WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.419 Lord, eyes to see and ears to hear and minds to comprehend what you would speak to us from your 00:00:07.419 --> 00:00:14.620 word this morning. We ask that you'd bless us with a fresh outpouring of your Holy Spirit 00:00:14.620 --> 00:00:21.760 and draw us ever closer to you, ever closer to your blessed Son, we pray. In Jesus' name, amen. 00:00:21.760 --> 00:00:21.879 Amen. 00:00:21.879 --> 00:00:39.780 How do you deal with emotions when things are difficult, when bad things happen, either because of what you have done or because of what someone has done to you? 00:00:40.739 --> 00:00:49.820 When you're facing difficult situations, how do you approach them, especially when there's a great temptation to compromise your values and your convictions? 00:00:49.820 --> 00:01:00.460 What do you do? Today, we encounter Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying in his last moments before he is arrested. 00:01:00.539 --> 00:01:06.620 These are his last, in a sense, free moments before he is taken and arrested. 00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:18.319 This text, it's short, in a sense it's only 10 verses, but it has been deeply influential in the history of the church, 00:01:18.319 --> 00:01:24.199 in the prayer life of the church, in the spirituality of the church over the centuries and millennia. 00:01:25.119 --> 00:01:31.439 This morning, I mean, it's funny, you know, I jump into the text on usually Monday, 00:01:32.299 --> 00:01:37.699 and by the time Wednesday rolls around, I have a decent idea of how to approach it. 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:45.179 And sometimes it's very clear and obvious, but there's sometimes, there's a text like this where there's so much to take a look at. 00:01:45.180 --> 00:01:47.020 We could go in a number of different directions. 00:01:47.240 --> 00:01:53.700 But for this morning, I'm hoping that the text will help us with two main things and how they relate to prayer. 00:01:54.440 --> 00:01:59.000 The first is this, how to make sense of our emotions, our real emotions. 00:01:59.520 --> 00:02:00.740 How do we make sense of that? 00:02:01.740 --> 00:02:04.660 And the second thing is, how do we deal with failure and compromise? 00:02:04.659 --> 00:02:09.479 So how do we deal with our emotions and how do we deal with failure and compromise? 00:02:10.020 --> 00:02:13.120 If you would like to grab a Bible, they're at the back. 00:02:13.340 --> 00:02:14.699 You're not going to interrupt anybody. 00:02:14.919 --> 00:02:17.639 Just get up and grab it at any time during the sermon. 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:20.560 It'd be a great help if you could follow along with me. 00:02:24.840 --> 00:02:26.439 But let's just jump right in. 00:02:26.439 --> 00:02:31.520 So how does this text help us to make sense of our emotions? 00:02:32.780 --> 00:02:34.759 Jesus has been focused on the cross. 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:38.000 Since chapter one, he's been focused on the cross. 00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:43.020 He has been resolutely focused on accomplishing his Father's will, 00:02:43.759 --> 00:02:52.639 specifically bringing the kingdom of God being at hand with the good news going forth. 00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:59.939 This has been Jesus' main aim, and the cross has been what he has been on the journey towards. 00:03:01.259 --> 00:03:08.319 Nowhere in Mark's ancient biographical account of Jesus' life and ministry do we see him waver, not once. 00:03:09.619 --> 00:03:13.560 Jesus is laser-focused as he goes towards the cross. 00:03:13.639 --> 00:03:14.579 He doesn't express doubt. 00:03:15.459 --> 00:03:19.199 Nowhere, even when he is confronted by the powerful, 00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:23.179 does he try to remove himself from the path that he is clearly on. 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:24.719 Jesus is focused. 00:03:25.479 --> 00:03:26.859 No wavering whatsoever. 00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:30.919 And Jesus has perfectly accomplished his Father's will thus far. 00:03:31.739 --> 00:03:32.859 He is not out of bounds. 