Gethsemane

Well, grab your Bible. So let's go to the gospel of Mark Mark chapter 14 as I'm to beginning today a journey from a really big garden of Gethsemane or what I call the olive farm outside of Jerusalem all the way to Easter Sunday morning when we will have a message on the resurrection. He is not here. I call this God's unrelenting love for his children now. Originally, I had four sessions because I had to skip one the first Sunday of April because I'm scheduled to be in South Florida with one of our church partners preaching that Sunday but it looks like that's going to be canceled if it is so were going to go from Gethsemane. The crucifixion to his burial to his death and then to his resurrection will begin this morning with Gethsemane. You turn there with me. Mark chapter 14 beginning in verse 32. They came to a place named Gethsemane and he said his disciples sit here until I prayed and he took with him Peter and James and John and they begin to be very distressed and troubled and he said to them, my soul is deeply grieved to the point of death remain here and keep watch and he went a little beyond them and fell to the ground and begin to pray that if it were possible. The hour might pass from him 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 and he came and found them sleeping and said to Peter Solomon our use of sleep could you not keep watch for one hour. Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Again, he went away and prayed saying the same words again. He came and found them sleeping for their eyes were very heavy and they did not know what to answer him, became 1/3 time and said to them, are you still sleeping and resting.

These are powerful words. Here it is enough. The hour has come, behold the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners get up let us be going behold the one who betrays me is at hand. This text of Scripture.

The narrative on Jesus agony in the garden of Gethsemane is a difficult passage to contemplate. It's a difficult passage to understand the matter fact I don't think any mortal is ever fully understood it. It's a difficult passage to preach and yet at the same time it contains within it. One of the most wondrous and joyful hopes and encouragements we find in all the Canon of Scripture.

You ask yourself why was it that this is even included. Why does Jesus lead the upper room in Jerusalem go back out to the olive farm where he has a retreat for this last week of his earthly ministry member. He ministered during the day in Jerusalem he go out to the little olive farm in the evenings. Get some separation to be protected. Why did he go back this last day. This is Thursday's good decrease by tomorrow Friday wanted to go back to the garden why we had this whole event.

Why did they just come and arrest them and take them rot on the Calvary well I don't know all the answers, but I believe one answer stands out, perhaps above any other, and that is to to establish for all time that his obedience was not forced upon him, but this was voluntary. He came to lay down his life for his sheep, and no matter the cost, the difficulty the burden the trial he would not be deterred.

He was going fulfill his mission honor the father's will and save his children, the unrelenting love God has for his children less notice.

First of all, as we attempt to unpack this the deepest burden in verses 32 through 34. Again, he's left the upper room where they had the Passover he journeys out of Jerusalem.

The ghost about a mile outside the wall of the city. He comes back to the olive farm there gathering together there in the journey.

Peters reminded Jesus again if everyone else fails you, I will not I'll stay faithful to the end and then the Bible says in verse 32 that come to Gethsemane literally. That word means the oil press that was actually was one particular area of the olive garden that were they press the olive sin gather the altogether, it's an enclosed estate. It's still there today at the foot of the Mount of olives, Jesus asked his disciples as they arrived back at their retreat center there in the olive farm sit here until I have prayed the burden he carried could not be shared with even his closest companions. Something was afoot that only God the father and God the son would Cherian the nature of the magnitude of it is far outside the realms of human capacity and human understanding. In verse 33.

The Bible tells us, and he took with him Peter, James and John begin to be very distressed and troubled that Judas is already forsaken him. As such, we don't see it played out yet, but he left them a course at the Passover meal. He's meeting with the enemies of Jesus planning the betrayal so there's only 11 there now and he leaves eight behind.

He brings Peter James and John with him Peter, James and John were also invited to the amount of transfiguration while the other state decided Peter James and John also went to the sickroom of JI versus daughter while the others were left aside. In this setting, I believe the other eight are left to protect her guard Peter James and John are brought with the Lord because they were his closest they were the leaders of the leaders.

