Watch and Pray

The closers are angry and foreboding sued in the gathering storm with its full blast will fall on the head of the innocence of Christ Jesus.

God's wonderful son.

Are these like cries on what we call Palm Sunday hosanna to the son of David.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. These voices that are strangely silent and in these last hours over Savior's life prior to the cross.

These last dark agonizing hours we see our Savior this morning.

In the stillness in the shadows of the guard in the garden of Gethsemane last week. As we continued our study in Mark and Matthew's gospel. We sat as it were, and observe the Lord's Institute of what we call the Lord's supper that does not ended the 11 Judas having left. Of course, saying the final Passover him possibly some hundred and 18 will give thanks to the Lord for he is good for his steadfast love endures forever. The disciples leave the upper room they go down the Kedron Valley. The cross-link even broken the go to the moment of Olive's so we come this morning as scheduled in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 26 were going to be looking from verse 30 through 56. A large passage will move fairly quickly.

I trust and we are for those of you who are new. Thanks for coming. We are going consecutively to this gospel is one of the gospel of Matthew and that we, in our study to Matthew chapter 26 verse 30 really get this message under three words a prophet. Say a prayer and a betrayal first a prophecy in verse 3335 and when they had sung a hymn and went to the margins of Olive's then Jesus said to them, you will all fall away because of me this night what it is written, I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered, but after that I am raised up. I will go before you to Galilee.

Peter answered him, though they all fall away because of you I will never fall away. Jesus said to him, truly I say to you this very night before the roast the rooster crows, you will deny me three times. Peter said to him, even if I must die with you, I will not deny you and all the disciples said the same prophecy of desertion of dad and of the Nile. First, Jesus prophesies the desertion of his disciples and hid in verse 30 1B quotes from the Old Testament. From the book of Zechariah chapter 13 verse seven which is a messianic prophecy and it is this it is written, I will strike the shepherd and that she of the flaw will be scattered when the shepherd is struck down in she are scattered without a shepherd sheep going all kinds of directions now that Old Testament Scripture. Jesus applies to him so he is of course the shepherd is the good Shepherd was going to give his life for the sheep who are the sheep of his disciples Jesus prophesying I the shepherd are going to be struck nine and judiciary by going to be scattered. Think of this striking of the shepherd, but clearly is referring to the suffering of Christ were almost at the cross, Lord's supper is instituted on the very night our Savior is betrayed in the Lord Jesus is reminding his disciples that he had come to suffer.

He is a man of sorrows, and the father's plan. Yet the father's eternal plan of salvation always includes the cross, the death of his son, our Lord Jesus Christ know the cross is not an afterthought, is not Plan B is not a continued and say, but rather it is ordained from all of eternity repeated in the day of Pentecost can stand and say this Jesus delivered up referring to the crucifixion delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. This is God's plan of salvation from all eternity that his son, our beloved Lord Jesus Christ will come to this incident time into space be the Savior of the world.

Jesus saying I'm about to suffer. And when that happens you going to be scattered with Jesus also prophesies of his own dad.

He knew he was going to die back in chapter and verse two of chapter 26 he said to his disciples. You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified for times up to this fine our Lord Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew is prophesying that not only is he going to die is going to be crucified. Shepherd is going to be struck master who does the striking is the striking of the shepherd.

Judas, the Sanhedrin, the pilot, the Roman soldiers.

Yes, all of them in the wrong way strike the shepherd that's true, but this striking is predicted in the Old Testament turn with me to Isaiah 53. If your new to studying your Bible, you must study this wonderful prophecy, Isaiah 53 again messianic prophecy written 750 years before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let me read Isaiah 53 verse four.

Think of the prophecy regarding the Messiah. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we esteemed him notice stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray.