00:03:33.319 --> 00:03:34.399 He hasn't slipped up. 00:03:34.519 --> 00:03:35.659 He hasn't made a mistake. 00:03:36.280 --> 00:03:41.579 Nothing about his ministry has been anything less than perfect. 00:03:42.699 --> 00:03:47.659 Yet here we have Jesus in the garden expressing, in a sense, great doubt. 00:03:47.659 --> 00:03:52.780 He, all of a sudden, he breaks composure, so to speak. 00:03:54.219 --> 00:03:55.719 Shouldn't he be more resolute? 00:03:56.479 --> 00:03:59.079 Is this a crack in his armor, a show of weakness? 00:03:59.800 --> 00:04:03.039 What is happening in this garden scene, in Gethsemane? 00:04:04.719 --> 00:04:12.180 Let's take a quick look at what Jesus has to say here in verse, we'll jump down to verse 33. 00:04:12.180 --> 00:04:19.620 And he took with him Peter and James and John and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 00:04:20.740 --> 00:04:23.459 My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. 00:04:23.579 --> 00:04:25.000 Remain here and watch. 00:04:25.720 --> 00:04:30.460 And going a little further, he fell on his face and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 00:04:31.240 --> 00:04:35.220 Is Jesus here, right at the very end, slipping up? 00:04:35.220 --> 00:04:38.520 What is happening with Jesus? 00:04:39.440 --> 00:04:40.900 Is he showing weakness? 00:04:42.300 --> 00:04:46.260 And I would say, Jesus is in no way showing weakness. 00:04:46.380 --> 00:04:48.300 Especially as we continue on, you'll see. 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:51.720 But try not to know the rest of the story. 00:04:52.120 --> 00:04:53.880 Sit yourself in this scene. 00:04:54.820 --> 00:04:56.020 Is Jesus showing weakness? 00:04:56.120 --> 00:04:57.240 And I would say, no, he is not. 00:04:57.240 --> 00:05:04.800 This text is a profound insight into how we are to engage with deep anxiety and stress. 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:12.120 Because Jesus here, he is making it very clear, the perfect one who is following perfectly the Father, 00:05:12.980 --> 00:05:19.560 completely in step with the will of God, is expressing anxiety and stress, 00:05:20.220 --> 00:05:22.699 and yet remains perfect in his resolve. 00:05:22.699 --> 00:05:27.500 And it helps us to see that when stress and anxiety come, 00:05:28.479 --> 00:05:34.000 we aren't expected to put on a stoic demeanor. 00:05:34.699 --> 00:05:38.560 We aren't to, in a sense, engage in Zen peace. 00:05:39.159 --> 00:05:44.259 The Christian faith makes room for anxiety and stress in a very real way. 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:49.180 For our Savior himself is going through it in agony. 00:05:49.180 --> 00:05:51.180 I mean, he is struggling. 00:05:51.180 --> 00:05:56.040 He falls on his knees and begins to pray. 00:05:57.639 --> 00:06:04.680 The Christian life doesn't ask us to bottle up our emotions or to downplay the realities of the situations we face. 00:06:05.139 --> 00:06:12.079 And if you're an emotional person, you're just like, of course, obviously, yes, thank you. 00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:18.079 But if you're more of a reserved person, this might be a bit of a difficult text. 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:20.879 Because all of us have emotions. 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:24.300 How we emote them change from person to person. 00:06:24.659 --> 00:06:30.680 But it's important that we understand that emotions are very, very important to God. 00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:31.139 Why? 00:06:31.779 --> 00:06:36.500 God created us with tear ducts to experience highs and lows. 00:06:37.039 --> 00:06:44.039 The tear ducts aren't just for, to protect, you know, crazy six-year-olds from staring at the sun and going blind. 00:06:44.040 --> 00:06:46.620 Like, they serve a greater purpose than that. 00:06:48.160 --> 00:06:52.080 Emotions are part of the human experience and they are not bad. 00:06:52.420 --> 00:06:53.400 And they are not evil. 00:06:53.640 --> 00:06:54.780 They're not a sign of weakness. 00:06:56.220 --> 00:07:02.480 For the strongest man who has ever walked this earth is profoundly anxious and stressful. 00:07:02.939 --> 00:07:03.740 And stressed out. 00:07:03.740 --> 00:07:07.699 So, Jesus is in anguish. 