You grab your Bibles and turn back to Mark 14. Mark 14, starting at verse 32, that's on page 851.
Let me pray for God's help. Heavenly Father, help us tonight to hear your word and not just take it as words in our ears, but would you drive them into our heart and would we know and love Christ better. In his name we pray. Amen.
There are moments in life where you can feel sick to your stomach. Those moments are usually before a big event, as the moment approaches, like the moment before a big final exam, as the clock approaches the start time, or before walking on stage for that big performance and the audience are ready and the lights are on.
And it's just before that happens that you begin to feel the nerves, the sickness, that your knees get a bit weak. You feel that this is the big moment. It's coming. And now I just need to go through with this.
But for all of us here, that big moment has never been our death. On July 1st, 1916, at 7.29am, British and French troops were in their trenches at the Battle of the Somme.
And they were waiting for a Somme. And they were waiting for a Somme. And at the sound of a whistle, they were to climb up their ladders, out of their trench, and walk head on toward the German front line.
And that meant heading onto an onslaught of German bullets. In those moments, those troops were waiting for their death. And in those eerily quiet moments, before that whistle was blown, can you imagine the sickness that they felt in their stomach?
The distress that they felt in their stomach? The distress that they felt in their stomach?
Basically any of those discomfort? Basically any of those discomfort? Basically any of those discomforts were in their stomach?
Basically any of those discomforts were in their stomachs were in their stomachs were in their stomachs.
Basically any of those discomforts were in their stomachs were in their stomachs were in their stomachs were in their stomachs.
And there's not just sickness in his stomach, there is terror within him.
And this is my first point.
Jesus faced terror before the cross.
Look at verse 32 of me.
And they went, asked the disciples of Jesus, they went to a place to get 70.
And he said to his disciples, sit here while I pray.
Jesus has gone to this garden to pray.
Something is weighing on him.
He needs to go to his heavenly father and pray.
And he even asked for help from his friends.
Look at verse 33.
And he took with him Peter and James and John.
And what is weighing on him?
Why do you need to pray?
Verse 33.
He began to be greatly distressed and troubled.
There's something seriously wrong.
Internally, Jesus is deeply unsettled.
He's anxious.
He's scared.
His emotions are overwhelming him.
But more than that, the issue goes even deeper inside of him.
He says to Peter, James and John in verse 34,
My soul is very sorrowful, even to death.
Remain here and watch.
There is sorrow down to the depths of his soul.
And it's not just a little sorrow.
It is sorrow to the point of death.
A sorrow and distress that's so heavy and so crushing, it's almost killing him.
He's burdened with grief.
He's tormented.
He's disturbed to the very depths of his being.
Those of you who might suffer with anxiety or panic attacks, can I just say that Jesus knows how you feel.
And even worse, actually.
Anxiety can feel like a dark cloud over you, can't it?
Like the colour has gone from the world.
And like your body physically just won't settle.
Well, Jesus knows how you feel because he is going through something much worse here.
And so, he leaves the three disciples behind and heads further into the garden.
Verse 35.
And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed.
Now, this is no normal praying position he's in here.
A normal position might be standing or kneeling and perhaps have his arms up and eyes lifted to heaven.
But Jesus doesn't do that here.
What does he do?
He fell to the ground.
Jesus collapses to the dirt.
He falls before the Father, coming to him in dire need.
This prayer is a desperate cry to God.
And he prays to the Father, asking him in verse 35,
that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
Now, this hour he's speaking of here, this is the hour of his death.
Jesus has already foretold three times in Mark's Gospel up to this point,
that he's going to be handed over to the authorities of Jerusalem,
and he's going to suffer, and he's going to die.
And this has been his mission.
This has been his task from the beginning.
This is why he was sent.
This is what his whole life and ministry has been building up to.
And now he knows the hour is almost here.
He lies in the trench of Gethsemane, waiting for the whistle to blow.
He knows the time has come for him to die.
And this is why his soul is so sorrowful.
He's staring death square in the face.
He's on death row, staring down his execution.
And it fills him with dread.
The shadow of the cross is looming over him and crushing him
with trouble and distress and sorrow.