Spurgeon used to say that the 12 apostles were the elect out of the elect will I guess Peter James and John are the elect out of the elect out of the elect. Anyway, there's a division of leadership.

Your responsibility in our Lord's burden deeply and he wants these three men with him depicts these three to be with him in the Bible says and he began to be very distressed scholars tell us that were distressed actually can be translated greatly amazed. Matter fact in an earlier part of John amount Mark Mark chapter 10 this word is translated, amazed as the. The apostles are amazed at the wisdom and the teaching of Jesus as he unfolds for them. How the kingdom will be played out and it's not what they expected their shop there may just as an interesting thing. Our Lord is experiencing that these in his humanity while he never lost any of this deity, there's an amazement that the events that are unfolding at this point in his pilgrimage to the cross. Was this distress in this amazement, was it not because he saw the tidal wave of God's wrath. That would be put upon him. Because of this our sin.

Verse 33 continues and uses the word that he was troubled. It's an old word that literally means to be not at home.

I think the point is, as Jesus Christ contemplates becoming the vicarious atonement for our sins as he contemplates he will stand in the place of judgment for his children, that in these events.

Nothing could be farther from home for him it's it's father further from him from anything natural to him.

He'll become see and he'll bear the weight of sin that's radically opposite of who he is, is the holy and righteous and sinless son of God, is caring.

This verse 34 continues on that he was deeply grieved, even to the point of death less than 24 hours from now he will hang on the cross and bear the sin of the world and suffer in agony of separation from his heavenly father. So the Bible takes literally saying here verse 34.

He is overwhelmed to the point of death. Matter fact his whole life is a life of at least from his commitment to his earthly ministry about three years ago was a season of suffering and burden bearing, he lived a sinless life.

If the religious authorities called him a sinner, a blasphemer and even a devil. He did so many good things meeting so many needs, he would heal the sick and feed the hungry, and teaches wisdom to the masses but now practically all of them have fallen away and they will.

By the time these condemned to be crucified. He gathered no real material wealth. He had a rock for his pillow and stars for a roof and now the religious authorities plan to even take his life.

Knowing Jesus, Judas was going to betray him, yet he showed love for Judas. He allowed Judas to sit by his side.

He fed him.

He washed Judas feet yet while he's here in the garden in agony in this great burden Judas is meeting with the enemies of our Lord Jesus as a human face to all these earthly sufferings and they had to be weighing heavily on him at this time, but there was infinitely more here than just human sufferings or earthly top sufferings in verse 35.

The Bible tells us that he went a little beyond them. I think this is picturing that at this point, our Lord's burden is so great and so intense that he finally had to say I can't be around anyone, even Peter, James and John, I must leave them by may be in his humanity. There's a practical lesson for us here, are there not some valleys and burdens too deep to be shared with anyone but the heavenly father some crevices in the innermost part of the soul that should only be exposed to the one who already knows us and loves us wholly and unconditionally praise the Lord that we can go to him. Verse 35 says in this great burden he fail to the ground, does not mean he dropped to his knees. It means he's laying on the ground. His face in the dirt suite in his commentary says he had long foreseen the passion of the cross. But when it came clearly in view its terror exceeded his anticipation. I believe our Lord is overwhelmed by the curse. The curse he knew he would become of those who would place their faith in him. Galatians 313 tells us Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, for it is written, cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree. Mark 1045. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. Second Corinthians 521, he made him who knew no sin to base sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

That's what was before Jesus becoming CN becoming a curse for us in our place as he died on the cross and the stress, the way the burden of becoming that person drives him to the ground. This is a burden he carried throughout his life and intensified through his earthly ministry and a burden he will carry on his shoulders until on the cross he cries it is finished. Number two petition denied petition denied interesting as we see something playing out here and talk about being in a realm we can't comprehend their things we can grasp it so much we cannot. The second half of verse 35 says I sees their laying on the ground, his face in the dirt. He began to pray.

