Our first reading is in Jeremiah chapter 25, which is on page 784 in the Red Bibles, the Church Bibles.
That's Jeremiah chapter 25.
And just starting in verse 15.
This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me.
Take from my hand this cup filled with the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it.
When they drink it, they will stagger and go mad because of the sword I will send among them.
So I took the cup from the Lord's hand and made all the nations to whom he sent me drink it.
And just further on in verse 27.
Then tell them, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says.
Drink, get drunk and vomit and fall to rise no more because of the sword I will send among you.
But if they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink, tell them, this is what the Lord Almighty says.
You must drink it.
See, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears my name.
And will you indeed go unpunished?
You will not go unpunished.
For I am calling down a sword upon all who live in the earth, declares the Lord Almighty.
The second reading is Mark chapter 14 and verse 32.
They went to a place called Gethsemane and Jesus said to his disciples, sit here while I pray.
He took Peter, James and John along with him and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.
My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, he said to them.
Stay here and keep watch.
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if it was possible, the hour might pass from him.
Abba, Father, he said, everything is possible for you.
Take this cup from me.
Yet what I will, but what you will.
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping.
Simon, he said to Peter, are you asleep?
Could you not keep watch for one hour?
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.
The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.
Once more, he went away and prayed the same thing.
Then he came back and he again found them sleeping because their eyes were heavy.
They did not know what to say to him.
Returning the third time, he said to them, are you still sleeping and resting?
Enough!
The hour has come.
Look!
The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Rise!
Let us go.
Here comes my betrayer.
Amen.
Well, we're going to be continuing to look at our studies in Mark's Gospel, chapter 14, verses 32 to 42.
This is the final few days, the final few hours of Jesus' life before his death.
And we focus in here this morning on his prayer to his father.
So, please follow along.
I think there's sheets have already been passed out.
If you want to take notes, feel free to do that.
Let's pray.
Father, please help us as we look at your word together.
Help us, as it were, to be almost as if we're in that garden,
watching and listening and knowing all that is going on.
And as we watch Jesus and as we listen to his words,
help us to see how this affects us
and how this can also change us.
Father, we ask for the help of your Spirit
to be at work amongst us
so that we will not leave
without an encounter
with Jesus
in this garden.
We pray for your help
in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, I don't know how to say this.
I'm just really not sure anymore.
I just don't think
I can go through with this.
I'm beginning to have
second thoughts.
Have you ever been there?
Maybe you've been preparing to
start a new job
which means your family are having to move.
Or perhaps
you've been planning to get married.
Everything is set.
Everything is in place.
And then you begin to have second thoughts.
I don't think I can go through with this anymore.
Well, in our text this morning,
Jesus is having major second thoughts.
All through the Gospel story,
through Mark,
he's been planning
and preparing
for his death.
In fact,
three times
he's told us
explicitly
that he must die
and rise again
because that is why
he has come.
But now,
with only hours to go
and with the reality
of death
facing him,
Jesus begins
to have second thoughts.
I don't think I can go through
with this.
And from this inner battle,
as we enter into the garden
with Jesus,
we see him
having this inner battle.
And there's three things
we're going to learn
from it.
First,
the agony of the cross.
Second,
the temptation
at the cross.
And then third,
the power
in the cross.
So the agony,
the temptation,
and the power
that comes
from the cross
for us.
So first,
let's witness Jesus
and the agony
of the cross.
Verse 32,
they went to a place
called Gethsemane
and Jesus said
to his disciples,
sit here while I pray.
He took Peter,
James and John
along with him
and he began
to be deeply
distressed
and troubled.
Now this is not
the Jesus
that we have come
to know
through the story
of Mark's Gospel.
Do you remember
back in chapter 4
when Jesus was
in the raging storm
on the lake
and all those
around him
were thinking
we're going to drown?
Where was Jesus?
He was completely
calm and at peace.
So at peace
he was asleep.
And then do you remember
in chapter 5
when the man
with the evil spirit
who no one could
control or tame
came running
at Jesus
but yet he was
in complete control
and without fear?
That's the Jesus
we know
but now look at him
here.
Verse 34,
my soul
is overwhelmed
with sorrow
to the point
of death.