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:09.600 When we feel it in the text, do we not? 00:07:10.759 --> 00:07:13.439 Jesus is about to experience a torturous death. 00:07:13.900 --> 00:07:21.120 But more than that, he's going to experience being forsaken by God the Father. 00:07:21.860 --> 00:07:24.800 We'll see this in chapter 15 when he breathes his last. 00:07:24.860 --> 00:07:25.860 I think it's verse 33. 00:07:26.460 --> 00:07:29.900 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:07:29.899 --> 00:07:35.339 Jesus is experiencing something more than impending torture and death. 00:07:35.899 --> 00:07:40.379 He is on the precipice of being forsaken by God the Father. 00:07:40.519 --> 00:07:40.819 Why? 00:07:41.339 --> 00:07:47.359 Because he will take on the sins of the world and God will pour his just wrath out upon Jesus 00:07:47.359 --> 00:07:56.639 so that you and I and all those who put faith in Christ don't have to taste the wrath of God in our lives. 00:07:56.639 --> 00:08:03.699 But ultimately, this means that God forsakes Christ so that we don't have to be forsaken. 00:08:05.800 --> 00:08:09.139 Verses, we'll jump into verse 35. 00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:10.199 We'll read it again. 00:08:13.639 --> 00:08:19.500 And going a little farther, Jesus fell on the ground and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 00:08:19.839 --> 00:08:22.699 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. 00:08:22.819 --> 00:08:24.099 Remove this cup from me. 00:08:24.680 --> 00:08:25.719 And I'll pause there. 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:37.419 Jesus, he is knowing his destiny as he goes to the cross, still does business with God. 00:08:38.220 --> 00:08:46.080 He still struggles in prayer in such a way that not only expresses his stress and his anxiety and his agony, 00:08:46.080 --> 00:09:00.400 but also comes to God in a very personal, relational, deep, trusting, loving way and pleads with him. 00:09:01.259 --> 00:09:04.160 In a sense, this also shows us that God isn't fatalistic. 00:09:04.820 --> 00:09:06.720 That we can wrestle with God, so to speak. 00:09:06.780 --> 00:09:08.780 We can go do business with God. 00:09:08.779 --> 00:09:18.240 And it also shows us that when we experience great anxiety, when we experience great pain that is no fault of our own, 00:09:19.339 --> 00:09:23.459 that it doesn't somehow mean that we are sinning against God. 00:09:23.460 --> 00:09:29.400 It does not mean somehow if we don't feel his presence, our lives are out of control. 00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:39.820 When we don't sense him at all close to us, it's like we haven't heard God's voice maybe ever in our lives, 00:09:39.820 --> 00:09:41.200 but we just feel a distance. 00:09:41.379 --> 00:09:45.580 Our hearts aren't necessarily excited. 00:09:45.580 --> 00:09:51.340 It doesn't necessarily mean that we are lacking. 00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:56.639 For Jesus, again, he is perfect in all ways. 00:09:57.100 --> 00:09:59.040 He is the closest with the Father. 00:09:59.520 --> 00:10:09.660 The Apostle John, in his Gospel account, will, I mean, he records Jesus having this high priestly prayer with the Father, 00:10:09.820 --> 00:10:13.160 and constantly he says that I and the Father are one. 00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:17.639 There is nobody in human history closer to the Father than Jesus. 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:21.419 And yet, he feels estranged. 00:10:22.019 --> 00:10:25.860 He doesn't feel great, and it is no fault of his own. 00:10:26.860 --> 00:10:28.059 And that's helpful for us. 00:10:28.659 --> 00:10:35.500 Because in a society that, whether you emote or not, by and large, we are ruled by our emotions, 00:10:36.199 --> 00:10:40.480 this is giving us permission to say, no, we don't have to be ruled by our emotions. 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:47.120 We might feel a certain way, but that might not be the reality that is happening. 00:10:49.019 --> 00:10:53.000 So how does Jesus process and deal with this heavy heart, this agony? 00:10:54.100 --> 00:10:59.519 How does he deal with these difficult emotions connected to his impending suffering? 