He petitioned his heavenly father that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. The word hour. There is a word that means a predestined moment I predestined season of time for redemption to take place in verse 36 he continues crying out Abba father Poppa my intimate, loving father, all things are possible for you. Then he says he uses another metaphor, remove this cup from me cup is a is a word that now takes the place of our the compass like what Isaiah was talking about. In Isaiah 5117 where he says the cup of God's anger in Jeremiah 2515 where the Bible speaks of the cup of God's wrath.

Mark 1038 Jesus said to them, you do not know what you are asking are you able to drink the cup that I drink this is a cup only Jesus could drink.

This is an hour, but only Jesus could fulfill and perform it in his humanity is suffering under this burden never becoming sinful.

He petitioned the fathers are not way. Can this not be my destiny, this cup taking wrath is our thing. The cost of redemption. Some verses that parallel this hour to show you how it was sovereignly ordained before the foundation of the world. John 730 so they were seeking to seize him, and no man laid his hand on him because he is our had not yet come. Brothers and sisters Jesus. Jesus did not die on the cross because something tripped up something messed up in some got out of hand. This was ordained to play out perfectly and it is playing out perfect.

They could lay hands on him.

Father said, now's the time. John 820 these words he spoke in the treasury as he taught in the temple and no one seized him because he is our had not yet come on the human side they did season because they were cowards. They want to come to Gethsemane out at the farm in the dark, they wouldn't come in the daylight.

But behind got man's action just God's sovereignty. John 1331 therefore, when he had gone out.

Jesus said now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him.

That means now's the hour, now's the time.

So here are Lord is facing what he and heavenly father and God the Holy Spirit had foreordained an eternity pass. But now the hour is upon him literally the text shows us that as a human. He was terrified and amazed but he will pray through and face the hour bravely see this quite clearly.

Do not last part of verse 36. Not what I will, but what you will. So here we see something again. We can't wrap our understanding our minds around completely the humanity of Jesus in his fullness. It was not without sin, facing the severest of temptation that is to draw back from the cross and did we not see this in the temptation experience in the wilderness when Jesus out there, and Satan comes in saves as you bow down to me. I have temporal authority over the earth. I'll give you kingdoms. I'll give you everything I can. I can make you Royal and mastering head of your own kingdom. If you just do it my way. If you just avoid the cross. He did yield very, so here he praises through and wins the victory, we can't grasp the severity of his burden. We can only touch the hymn of the garment but let's try to touch it father because of his absolute holiness will turn his back on the son on the cross, despising our sin than the blow of eternal punishment for us will be spent on Jesus and Jesus the author and sustainer of life will taste death for the wages of sin is death and in his death. The punitive righteousness of God against the children will be satisfied and redemptions work will be finished. We think for a moment that on the cross just ahead of where we are now for the first time for time and all eternity. There's going to be a chasm in the Godhead. They had God the father, God the son God the Holy Spirit. They had a unity incomprehensible to the mortal mind in comparable to any union ever known. But in this hour chasm is about to occur. I believe that was the weight of the distress. The greatest weight I should say this is holy ground.

We are treading upon.

We are compelled by the nature of the passage to walk by slowly and reverently, for here, the pleading of the son of God to the heavenly father concerning redemptions work is an arena of sacred holiness be approached with humility and reverence.

Yet, in his petition to the father can it be any other way. Jesus asked his father to remove it in full submission and then in full submission accepted the father's will petition denied. Number three alone in suffering. Verse 37. In our text, Peter, James and John are not far away in looks like our Lord was hoping to get some affirmation some encouragement from their presence there sleepy and he came and found them sleeping. It said to Peter, Simon, are you asleep, could you not keep watch for one hour notice he speaks to Peter. Peter is the leader of the three. The three of the leader of the let the other eight but he doesn't call him Peter. He says Simon is that not interesting. Peter means rock.

Well Peter is going to be the rock that sort of prosthetic.

The Lord called native Matt but he's not the rock. Now he's, Rocky and his rottenness at this point, he's sort of a sedimentary rock sedimentary rock is formed over time as pressure pushes the elements in the soil in our rock forms well a lot of pressures being applied right now to the apostle Peter. But right now he's acting like, not like Peter. The rock you stay awake. Verse 38 alone in his suffering. He doesn't keep watching and praying that you may not come in the temptation spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Anything else need to be said about that sure is verse 39. Again, he went away and prayed saying the same words he still in petitioning and calling out to the father.