What's happened
to the God
man
who had confronted
death
and faced evil
with such supreme
authority
and absolute power?
People had been
following Jesus
and watching Jesus
they stood in wonder
at his awesome
brilliance
as the dead
were raised
to life
and the demons
were silenced.
And now we see
the master
and the creator
of the universe
is reduced
to a physical
and a spiritual
wreck.
He's displaying
all the signs
of a mental
and emotional
breakdown.
Look at verse 34,
my soul
is overwhelmed
with sorrow
to the point
of death.
The very thought
of what is ahead
of me
is killing me.
I can't
do it.
Why is Jesus
so distressed?
Well,
Jesus knows
that his death
is only a few
hours away.
In fact,
he's been reminding
us of what his death
is going to be like.
He's told us
he's going to be
flogged,
he's going to be
beaten,
he's going to be
tortured,
he's going to be
crucified on a cross.
So perhaps
it's the thought
of facing this
physical pain
that he's beginning
to crack.
But you know what,
that's not the reason
why Jesus
is overwhelmed
with sorrow.
Read on,
verse 35.
Going a little further,
he fell to the ground
and he prayed
that if possible,
the hour,
that's his death,
might pass from him.
Abba,
Father,
everything is possible
for you.
Take this cup
from me.
The reason
for the agony
that Jesus
is facing
is the cup
that he must drink.
The prophets
in the Old Testament
are helpful here.
they help us
to understand
what the cup is.
We read from it
in Jeremiah.
Let's remind us
of those words.
It's on the screen.
This is what
the Lord,
the God of Israel,
said to me.
Take from my hand
this cup
filled with the wine
of my wrath
or anger
and make all
the nations
to whom
I send you
drink it.
And when they
drink it,
they will stagger
and go mad
because of the sword
I will send
among them.
That's the cup.
It's not literal.
It's symbolic.
It symbolises
God's anger.
His just
and his fair
response
to sinful people
like you and me.
this is the cup
that Jesus
must drink.
And so as Jesus
contemplates
and as he thinks
about his death
that is to come
in just a few hours,
he's beginning
to taste
the wrath
and the judgment
that awaits him
on the cross.
And he is
overwhelmed
with sorrow.
Now we might
have trouble
with this.
Anger
and judgment
they're not
the sorts of
things we like
to associate
with God.
We prefer
to think of
God as
kind of this
gentle
grandfather
overweight
figure in his
rocking chair
loving
and kind.
But you know
what?
Anger
can be a
very loving
and kind
response.
Just think
about it.
When you
hear the
stories
of the
abuse
of little
children
and the
rape of
young women
how do
you feel?
When you
watch on your
television screens
villages
burning
and thousands
left homeless
because of
mindless acts
of war
and terror
what emotion
wells up
inside of
you?
When lives
are ruined
and innocent
people suffer
because of the
injustice or the
act of somebody
else what's your
response to that?
anger
is a
good
and positive
emotion.
We all
long for
justice
to be done.
We want
those who
cause such
terrible
torment
and suffering
to be held
accountable.
Anger
is a sign
that you
deeply
care.
anger.
But what
about me?
Is God
right to
be angry
with me?