00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:01.800 And this is a key bit for us this morning. 00:11:01.799 --> 00:11:03.759 What does he do? 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:04.859 He prays. 00:11:05.579 --> 00:11:08.479 God, the Son of God, fully man, fully God. 00:11:08.879 --> 00:11:10.659 He goes to the Father in prayer. 00:11:11.439 --> 00:11:18.199 And he doesn't pray, again, to some far-off, distant God that may or may not care about his situation. 00:11:18.339 --> 00:11:19.579 He prays, Abba, Father. 00:11:19.759 --> 00:11:25.019 This closeness, this relational, intimate, Father-Son relationship. 00:11:25.019 --> 00:11:26.819 And he connects with him. 00:11:26.860 --> 00:11:28.279 On one hand, he does business with him. 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:34.179 But only insofar as this relationship already exists, he prays to the Father. 00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:36.240 Jesus is honest. 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:37.360 He's authentic. 00:11:37.699 --> 00:11:40.460 He lays it bare to the Father. 00:11:41.199 --> 00:11:44.579 He says, if there is another way forward, please. 00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:48.379 He says this hour, that this hour may pass. 00:11:48.379 --> 00:11:52.220 This hour is the hour that he will go to the cross. 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:57.259 When he says the cup that may pass from me, it is the cup of God's wrath. 00:11:57.340 --> 00:11:59.700 It's a reference to the prophet Isaiah. 00:12:00.200 --> 00:12:07.879 But it's this picture of God's just wrath being poured out because of sin and evil and death and despair. 00:12:08.759 --> 00:12:10.939 And Jesus is being really honest with God. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:14.240 And it means that we can be honest as well. 00:12:15.320 --> 00:12:16.200 We can be honest. 00:12:16.200 --> 00:12:20.400 We can tell him, I don't like this. 00:12:20.980 --> 00:12:22.240 I don't want to face this. 00:12:22.660 --> 00:12:24.020 This seems unfair. 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:25.879 This doesn't seem right. 00:12:26.920 --> 00:12:27.700 Why to me? 00:12:27.879 --> 00:12:29.140 Why not to anybody else? 00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:29.980 Why to me? 00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:32.480 We can be honest with God. 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:38.840 But Jesus doesn't stop by asking God to simply take away the cup, does he? 00:12:39.420 --> 00:12:41.460 Verse 36, remove this cup from me. 00:12:41.520 --> 00:12:44.040 But what does he say to complete this prayer? 00:12:44.039 --> 00:12:47.339 Yet not what I will, but what you will. 00:12:47.740 --> 00:12:48.939 And that's the key bit here. 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:52.559 Yes, he asks God the hard questions. 00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:59.619 We could ask God the hard questions in our lives and be very open and honest with him. 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:08.719 But in the end, like Christ here in the garden, we bend a knee in faith and submission to God, trusting that his will is the best. 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:11.620 And he can see the end from the beginning. 00:13:11.620 --> 00:13:17.820 And he knows the right way forward for his glory, for our benefit. 00:13:19.420 --> 00:13:26.700 And this, by the way, in a sense, submitting to God's will is not an admission of weakness. 00:13:26.700 --> 00:13:31.640 Again, Christ is doing it right here, and he is not weak in the slightest. 00:13:31.639 --> 00:13:45.759 And I think, in a sense, the self-made man or woman is what, I don't want to say in just a sweeping generalization of our culture, 00:13:45.860 --> 00:13:48.559 because I don't, I think there's so many subcultures. 00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:53.079 But by and large, a self-made man is held to a very high esteem. 00:13:54.339 --> 00:14:00.119 And yet, here, true strength is in weakness and in trusting in the Lord. 00:14:00.619 --> 00:14:07.459 Bending a knee to the Father somehow is this beautiful example of strength. 