons and applications to apply to our lives about…

prayer…

submitting to the Father’s will even at personal cost…

trusting in His plan…

responding to betrayal...

and knowing God is in control… the Lion can defend Himself.

Let’s Pray!

Communion Reading: 1 Cor 11:23-29

“...the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”

Please distribute the elements...

Communion is a time for us to look three directions…

We look back remembering Jesus’ sacrifice… His broken body and shed blood for the remission of our sins.

His new covenant. Salvation by faith and in grace.

Look forward in hope of His imminent return… we proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. He is coming.

Finally, look inward… and, examine yourself…take communion in a worthy manner.

This is your time to do business with God.

Once you have prayed… take the communion elements individually.

Our worship team will play one worship song, and then close us in prayer.

----------------------------------------------

If you have never accepted Jesus as Lord...

...either let the cup pass and do not partake in communion -or- the better option...

...accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior today.

Pray to God and tell Him you believe in Jesus and accept Him as your Lord and Savior, and ask for forgiveness.

...then take communion. And, be sure to let us know. Salvation is something to celebrate!

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