But, it's not just death he's staring at.
There's something more troubling going on here.
Look at what he prays in verse 36.
In verse 36.
And he said,
Abba, Father, all things are possible for you.
Remove this cup from me.
Yet not what I will, not what you will.
It's not just death that awaits him.
But it's a cup.
Now this cup is a very important and a very terrifying cup.
And you can read about this cup in Isaiah 51.
And this is the cup of God's wrath.
This cup represents God's punishment on sin.
And in this cup, there isn't water.
There isn't even acid or poison.
In this cup is the blistering fury of God's wrath on sin.
This cup hangs over all our heads.
Every sinner has to have their sins accounted for.
Every sin needs to be punished.
Every sinner has God's wrath resting on them, ready to fall.
Everyone has this cup waiting for them.
And you can't ignore it.
You can't pour it down the sink.
You can't avoid it.
No, this cup needs to be drunk.
And so here in the garden, Jesus isn't just facing death.
He's facing wrath.
On the cross, Jesus not only faced physical pain and agony and a brutal death, which he most certainly did.
But he also faced spiritual torment.
And he experienced the very wrath of God itself.
Jesus drank this cup.
But it wasn't his cup.
Sinners have this cup.
But Jesus committed no sin.
There was no cup for Jesus.
This cup wasn't his.
Christian, it was mine.
And it was yours.
Jesus drank the cup of wrath for our sins.
Jesus was in that garden facing down the sin and wrath deserved for us.
He knew he was about to answer for every sin that we committed.
Every lustful thought, every nasty word, every lie, every burst of anger, every sin of ours that deserves an eternity in hell.
All the sin that we did.
Jesus was staring it square in the face.
And he knew that he would be punished for it.
The cup was hanging over him.
And so, how bad is our sin?
How bad is this wrath?
Well, Jesus looks at it and is in utter distress.
He is physically and emotionally disturbed.
He is sorrowful in the depths of his soul to the point of death.
Brothers and sisters, Jesus looked at the wrath stored up for me and for you.
And it filled him with dread.
We don't know how many Christians there will be in the new creation.
It's impossible to even guess.
But let's say there's 10 billion.
Now that could be way off.
We don't really know.
We can't even really guess at these things.
But let's say 10 billion people in the new creation.
That means on the cross, Jesus took the sin of 10 billion people.
10 billion judgments.
10 billion eternities in hell.
The wrath stored up for your sin alone.
That's terrifying enough.
But can you imagine the sin of an entire people?
And so, is it any wonder Jesus falls to the ground in sorrow and distress?
We can't even begin to imagine that feeling.
And so Jesus prays to the Father.
Asking if it is possible that this hour might pass from him.
He prays, Lord, this is such a terrifying and agonising task.
If it is possible, please let there be another way.
Now at this point, you might ask, well, is Jesus chickening out there?
Is this Jesus not wanting to do what God has planned for him?
Well, no.
I want you to hear it here.
In all this, Jesus willingly faced this terror.
And this is my second point today.
Jesus willingly faced terror.
There are two times in this passage where Mark tells us that Jesus prayed and asked his father that his death might not happen.
So look at verse 35.
He fell on the ground and prayed.
If it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
And then again in verse 36, we hear his own words.
Abba, Father, all things are possible for you.
Remove this cup from me.
Yet not what I will, but what you will.
We must think here that Jesus is asking, Lord, stop the plan of redemption.
This is too scary.
I'm backing out here.
No.
We're witnessing here the true humanity of Christ.
It is human to fear death.