In a fully submission in his petition, and a full submission and is acceptance of the father's will. And then verse 40 and he came again and found them sleeping with her eyes are very heavy and they did not know what to answer him. It means they were embarrassed they were ashamed we have the same type thing happening on the Mount of Transfiguration where another divine moment of God the father with God the son were left were allowed to peek a little bit behind the veil enough again that the humans there, Peter, James and John are again not able to handle it.

Can't take it in and thereto they are failing and weak and not able to do what they ought to done alone in his suffering, number four, and finally faithful to duty faithful to duty. Let's remind ourselves that Jesus was appointed by the father and fully accepted the holy office of Christ which leaves the anointed one and asked the Christ. There was three subsets to that office profit priest and king. The father had a purpose to save for himself a people which would know him and love him and enjoy him and he will enjoy them for all eternity. But to achieve that mission. The father needed one to stand in an office to perform an office to fulfill the duties of an office.

The office of the Christ, the only one truly anointed of God and Jesus. Not only was a sign that mother father but joyously agreed to that office and in doing so obligated himself to the performance of the duties of being God's one true prophet God's one true priest God's one true King prophet who gives us the truth of God.

Priest is the mediator who connects the holy God was sinful mankind became the one worthy for all to bow down and worship and follow.

Who knows, the Council of the Godhead in moments like this, but in an anthropomorphic illustration.

Perhaps the father said son I gave you this duty. I gave you this office and the son says yes that's my job. He fulfills the duty he's obligated to, as the Christ.

This was not a begrudging duty to Jesus because he loved his father and he loved obeying his father's will.

John 1431 tells us.

I love the father and do exactly as the father commanded me is not good. I love him.

I'm going to exactly what I'm supposed so here we have this dark burdening difficult maybe even wall full narrative that takes with wondrous glory and joy because Christ not fail the duty he'll do it the ultimate verse 41 right in the middle of the second half of verse 41, it is enough to stop there for moment there still sleeping in and resting in he's agonizing in his soul about going to the cross and all that's involved in that.

And then he says okay guys wake up it's enough, the scholar Phyllis, the phrase means paying in full the words I've done all I can do two parts to that I believe number one, there's no need rebuking you guys anymore, times up if you can pray and what she's already prayed and watched with there's no more time.

It's enough, the time has fulfilled and secondly I've already prayed this through. I've won the victory I monitoring my duty on honoring my father's will. I will perform the duties of the Christ. It's all set. Let's get going.

That's where he is right now, the Lord Jesus struggled through the dark strain of Gethsemane and he came out on the other side wholly committed to his duties as the Christ, which included the cross, whereupon he would purchase redemption for his children. Why will first of all, for his own glory as he performs the father's will and purchases redemption for the church.

He will be honored and glorified for the wisdom, the beauty and the power of that for all eternity. But secondly, and wonderfully important for you and I he did it because of God's unrelenting love for his children. Unrelenting love for his children.

Verse 42 the victory this thing just overwhelms me just burst out of the text to me. Verse 42 get up let us be going. I'm heading to the cross and even lazy sleepy unfaithful companions are get in my way. Get up.

Must be going the pop father's perfect plan unfolds the path to the cross and the children's redemption includes judicious betrayal, and his enemies arresting him is what he says behold the one who betrays midget hand verse 42, get up, guys. Let's go on this be going. It pictures his total resolve to the father's will. He will yield to his enemies, for in yielding. He defeats his and his children's enemies. This is the path that must be taken if the children are to be saved.

He reports for duty.

He's faithful to his duty as the Christ perfectly performs and honors the plan and fulfills it. He will be arrested. He will be condemned, he will be crucified, and he will rise again out of God's un-relenting love for his children, brothers and sisters in our darkest hour. This was a dark hour is the victor we always have victory.

We always have hope. We always have assurance because he fulfilled his duty raises night