Agony in Gethsemane (Part C)

This case is alternative. No other name under heaven given among men by which we must be say it would be cool. Otherwise, if there were an alternative and God didn't take then God would not be a God of love, it would be a strange God, but this was the route that salvation came to us through this is the Avenue right here.

No way out of this painful life into the painless life nor the way nor the service.

This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.

Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the gospel of Mark. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today. Pastor Rick will conclude his study called agony in Gethsemane as he teaches in Mark chapter 14 he says to them herein. Verse 34 then he said to them, my soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death and I don't want to watch this alone watch with me. They never saw him in trouble so they don't understand. They're not getting their missing. He doesn't want to panic them. What more can he say this is killing me.

That's what you say I am troubled unto death.

Prayer warriors can die on battlefields.

That's one of the lessons we get that not only from the Christ we get that from Peter. We get from Paul. These men, James was one of the three that are supposed to be witnessing these things with their missing. It James I apostle moderate, not James wrote letter to James prayer warriors can die on battlefields were not old survival.

It's hard to just take that in. Mentally I need more I need it. Emotionally that's one of the fruits of singing songs to the Lord is that there is that emotional connection that we should have in the early days of early Christianity after the apostles. Let's just say in ancient Turkey, for example, where there were many Christians. Paul did so much work in what's called modern Turkey Asia minor. If you will, and New Testament.

Love those people were illiterate could not read or write. So how do they learn these Bible stories you will see those who could read and write would tell them, but also the artist with drawer pictures on the walls from the ceilings anywhere they could. That would tell the story and you could look at a picture of Christ washing the feet of his disciples, and you can understand better those pictures became emotional. Of course, in time, Satan got in and abused him, but early on.

They were for illiterate people, much like we do without children.

This you become like little children crying out Abba father. So he says stay here and watch he is still telling his believers.

This Luke 13. So in this parable he is the master and they are the servants and so he called 10 of his servants delivered to them. 10 minus and said to them, do business till I come watch and work until I return, or you come to me, as the case might be verse 35 he went a little father and fell on the ground and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him is something we must realize that there was no way around this. For him, and he knew it not. He had to go through it, but he still expressing through his humanity, who in their right mind would say old boy I'm going to be tortured today and little love this. That would be something very wrong so he is identifying with us making us witnesses of his sufferings so that we could know how to suffer ourselves and this is why he told them about what he was going through watch. To pray with him is going through it. No other acts chapter 4 verse 12.

I know I read this verse a lot but is worth reading.

It's kind of the thing that if it were a runner on the floor. It would be worn down because it had so much traffic goal. Rick, nor is there salvation in any other for that is no other to read the verse, nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. There's no salvation anywhere else from anywhere else again. How do we stand and preach this.

Paul said to the Corinthians. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God. Acts chapter 20 verse 27 he said to the Ephesian elders. I'm not showing to declare to you the entire counsel of God again to the Corinthians. He says for if I preach the gospel. I've nothing to boast for necessity is laid upon me. Yes, woe is me.

If I do not preach the gospel come to those times you feel like you're not worthy to share the gospel more or less so you're just recognizing truth you not worry but you qualified by the blood of the Lamb is not entrusted the gospel to sinless angels is entrusted the gospel of the good news preaching to sinners and so we go back to Peter. Peter just argued with him and forgot that whole I'm slave thing. It is the master that Christ still takes him and will still use him and will rebuild him.

We are not to think just because we can read first and second Peter and his exploits in the book of acts that we know all about what he did. The paper certainly did more than anyone could ever write. Jesus did not waste his investment on these men. Even Judas was not a wasted investment, but a redirected investment, God was able to save you see and how many lessons we have from Judas who wants to be a Judas Iscariot. Incidentally, Mark does not refer to him again is Judas in this gospel. He is now the betrayer name is identity. He does not identify with praise that that was a glorious name for the Jews to name your child, Judas or Judah or Jude very renderings of the same Hebrew word praise now here in verse 36 and he said Abba father. All things are possible for you to take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will but what you will you read. I want you never forget that kind of a thing, but this informs us of what racist Abba father. What is that telling me why do I need to hear this informs us that he was an emotional agony.

Why is that Abba is an Aramaic word which is Aramaic language was richer than the Hebrew Wiccans some Hebrew in it, but it was much richer. The Hebrew actually is traced back to the Canaanites, you get until ancient languages and the impact on modern language in various cultures it's intense but lean regional write back and preach you right back to your translated Bibles. It is amazing God knows what he's doing. Only God could overcome such madness of language only God could rule over what he did at Babel. And anyway, so I bought is our equivalent of daddy so he saying dad father destroying the two together. Why is that while I deal moody in a sermon on a prime offering of Isaac, this is amazing what moody.