We have turned every one to his own way and the Lord will decide the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all – 10 yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him. He has put him to grief. When the soul makes an offering for the guilt he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. There is no other way for sinners like you and me to be say it was essential that the Lord Jesus Christ is struck down on this true man Judas pilot, the Jewish leaders. Roman executioners all held responsible behind it all is the divine plan of God and the father is striking. The sun do you notice in Isaiah 53 that he is pierced when needed for our transgressions, the Messiah is going to be Pierce of island that appears. This is the deliberate assault by man the Senate on the innocent Christ, the Messiah size Isaiah not only is going to be. He's going to be crush metaphor is that our sin is a heavy heavy loads and that Lord is being placed on our Savior. He's a lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. How does he take away the sin of the world by admitting the sin that he is being crush by the way of our sin is Pierce is crush why for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting love. It is in love for your salvation and for the forgiveness of my sin that the innocent shepherd is struck down similar tragic. Please do not look on Jesus Christ as a victim. It is true that the father strikes him. It is true that man, the senator assaults and the nails into a tree, but blinded all the son, our Savior willingly gives his life on the cross is not a victim he predicts is that he predicts his resurrection is rewrite. He comes to do the will of the father to bear the sins of the world. He is a good Shepherd and as he says in John chapter 10 no one takes my life from me. I power to Lindon. I talk to to get up again. This commandment have I received from my father that wonderful no one takes the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the sense that the findings and in the way ordained by God from all of eternity, the sun willingly comes he is a willing sacrifice as he goes the cross with amazing prophecy of desertion will all be scattered abroad for sale pierced to the on the cross, he also prophesies as I read the denial of Peter's Jesus had said in verse 21 on the one of the 12 will betray him with anger than a minute. That's due this but he says in verse 31 you will all follow way because of me this night, and here is imagine some of us there. I think I'd like Peter non-some of these fellows that week. I'm strong, I'm never denying Jesus.

I'm prepared to die for you. Jesus is no Peter, this very night before the rooster crows, you're going to deny me not one but three times. Peter is a strong, courageous man, but he fails yet Jesus loves his disciples.

Even though they didn't deserve to move though they deny the first prophecy of desertion and death and denial. Secondly, a prayer of perfect submission here were going to go on to holy ground should take the shoes off her feet. Should this verse 36 and Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane dissenters disciples sit here lying over there and pray and taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, my soul is very sorrowful even said that remain here and watch with me going a little further, he fell on his face, and prayed saying my father.

It would be possible let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will but as you will.

The came to the disciples and find him sleeping. He said to Peter, so could you not watch with me one hour watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak again for the second time he went to way and prayed my father. If this cannot pass less I drink it. Your will be done again. He came and find him sleeping for that eyes were heavy, so leaving them again. He went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again that he came to the disciples and said sleep and take a rest later on. See the world is at hand. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners rise going see my betrayer is at hand prophecy. Secondly, a prayer, a prayer of perfect submission was Gethsemane, and they all present is a Garmin of the mind of all or some of you have been there, and Jesus as we see him and as we listen to them in this garden.

The garden of Gethsemane and all of Christ's. He is in agony agonizes in the garden three times the disciples failed to keep watch and Gethsemane within a time of crisis.

Many of you have was one of the things we do as followers of Christ. We asked people to pray in times of crisis. We look to others to pray for us. Jesus is asking his disciples watch and pray he's in deep emotional, physical and spiritual agony. Use a why the agony of why the deep grievance is he afraid of that is afraid of the crucifixion is a terrible day. While many people have faced with serenity with, and even eagerness.

Jesus was the most courageous of a man know this was no ordinary that this was no ordinary crucifixion.

The Romans crucified, thousands of people know the answer to the question of why such agony and why such deep grief is surely fun and the meaning of this cup did you notice it is a red verse 39 going a little further, he fell on his face and prayed my father if it be possible, let this cup pass from me, this cup is obviously a metaphor is not a literal, though this cup is a cup of God's judgment is the cup of the outpouring of God's wrath against the sin of the world is you are doing a God like that of God is a God is love. Yes he is my wood singing about these also holy God and these are just God can look on Satan and the wages of sin is death, and here is our Lord Jesus, anticipating that he's going to enter into that that he comes as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. He's about to give as he had prophesied he was about to give his life as a ransom for many months during that awful cup which the father gives him think of it this way, we, as imperfect, sinful people we are repelled and repulsed by some dreadful sense we think of that recent shooting Buffalo willing to what's going on in Ukraine with the assault. Sunday in the rapes and the murders of innocent people think of the killing of the innocent with income people who abuse women and who abuse children in this shipment being sinful. Although we are.