it is human to be distressed
at the idea of God's wrath
and so
we're not seeing any sin here
we're not seeing any unwillingness
we're seeing here
that the frailty of Jesus
fearing death
and the natural impulse
to avoid it
so think of it like this
imagine if I put a stove in front of you
and I turn the stove on
and blast it up to full max
and so the flames are roaring
and the iron griddle
is getting glowing hot
and I said put your hand
on top of that and hold it there
what are you going to do
you're going to back away
aren't you
you're going to want to avoid that
that's your human instinct
to avoid pain and death
it's not a sin
to want to put away
you're not disobeying me doing that
there's no fault in you
for doing that
well neither with Jesus
in the garden
Jesus is feeling
the blistering heat
of God's wrath
and in his human instinct
and frailty
he's trembling
and he's naturally
wanting to pull away
and so he comes to God
and says
Father
if there's another way
to do this
if that is possible
Father I pray for that
he comes with the burden
and the dread
of the cross
to his Father
to see if there's another way
but not to twist God's arm
to change the Father's will
but actually
quite the opposite
to that
he prays
to align his own
human world
with the Father's will
because look what he says next
at the end of verse 36
yet not what I will
but what you will
Jesus is saying here
though my flesh fears death
and the task ahead of me
is terrifying
yet I know your plan
is for me to do this
and so I will do
as you tell me Father
yet not what I will
but what you will
now these words
are some of the most
important words
ever uttered
on this planet
these are the words
of Jesus perfectly
obeying his Father
the fate of the world
depends on Jesus'
obedience
to the Father's will
and so the fate of the world
hangs on these words
and this obedience
if Jesus walks away now
he disobeys the Father
and there's no cross
there's no salvation
and all humanity
is left to drink this cup
the fate of the world
is in the balance here
and so it's no coincidence
where all this takes place
it's no coincidence
that all this takes place
in a garden
because can you think
of another garden
where the fate of the world
was decided
it was Adam
in the garden of Eden
Adam's disobedience
to his heavenly father
when he took
the forbidden fruits
that disobedience
plunged humanity
into sin and misery
Adam said
not what you were God
but what I were
but what happens
here in Gethsemane
Jesus in the garden
of Gethsemane
says
not what I were
but what you were Father
in this moment
Jesus is undoing
what Adam has done
by saying yes
to the Father
he's taking his people
out of sin
and misery
and so
no one else
could have done this
no one else
could have said
these words
this is such a huge
burden
such a dreadful task
such perfect
obedience
is required for this
only Jesus Christ
could have done this
and his disciples
prove that point
do you remember
what Jesus commanded
Peter
James and John
to do while they prayed
verse 34
remain here
and watch
their task is simple
stay here
and stay awake
it's kind of your
task at the moment
this evening
so he's feeling sleepy
stay here
stay awake
but look what happens
next in verse 37
Jesus comes back
over to them
verse 37
and he came and found
them sleeping
and he said to Peter
Simon are you asleep
could you not watch
one hour
watch and pray
that you may not
enter into temptation
the spirit indeed
is willing
but the flesh
is weak
as Jesus
faces his burden
task
they have one
simple task
stay awake
and they couldn't
even do that
why?
well Jesus says
that the spirit
indeed is willing
but the flesh
is weak
Jesus is saying to me
your tiredness
is pulling you away
from the simple task
of stay awake
and pray
your spirit
is willing
but it's not
willing enough
and he comes back
again in verse 40
and what are they
doing?
sleeping
and he comes back
a third time
in verse 41
what are they doing?