His conclusion is and if you don't know who DL Moody was or what I should say is because Christians don't die, we just relocate better neighborhood.

Location location location.

Anyway, Moody was one of the world's greatest evangelists, but mainly here in America. He says there was a time when I used to think more of the love of Jesus Christ than of God the father. I used to think of God as a stern judge on the throne, from whose wrath Jesus Christ has saved me. It seems to me now. I could not have a false or idea of God than that since I have become a father I have made this discovery that it takes more to love and to sacrifice for the father to give up the sun than it does for the son to die. It hurts God more it hurts God the father. What we want to put this on in emotional language for us and theological truths for us and we realize it would hurt me more to watch one of my children suffer. I'd rather suffer in their place… Like you know you gotta do your homework and is suffering in life.

You go ahead get you and have a good time without but we talk about a real pain.

A continues Moody does, he says, is a father on earth. A true father that would not rather suffer than to see his child suffer any one of the worst parts of parenting is when your child to suffer so we consider the father in heaven.

We see Jesus suffering and agony. It's not by accident. He says Abba father decries outgo. He joins the two expressions not only dad but also the formal father. It is a fuller expression of his relationship is a fuller expression of what the father is going through. Therefore, Calvary heard God for us. You brought this on yourself by eating in God would say you really are stupid you really really are. Yes, he brought it on himself, but when we get to heaven. He's going to simply say you see, and that will satisfy at all. It was an imperative of Jesus Christ with this prayer being made public to the sleeping disciples. He had to have told this to them after his resurrection rose how also we have this they were sleeping. They want their and he spent time with that many did minister to them and he did choose what things he wanted preserve on record in this Gethsemane agony is high up on that list. He says all things are possible for you nice talking to the father, Abba, father you can do anything you my dad you can do anything. According to humanity is humanity that is taken on what would happen if he just dismissed his humanity will he's going to do that on the cross, when he gives up the spiritedness. Humanity is gone forever. No more flesh for him. No more dying for him was suffering.

He then resumes his place in the Godhead in the full force, but for now he's hindered by this flesh and the flesh. Of course has two meanings depending on context. One is the carnal nature and the other is this flesh and blood. And that's what he is right now so this is all things are possible, but in this case, there is no alternative no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. It would be cool. Otherwise, if there were an alternative and God didn't take it, then God would not be a God of love he would be a strange God, but this was the route that salvation came to us through this is the Avenue right here.

No way out of this painful life into the painless life nor the way nor the service savior.

Revelation 5 the first nine verses capture this for us.

I'll just take verse nine and they sing a new song, saying you are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation that is incredible. The blood of Christ is reached everywhere. We continue here in verse 36 I better get going is slowing me down. We have slow listeners in this church. Take this cup away from me again, no one would say oh I can't wait to hear this nontrivial with him is very serious business.

He alone tasted the death unknown to all creation.

Unable to be understood in its entirety. But we get enough finesse what God wants wants us to get enough mess with the Holy Spirit helps us to all die, but none like him. It is interesting thing when Jesus ascends to heaven. It's not as showy as Elijah.

I just thought of that.

The other day just kind of the skulls of this, relatively boring, relative to Eliza going up in his fiery chariot Eliza so we can understand his to show off onto but I would like to top that, if given the choice that you could anyway.

Multitudes of been crucified but none like this one Hebrews 2 verse nine. Again this the part that he by the grace of God might taste death for everyone. He's tasting death unlike any of us could ever do it because of his holiness. So these words mean that his death was unique and it was bound to him. He could not have died as God could not have died for us as an angel to he became a man to suffer and die for us and in his role as Savior is the one that willfully took this on under the curse which of you would ask to be born into this life again. I think you live long enough, you simple hey can we to get out of it. He comes into it. We hear about our first responders going into burning buildings. When everybody's coming out and that is noble, but this is so far more.

This is so far beyond the season going into a burning building. He's going into a curse.

Nevertheless, he says not what I will but what you will to completion. Incidentally, not some of what you will. My desk in my office.

Your church is actually pretty empty space and clean my desk at home is a workshop with books and papers stuff all over it. I never finished the and I just never finished. He finished his work. John chapter 4 Jesus said to them, my food, that which sustains me is to do the will of him who sent me, and to finish his work.

Never in conflict with the father. This work is demanding. Luke tells us what happened after he said this I wish I could stay on this verse longer, but we have to finish up. Luke tells us what happened right after he says this, Luke 22 verse 43, then an angel appeared to him from heaven, strengthening him because the other guys were sleep. He was that lonely that much on his own in his flesh that he had to be reinforced by God directly is prayer to bypass the cross was declined and he owned it. After that, and aren't we glad because no one would get saved without him going to the cross.