Well when we
look back over
the history of
this world
let's just
take the
last 50
years
the millions
of people
who have
died
through
genocide
the thousands
who have
been permanently
scarred
physically and
emotionally
through
terrorism
the hundreds
of children
who each
day get
trafficked
into sexual
slavery
the individual
suffering that
goes on within
our community
caused by
fits of
rage
God
sees it
all
not just
the last
50 years
but he's
seen over
the whole
sweep of
history
and he
takes it
all to
heart
because
this is
his world
he made
it
it is
his
creation
these
are
his
people
and he
loves
his
people
and so
his just
and fair
response
to such
sinful
behaviour
is one
of anger
expressed
in his
judgment
that is
good
and
anything
less
is to
be
unloving
and
unkind
or tell
me
would you
just
prefer
if God
turned a
blind eye
to that
act of
rape
or would
you prefer
if God
just said
you know
what
those people
killed over
there
it doesn't
matter
would you
prefer if
God
ignored
it all
but what
about
me
is
God
right
to be
angry
with
me
well
when I
look back
over the
history
of my
short
life
the hurt
that I
have
caused
the
things
that I
have
said
in
temper
the
actions
that I
have
taken
the
attitudes
and the
grudges
that I
hold
then yes
God is
right to
be angry
with me
you see
come back
to the
text here
to the
cup
it's you
and me
that should
be drinking
the cup
we deserve
it
as one
writer put
it
that cup
has my
name on
it
and it
fits
perfectly
into the
palm
of my
hands
but look
in the
garden
here
look
who
figuratively
is
holding
the
cup
right
now
it's
Jesus
has
taken
the
cup
into
his
hands
and
as
he
stares
into
that
cup
as
he
contemplates
the
judgment
that
awaits
him
at
the
cross
as
he
thinks
about
the
agony
of
hell
that
he
must
suffer
for
you
and
for
me
he
has
second
thoughts
take
this
cup
away
from
me
I'm
not
sure
that I
can go
through
with
this
I
can't
do
it
anymore
you
see
if
Jesus
doesn't
drink
this
cup
then
you
and
I
have
to
drink
this
cup
Jesus
faces
the
agony
of
the
cross
and
second
the
temptation
at
the
cross
as
Jesus
begins
to
taste
the
judgment
that
is
to
come
he
prays
doesn't
he
verse
35
look at
that
again
he
prays
that
if
possible
the
hour
might
pass
from
him
surprisingly
Jesus
this
God
man
with
all
power
and
all
authority
is
beginning
to
feel
the
strain
he's
struggling
in the
face
of
temptation
Jesus
is
beginning
to
look
for
another
way
out
of
having
to
go
to
the
cross
verse
36
take
this
cup
away
from
me
everything
is
possible
with
you
father
please
if
there's
some
other
way
I
will
do
it
but
please
do
not
let
me
have
to
face
the
cross
so
often
we
have
this
image
of
Jesus
don't
we
as
being
so
strong
and
so
brave
calmly
facing
his
mission
with
a
determined
resolve
to
go
but
that's
not
the
Jesus
that
we
have
here
he's
buckling
under
the
weight
of
temptation
ready
to
give
up
verse
39
once
more
he
went
away
and
he
prayed
the
same
thing
three
times
we're
told
in the
passage
that
he
praised
it
again
and
again
having
to
drink
this
cup
is
a
real
inner
battle
because
Jesus
knows
that
to
face
the
wrath
of
his
father
will
mean
separation
from
the
father
for
him
but
look
what
he
does
look
what
he
says
in
his
struggle
under
the
strain
he
puts
his
own
desires
to
one
side
and
he
submits
to
the
will
of
the
father
look
at
verse
36
again
Abba
father
everything
is possible
for you
take
this
cup
from
me
yet
not
what
I
will
but
what
you
will
not
what
I
want
but
what
you
want
Jesus
says
no
to
the
temptation
at
the
cross
and
he
says
yes
to
the
agony
of
the
cross
Jesus
says
yes
I
will
drink
the
cup
for
you
and
he
drinks
it
undiluted
right to
its
very
dregs
so that
there is
nothing
left
for you
and I
to even
taste
Jesus
takes
the
cup
and
as
we
see
Jesus
submit
and
say
no
to
temptation
look
in
contrast
here
to
the
disciples
they're
just
like
us
look
at
verse
37