sleeping
the disciples
are being contrasted
here
with Jesus
to show that
no one else
could have done
what Jesus did
they couldn't even
stay awake
so they definitely
crumb under the pressure
Jesus was facing
and so would we
so would any one
of us
and what's even worse
these aren't any
old disciples
James and John
said back in
chapter 10
Jesus we can
drink the cup
that you're about
to drink
and Peter
in verse 30
of this chapter
said
I will die
with you
for now
look at the
mystery
they can't even
stay awake
for Jesus
even the most
unwilling
could not do
what Jesus
did
Jesus
stands alone
in the garden
as the only
one who will
save the world
so did you
notice
where Jesus
is in relation
to the disciples
in verse 35
it says
Jesus went
a little farther
than the disciples
in Luke's gospel
it says
he went
a stone's
thrown away
this little
distance
this
a little
farther
is the
distance
between
the world
and its
saviour
between the
weak
and the one
perfectly
obedient man
who willingly
faced this
terror
now look at
what Jesus
says when he
returns for the
last time
in verse 41
are you still
sleeping
and taking
your rest
it is enough
the hour has
come
the son of man
is betrayed
into the hands
of sinners
rise
let us be
going
see my
betrayer
is at hand
the hour
he's been
dreaded
is now here
and he
simply says
rise
let us be
going
he willingly
heads straight
towards
he knows
Judas is
just ahead
he knows
the wheels
are in motion
he knows
his fate
is sealed
and he
walks straight
to the cross
straight into
the heat
straight toward
that club
all the while
saying
yet not what
I will
but what
you will
he had
his father
on his mind
that night
but not just
his father
Christian
he had
you on his
mind
in this
agony
because
Jesus
willingly
faced
terror
so that
you
will
never
have
to
that's
my third
point
tonight
Jesus
willingly
faced
terror
so you
will
never
have
to
have
you ever
wondered
how
martyrs
Christian
martyrs
could so
willingly
and
fearlessly
face
death
have
you ever
wondered
or seen
godly
Christians
so peacefully
and dreamfully
lay on their
deathbed
as they
stare down
death
maybe you
know someone
like that
or knew
someone like that
why don't
those Christians
have dread
or trouble
or sorrow
inside of them
because in
death
they aren't
facing the
wrath of god
there's nothing
left for them
to drink in the
cup
that they
aren't sorrowful
because Jesus
was sorrowful
for them
it's because
of this
very moment
in the
garden
and Christian
that goes
for you
too
as you
face death
however that
may be
that might be
old age
maybe illness
or maybe even
like a martyr
for your faith
whatever it may
be
you can be
very sure
that you
have nothing
to fear
in death
you don't
ever need
to feel
sorrowful
or distressed
or feel scared
about what's
coming after
death
your fate
is certain
there is no
wrath to face
for you
there is no
anger
Christian
there is nothing
left in that
cup for you
to drink
Jesus
has drunk
it all
and so let me
be clear here
your sins
are completely
and utterly
dealt with
and death
for you
is not entering
into a dark
and scary
place
no it is
the complete
opposite
death for you
is like coming
home
you will be
with Jesus
and it will
be amazing
Jesus faced
this distress
for you
he was terrified
as he approached
death
so that you
will never
have to be
but if you're
not a Christian
here today
can I just
speak to you
for a moment
maybe you're
here today
and you do
fear death
and it
troubles you
or maybe
you're not
a Christian
here today
and you just
haven't really
thought about
it
well
whether you
fear death
a lot
or you
haven't really
thought about
it
the truth
is that
death
is a lot
worse than
you think
because for
those who
aren't following
Christ
death isn't
just an
unknown
death isn't
nothingness
death is
terrifying
death is
when you die
you will face
God's wrath
this cup
that Jesus
was so sorrowful
and so distressed
to drink
you will have
to drink it
and it will
be a horrible
unimaginable
experience
and if I can be
straight with you
here it will
be hell for
eternity
someone
has to
drink this
cup
someone
has to
take this
punishment
so I ask
you today
will it be
you
or will it
be Jesus
because if you
turn from your
sin
and you trust
in Jesus
and follow
him
if you come
to Jesus
and say
Jesus
I don't
want this
wrath
please
save me
from it
rest
assured
he will
save you
he will
save all
who come
to him
and if you
do
if you do
come to him
you will
find
your cup
is already
empty
Jesus
has already
drunken
on the cross
and death
will be
transformed
for you
death
will not
be a mystery
it won't
be anything
to fear
in fact
it will
be entering
joy
it will
be like
coming
home
this is
why Jesus
willingly
faced
terror
in this
garden
he did
it
so his
people
will
never
have
to
fear
death
so
Christian
you
have
nothing
to
fear
on this
night
in this
garden
Jesus
said
there is
sorrow
in my
soul
and he
said that
so that
we can
say yes
and now
it is
well
my
soul
praise
Jesus
let me
pray
Lord
we
thank you
for
Jesus
Christ
we
thank you
for this
night
in the
garden
we
thank you
for what he
went through
so that we
would never
have to
and we
pray that
we would
continue
trusting
in his
death
and that
we would
be assured
that our
sins are
dealt with
and that
death
has been
transformed
for us
Lord help
us to
fix our
eyes on
Jesus
in his
name we
pray
Amen