We shrink from such evil. It's horrible, yet we ourselves are sinful but here is a holy God perfect God and if you think sin is awful. How much more perfect holy God for all for the sinless Savior who comes to bear the sin of the world. There is no shelter from the shame and guilt from the harder the evil of the sin of the whole world hears the sin better. He is the Lamb of God, he should drink has it were the last drop of that awful cup is God's wrath is poured because of your sin and mine to Jesus Christ as accomplishing God's plan of salvation and the only plan whereby sinners like you and me can be saved know this is a cup. No one else can share their 38. His soul is very sorrowful, even to that. But notice this in the midst of the agony Jesus is submitting to his father's will to do those who Jesus addresses God, verse 39.

My father possible. Verse 42 again for the second time we went there and prayed my father when Mark is giving us a McKay Mark says he pray father. Jesus had taught us to pray our father who art in heaven, but he doesn't say our father he doesn't say God is a my God this is my father relationship intimacy. Of endearment of love yes and of submission as a God man. Jesus will is distinct from the father's will not in opposition to it yesterday everything to members of class were thinking of of the Trinity's individual doctrine to get our minds run is needed. That is one God, but three distinct persons and as a God man. The will of Jesus Christ is distinct from his father's will, but it's not in opposition to, he says in John six verse 38 of them dying from Evan not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me, and then they awful shadows and hot out of Gethsemane Jesus now doing the father's will he go Xanax into the darkest of all hours. This world has ever known. He says – 45 sleep and take your rest later.

CD of his time. What is the other of his day that darkest of all hours of the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners rise what is going see my betrayer is the first man Adam was tempted in the garden was in the end he fell in the sin.

Now the second man the Lord from heaven.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, the perfect man truly God and truly man, he is tempted, in the garden, but he is victorious and he prays that perfect prayer of submission.

Did you notice in verse 39.

Nevertheless, not as I will but as you will. Jesus didn't want to do the father's will, but is there any other way other than the cross.

No way is not going to the suffering of the cross is no plan B is no way I you must drink that awful Paul in Romans eight wonderful mounting evidence that of Romans Romans eight ball rights that God the father did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all the sort of implement Isaac.

Isaac is Abrams prepared to offer Isaac, but there's a substitute for Isaac that I'm caught in the thicket, but for Jesus Christ.

That is no substitute. The father does not spare the sun. Why is going to experience the wrath of God so that those of us who trust him will never ever experience that that seven Jeremy Heather's equipment to speak dissipates that day with our Lord Jesus Christ returns will set up his glorious kingdom. Then he comes with a rod of iron, then everyone will bow, then those who reject him will experience the judgment of God, but trust is in Christ are saved by the grace of God shelter eternally shelter from the wrath of God here then is the spread of perfect submission, perfect surrender perfect obedience to the father's will not, as I will but as you will a prophecy of desertion, death and denial.

A set of perfect submission. Betrayal of treachery think this think of Jesus is with Jesus for three years and he's going to betray for well therapy pieces of silver. Verse 47 while he was still speaking, Judas came one of the 12 Matthew doesn't want us to be in any doubt do this is a fairly common name, but this is the rigidness of the 12 and he comes with a great cry with swords and clubs from the chief priests and the elders of the people know the betrayer had given them a sign saying the one I will kiss as the man sees him they came up to Jesus at once said, greetings Rabbi Kristin Jesus said to him, friend, do what you can and they came up and laid hands on Jesus sees Golden of those who are with Jesus. We know from other gospels. This was Peter stretched out his hand drew his sword and struck the settlement of the high priest on the vizier Jesus said to put your sword back into its place for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my father and he will not one send me more than 12 legions of angels with her then to the Scriptures be fulfilled, but it must be so that our Jesus said to the conference, as against a robber with swords and clubs that capture me day after day, I sat in the temple teaching and he didn't sees me with all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled than all the disciples left in flight betrayal of treachery is due this with the symbol of love Jeep. Judas betrays Jesus into Hitler hands that Jesus knew that Judas was a betrayer that was clearly saw that last week.