Verse 37 then he came verse 37 and found them sleeping and said to Peter, Simon, are you sleeping could you not watch one hour. This is such a sweet tone knowing who he is. What he's doing that supper with the Lord that Last Supper, that Passover meal contributed to their slumber and must have a lot of pasta viciously look I love the Lord and just tired but he did not want to be alone, and other times he read that he went away to get away from these guys so he can write here. He wants them with him. David writes the Psalm. It is a tough Psalm because he's going through such pain. He says reproach is broken my heart and I am full of heaviness. I look for someone to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found Avesta Christ here lets us sometimes to sometimes you feel nobody understands that sometimes I feel like a motherless child, you know, the only mom would really understand maybe were nobody understands Christ as I know the drill. I know I've been there. Not that he had to experience it to know is, God cannot learn method is a stubborn pupil but he is omniscient cannot be improved your God is not developing when he took humanity on he developed as a human under the spirit in front of our eyes and it has worked for him and us and he said to Peter, Simon, are you sleeping could you not watch one hour my single out Peter Bullitt underscores his leadership and influence that he had and said that Christians will say they love God's word and they can't sit under the sermon more than 20 minutes it takes work it takes pain to do things the right way. If you want a standard of excellence. If you want to pursue it. You have to sacrifice. There are no elevators that lead to success here only steps and sometimes ropes verse 38 watch and pray less you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak. Again, focusing on them with patience and kindness already. The forces are afoot that are going to give Peter the worst day of his life and he doesn't know it.

So the Lord comes and says, are you still sleeping, you need to pray less you enter into this trial, the spirit indeed is willing, now again he does not disown them, you miserable weakling that brought me the meal was free was happening with you the file that hears something for those of you and those of us who can sometimes be harder on weaklings granted. Sometimes weaklings want to be weak. They enjoy it. They've learned that's their new identity that lonely without their weakness is really hard to minister to them because you don't want to enable them to be weaker still look as they began to drain resources but on the other hand, you don't want to bludgeon them either. All of us a week somewhere me.

It's of course in hair treatment. I fail there and I admitted freely.

Galatians 6 brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted well.

One point Paul sold Galatians you wait till I get there so balanced it verse 39. Again, he went away and prayed and spoke the same words know this is critical.

He's not trying to be creative. He goes back to the battlefield. He doesn't say okay let me try another formula are of prayer, he repeats himself, but here's the key is not a vein repetition is a repetition but it is not a vein, one Luke 2244 than rings and on this moment being in agony he prayed more earnestly. Then his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground and have a hard time imagining praying with that intensity, you know, you pray hard, you end up playing itself out you're out. I am always just can't get up but that can take a while but to sweat like great drops of blood.

I then have another prayer request to be about stopping the blood right now you don't mind bleeding verse 40 and when he returned he found them asleep again for their eyes were heavy and they did not know what to answer him you, I guess me about verse 40 is that one word again, this encourages me because he finds me again, not as I should be doing any doesn't hurt me. I'm sometimes he has to the rods my Galactic kidney guy kid got a feeling some kids all the kids you know that a good portion of the shadow of what kind of thing for their eyes were heavy drug with sleep, and they did not know what to answer him. I hope there none of you right now that your eyes are heavy, so goofy this life of the steps will be in heaven. You will never have to say to someone in heaven watch and said that if you do, they pull a lever in a trap door opens its first 40 of the end they did not know what to answer them good. They didn't just say something dumb verse 41, many 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 betrayed into the hands of sinners from Gethsemane from the slope on the Mount of olives in Israel you would be able to hear on at night you be able to see the lanterns coming in here the clanging of their gear and he could tell they were coming when he was still praying he would've been able to hear them is not that far. The Kidron Valley is not a few hundred feet. I would guess have been there a tape measure.

But anyway, he would've known they were coming.

Verse what they would've to if they were awake, rise let us be going see my betrayer is at hand. So he's going forward to face those who are coming to arrest and hurt him. He says my betrayer and I'll close with this, there is an eternal distance between an act of sin and an act of no longer wanting Jesus to be your savior. Peter fell down.

Judas walked away infinite distance. Peter failed, he denied the Lord again is confusion in the want to do.

Everything was a mess and his head was fear uncertainty which causes fear. Judas was totally in control of his intellect and he said you know what I'm going to turn them over and who cares what his motives were. He never came back. He walked away and stayed away. And so the closer he was 12 verse 25. See that you do not refuse him who speaks for if they did not escape who refuse him who spoke on earth much more shall we not escape if we turn away from him who speaks from heaven, so this turning away from Jesus is referred to as something that will ruin the soul. Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Mark cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry. Visit our website cross reference radio.com once you're there you will find additional teachings from Pastor Rick.

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