here's
Jesus
in his
agony
overwhelmed
distressed
and troubled
verse
37
then
he
returns
to his
disciples
and he
found
them
sleeping
Simon
he said
to Peter
are you
asleep
could you
not keep
watch
for just
one hour
watch
and pray
so that
you will
not
fall
into
temptation
the
spirit
is
willing
but
the
body
is
weak
and
once
more
he
went
away
and
he
prayed
the
same
thing
and
when
he
came
back
he
found
them
again
sleeping
because
their
eyes
were
heavy
what
do we
say
in that
moment
well they
didn't know
what to
say
and we
don't know
what to
say
you see
this is
our
problem
we are
so
weak
that we
fall
so often
we can't
even
obey in
the small
things
never mind
the big
things
here
Jesus
is
facing
the
judgment
of
God
for
us
and
all
they
have
to
do
is
pray
they
can't
even
do
that
and
it's
the
same
for
us
instead
of
fighting
in
prayer
we
just
give
up
in
despair
just
like
that
but
this
is
nothing
new
this
is
the
history
of
the
world
all
the
way
through
it
was
the
problem
for
the
first
man
and
woman
do you
remember
the
story
Adam
and
Eve
God's
first
people
that
he
created
come
back
with
me
in
your
minds
to
the
garden
of
Eden
we
read
about
it
in
Genesis
chapters
1
to
3
and
what
do
we
see
in
the
garden
of
Eden
we
remember
that
God
had
created
a
beautiful
and
a
good
world
a
world
where
they
enjoyed
God's
blessing
in a
perfect
relationship
with him
there
was a
world
of
peace
and
prosperity
and
plenty
it
was
wonderful
and
all
they
had
to do
to
maintain
this
order
and
harmony
was
just
obey
God
not
to
fall
but
just
to
say
yes
to
God
but
we
know
the
story
temptation
came
and
under
the
weight
of
temptation
Adam
and Eve
collapsed
and
they
disobeyed
God
and
the
effects
of
the
fall
are
all
around
us
we
live
in
a
broken
and
suffering
world
where
there
is
disorder
and
destruction
and
we
face
death
every
day
their
disobedience
unleashed
a tsunami
of sin
that has
just
pounded
the
shores
of our
own
lives
ever
since
and
in
desperation
we've
tried
everything
we try
to push
against
it
we try
to hold
it back
but our
efforts
come to
nothing
in fact
we soon
realise
that because
you and
I also
fall into
temptation
we're just
adding to
the sin
problem
that we
see all
around us
we can't
do what
we're meant
to do
we keep
on failing
and so
the wave
of judgment
is upon
us
now
come all
the way
back
to the
garden
of
gethsemane
we're
in a
different
place
and the
focus is
on a
different
man
not on
Adam
who
disobeyed
but the
man
Jesus
Christ
here
our
lives
are
resting
on the
choice
of one
man
the
salvation
of the
world
is
resting
on this
one
man
and in
the
garden
temptation
comes
again
but this
time it
is so
different
instead
of
disobeying
his
father
Jesus
obeys
his
father
he says
not what
I will
but what
you will
so as
we
fall into
temptation
look
at
Jesus
bowing
in
submission
to
his
father
look
at
the
one
here
in
the
garden
who
fought
temptation
and
who
overcame
temptation
for you
and for
me
look
at
the
one
who
resisted
to
the
point
of
death
so
that
we
don't
have
to
die
but
we
might
live
you
see
at
the
cross
and
in
this
garden
Jesus
is
taking
the
cup
and
he
says
I
will
obey
the
father
and
I
will
take
the
cup
for
you
and
for
me
he
drinks
the
cup
of
wrath
so
that
we
might
be
able
to
drink
the
cup
of
life
and
look
forward
to
his
new
creation
a
world
where
there
is
no
more
death
and
no
more
destruction
and
no
more
disorder
he
does
it
all
for
you
and
for
me
Jesus
said
no
to
the
temptation
at
the
cross
and
he
said
yes
to
the
agony
for
us
and
third
the
power
in
the
cross
because
what we
want to
see
here
now
is
that
this
can
change
our
lives
in
ways
we
never
thought
possible
because
Jesus
said
yes
to
the
agony
and
because
Jesus
said
no
to
the
temptation
this
event
has
power
to
change
our
lives
here
right
now
it
changes
us
in
two
ways
firstly
it
helps
us
say
no
to
temptation
because
Jesus