Verse 25 Judas who would betray him with his hypocrisy says as I Rabbi and he said to me you said so of course Jesus knew that Judas was the betrayer for three years he had known the Messiah inside their listen to the greatest was of average some of them even in the upper room.

He seen the Lord our end of all things he uses kiss the symbol of love is a sign of the trail just for the expression kiss of death comes from a handful. I is accomplished with a case the very height of hypocrisy betraying the innocent son of God for therapy pieces of silver treachery and then the speed is prepared for a fight here in Texas are obviously not a good marksman are the seven of the high priest… He quickly believed him off the disciples still did not understand that Jesus as the man of sorrows must suffer.

He must be crucified.

He must give his life a ransom for many. And no, in fulfillment of Scripture, such as Isaiah 53 he's led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep silent before his shooters. And here is the blessed son of God betrays the terms though his disciples. Verse 56 leave him and flee, it doesn't resist arrest and reminds them they could've called in heaven and legions of angels with the rest. He's the Christ with no in fulfillment of Scripture, he allows himself to be captured and he's alone betray than I deserve. Surrounded by his evil accusers to see that it will. I would I would betray them. I would have denied them.

I mean writer by his side. Well here are the 11 man hood walked with them to touch them with broken bread with gone is left alone spotless son of God the face is science some lessons as we conclude and feel is first prayer is the key to spiritual strength and picked you notice whatever seems this year is praying without ceasing. There is not one follower of Jesus Christ who would deny the importance of prayer. You know that. But my question is are you praying you find yourself spiritually weak. You find yourself falling into temptation over and over again. You find yourself lacking wisdom you find yourself confused. You find yourself anxious to find yourself wondering if were honest of the many heart is a lack you see Jesus playing in the garden of Gethsemane throughout the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. He prays he gets up early morning separates from his disciples and prayers is a mind is a word on his knees, the perfect man. This goes into the garden of Gethsemane.

He's challenging his disciples to watch and pray this verse 41, we need to hear this watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation, but they don't pray that lazy dead tired and I fall asleep earlier on the people to follow sleep in the permitting government praying that's happened to me. Someone said to me, did you fall asleep that John will know easily done this in in the bidet gathering for prayer struggling readers to get dine on her knees praying would you pray Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect high priest. He knows about suffering, no one ever suffered like Christ, he knows your situation. He knows that betrayal, he knows what it is to be tempted knows what it is to be lonely knows what it is the retirement asks you and me to pray and when hear the wisdom and when hear a little fearful about the future and when anxious anyone spiritually stale anyone spiritually.

I saw pray, watch and pray that you don't enter into that temptation. You being tempted. Whatever it is you know what it is and what you did to you still have a little accountability group that might help you can easily if you're smart, deal with someone asking you questions know the real problem is you're not praying. What is Isaiah the prophet say that those who wait on the Lord. I pray those away on the Lord shall be renewed in strength they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. To many of us are fainting too many of us are spiritual, lazy, too many of us are anxious to many of us are feeling sorry for ourselves. Too many of us are falling into temptation to many of us are fearful instead of sharing Christ with the answer. Pray, pray without ceasing is when the themes for the year and I say to you to pray get on your knees, pray and pray and pray watch and pray is the key to spiritual strength to spiritual wisdom of told the story before his friend and we would like for lunch and I realize this man is really smart. I've done a lot of smart people might time but as we dealt with different situations. I thought this man is really smart. So one day I said to that used Satan to have some answers to many questions. Good answers is that John, you should know that. Yes I should the gym save anyone lacks wisdom, you call the counselor goes into some yoga exercise meditate know if anyone lacks wisdom, ask of God and ask him, faith, prayer, prayer is a key to spiritual strength and victory.

Secondly, this is surrender to God's will in each circumstance of life surrender to God's will in any circumstance of life.

Life is sometimes very very difficult in life does not go the way that all of us would want other find the blueprint you have doesn't always work. How does it, but we believe. I believe Bible believing Christians believe in the sovereignty of God in the providence of God that God is in control you're going through some excruciatingly difficult circumstance right now. You are presently in your own personal Gethsemane struggling with difficult John limited to, the circumstances are awful. Yes, I don't dispute that life can be awful. I can be terrible steers and disappointments and betrayals and all kinds of things going to light on the we need to look at the Savior.

We did you see him he he's flat on his face was interim, not my will but yours be done. Can you pray that not my will but yours be done. I drew your attention to the way Jesus refers to God in the garden. My father Mark says five father is a particular intimate. I never called my father actual father on the back of healing decided to use the expression daddy in Scotland.

After four years over stop using that.

That's the point. There is an intimacy great love here is my God he is my is my daddy is going a little far know it's not was involved in Romans eight Romans eight writing about the spirit he says – 1540 did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear you listening but you have received the spirit S. The Holy Spirit of adoption as sons by whom we cry, Abba. The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

We cry Greek word describes almost feel it Mrs. cry to go to our father in the time of fathers. A little three-year-old boy or girl and that little boy or girl falls is that is that child say that child cry out daddy daddy what do you as a father go you go you wrap your arms when that little boy or girl and say it's okay a relationship of love. Here is our Lord Jesus Christ, and the agony in his knee.

He addresses the eternal God as father you do that you see instinctive cry of the true believer, just God's in a time of need is not is not first and foremost I am going to do something to me know from our hearts, and this time on DVD. Need we cry. I have a father garden amazingly with his witnesses without it reassures us John, my child, just as you take your little boy little girl is a is all right daddy's here. There's nothing to worry about your part of this family I'm going to watch over you.

So in time of the needs of your experience. The trust you have the spirit witnesses with you that you are a child. Think of the wonder of that in the grace of God you been to into the very family of God and my family. God never throws a sinus time of deep, deep, deep crisis.

This is what we can do that on May 1, verse 31. There's a wonderful saying talks with the Lord regarding Israel as a vent in the wilderness. He says the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his father strong father picks up that little boy who sucked himself in the economy. Seven he takes them and put some on these bad his arms around that little fellow so I would go out heavenly father as we surrender to his will in each circumstance.

He assures us of his presence of his love for us that we belong, is the final one trust Christ as your personal savior. Is it what we know that not all of you may know what the masking experience. Do you understand why it was so essential that Jesus Christ went through the horrible circumstance of drinking that cup and bearing the sins of the world. There is no other way of salvation across is the only way of salvation. Sin is an offense against God and here we are separated from God and here comes our magnificent Lord Jesus Christ, the God man bridges that go between a holy God and sinful people like that I got at the cross and advice us to trust him as our Savior and to walk with him in life and to trust him in all senses of life as a high school this week is looking at the slogans on the wall and one was this.

Believe in yourself and the bullet was unstoppable. What terrible lessons of teaching high schoolers. Believe in yourself now.

I think I saw that we believe in ourselves and the difficult circumstances and someone says John believe in yourself.

You got the answer.

Deep within my mom pick yourself up, dust yourself down. Believe in yourself educated smart man.

You can do it alone know I can.

The gospel does not believe in yourself. The gospel is that salvation is society yourself.

The answer is not within it is in our Lord Jesus Christ with his grace comes to us in the gospel is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.

Believe in him as as you go through life with the trials with your own as it would personal Gethsemane experience surrendered to Christ trust them with all of your heart carries you as a man carries his his child and her students reminded us that the Lord is that we shall be in the city of one every single person in the sanctuary to put their trust in Christ all of us.

We praise our Savior. Father helpless we do. We thank you for the Scripture is a mystery there and confess we don't under stand it all, but thank you, our Savior drunk that cup.

Thank you for the love that true salvation's plans for the grace that brought it down to man for the mighty golf that you describe that comfort me was in girls and men and women even know me trusting the Savior and living for him in his name