said
yes
to
the
agony
of
the
cross
that
means
we
can
say
no
to
temptation
have
a look
at
Hebrews
chapter
4
it's
on
page
1203
Hebrews
chapter
4
Jesus
said
yes
to
the
agony
of
the
cross
which
means
we
can
now
say
no
to
the
temptation
in
our
lives
and
what
do
we
see
here
well
we
see
that
if
our
trust
is
in
Jesus
our
relationship
with
him
is
completely
changed
and
altered
we
are
no
longer
facing
judgment
and
condemnation
instead
we
have
a
loving
faithful
high
priest
let's
read
chapter
4
verse
15
for
we
do
not
have
a
high
priest
who
is
unable
to
sympathize
with
our
weaknesses
but
we
have
one
who
has
been
tempted
in
every
way
just
as
we
are
yet
was
without
sin
he
was
perfect
he
didn't
fall
into
temptation
in
the
garden
verse
16
let
us
then
approach
the
throne
of
grace
with
confidence
so that
we
may
receive
mercy
and
find
grace
to
help
us
in
our
time
of
need
we
now
because
of
Jesus
have
access
to
the
risen
Jesus
who
is
in
heaven
and
who
pours
out
his
mercy
every
time
we
do
fall
and
fail
but
not
only
that
he
pours
out
his
grace
into
our
lives
giving
us
the
strength
so
that
we
don't
have
to
fall
we
don't
have
to
say
yes
to
temptation
we
can
now
say
no
because
he
gives
us
the
power
to
say
no
it
changes
everything
so
in
the
heat
and
in
the
battle
of
the
moment
we
can
now
go
to
Jesus
and
ask
him
for
grace
and
mercy
to
help
us
in
our
time
of
need
we
don't
have
to
say
yes
we
can
say
no
and
then
second
we
can
say
yes
to
the
cross
we
can
say
yes
to
the
suffering
because
Jesus
said
no
to
the
temptation
we
can
say
yes
to
the
cross
have
a
look
at
Mark's
gospel
chapter
8
verse
34
Mark's
gospel
chapter
8
verse
34
verse
34
then
Jesus
called
the
crowd
to
him
along
with
his
disciples
and
he
said
if
anyone
would
come
after
me
he
must
deny
himself
and
take
up
his
cross
and
follow
me
it's
the
invitation
to
come
and
follow
Jesus
but
he
uses
the
word
he
says
you
have
to
take
up
your
cross
in
other
words
if
we
are
going
to
follow
Jesus
it's
going
to
be
really
hard
it's
going
to
involve
suffering
it's
going
to
involve
agony
and
everything
inside
of us
says
no
I
can't
do
it
it's
too
hard
I
can't
go
the
way
of
Jesus
I
can't
do
what
he
asks
me
to
do
but
here's
temptation
he
faced
the
worst
agony
possible
he
suffered
the
worst
kind
of
suffering
he
suffered
on
the
cross
he
suffered
hell
for you
and for
me
so that
we
can
say
yes
to
everything
that
God
asks
of us
to
do
we
will
never
have
to
face
the
cross
like
Jesus
had
to
we
will
never
have
to
face
hell
and
judgment
we
can
now
say
yes
to
whatever
he
asks
us
to
do
because
we
know
that
in
him
we
have
life
today
and
life
for
all
eternity
can
you
see
how
the
cross
has
power
to
change
our
lives
by
ourselves
we
can't
do
it
but
now
we
can
say
no
to
temptation
and
we
can
say
yes
to
the
path
that
he
calls
us
to
follow
nothing
in
the
world
will
change
you
like
that
only
the
agony
of
the
cross
that
Jesus
undertook
for you
and for
me
and for
fighting
the
temptation
so that
we
can
live
let's
pray
together
father
we
confess
that
as
we've
gone
into
the
garden
and
watched
Jesus
and
listened
to
Jesus
we've
been
made
uncomfortable
we've
seen
things
about
ourselves
that
perhaps
we
don't
want
to
see
and
we
see
something
of
your
character
that
we
struggle
with
but
yet
streaming
through
it
all
we
see
your
amazing
sacrifice
your
amazing
love
in
action
that
your
son
the
Lord
Jesus
would
take
the
cup
help
us
to
see
how
this
changes
our
lives
not
just
today
but
for
all
eternity
help
us
to
keep
looking
to
Jesus
help
us
to
keep
listening
to
him
and
father
would
you
now
please
fill
us
with
your
grace
and
your
mercy
so
that
we
will
say
no
to
the
temptations
that
overcome
us
help
us
to
say
no
to
sin
and
help
us
to
say
yes
to
Jesus
whatever
he
may
ask
of
us
may
we
also
be
able
to
say
not
my
will
but
your
will
be
done
thank
you
Jesus
thank
you
Lord
Amen