00:14:08.719 --> 00:14:14.159 And remember, Jesus is about to have the cup of God's wrath poured out upon him, and he seeks God's face. 00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:21.019 He's 100% authentic to how this agony is affecting him, this stress, this pain. 00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:24.279 And yet, he still prays for God's will to be done. 00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:25.259 It's remarkable. 00:14:27.240 --> 00:14:29.100 It truly is remarkable. 00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:38.679 The cost of dealing with sin and defeating death can only be paid with the life of the incarnate God, fully man, fully God. 00:14:38.679 --> 00:14:49.699 It's, if you just, if you consider that Jesus, knowing all things, requests from the Father that there be another way, 00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:52.579 and clearly the answer is no, this is the only way. 00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:57.000 It also goes to show us how grievous our sin is. 00:14:58.199 --> 00:15:01.519 And not just our sin, the sin of the world, but our sin. 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:12.480 About how the hang-ups and the compromises and the failure to stand strong when temptation comes, 00:15:13.179 --> 00:15:18.539 the lies, the cover-ups, I mean, do a self-inventory, you'll see. 00:15:20.139 --> 00:15:23.840 But these things were so grievous that it could not be dealt with another way. 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:32.360 That the only way that satisfied justice and also to have a beautiful, wonderful picture of mercy 00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:36.320 was Christ himself dying on the cross in our place. 00:15:36.379 --> 00:15:37.139 There was no other way. 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:43.300 Not my will be done, but yours. 00:15:43.560 --> 00:15:44.820 This is the Father's will. 00:15:46.040 --> 00:15:50.060 And Jesus comes to this reality through earnest and honest prayer. 00:15:50.059 --> 00:16:00.619 It's a beautiful picture of what this relationship with God the Father ultimately looks like and what it's about. 00:16:01.479 --> 00:16:02.659 But what about the disciples? 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:07.000 See, we can talk about Jesus and how he's our example, and he certainly is. 00:16:07.579 --> 00:16:10.699 But when we try to place ourselves in the story, 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:15.379 surely we are in the boots of the disciples. 00:16:16.419 --> 00:16:17.559 So what about them? 00:16:17.559 --> 00:16:22.979 They are exhorted by Christ to pray, and they fail miserably. 00:16:23.239 --> 00:16:24.239 Look with me here. 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:29.459 Down to verse 37. 00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:32.479 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, 00:16:32.939 --> 00:16:34.739 Simon, are you asleep? 00:16:34.899 --> 00:16:40.500 Interestingly, how he uses Peter's original name, Simon. 00:16:40.819 --> 00:16:42.819 Peter is this picture of a rock. 00:16:42.939 --> 00:16:44.679 Jesus renames Simon. 00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:46.659 He is Peter upon this rock. 00:16:46.719 --> 00:16:47.759 I will build my church. 00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:52.759 It is this incredible name change in the scripture. 00:16:52.939 --> 00:16:54.959 But Jesus says here, Simon, are you asleep? 00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:56.659 Could you not pray? 00:16:57.379 --> 00:16:59.019 Could you not watch one hour? 00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:02.699 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. 00:17:03.439 --> 00:17:05.500 The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 00:17:05.579 --> 00:17:08.059 Jesus isn't looking for the disciples to pray for him. 00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:11.940 He is encouraging the disciples to pray for themselves. 00:17:12.879 --> 00:17:18.279 Because Jesus is facing the cross, but they are also facing temptation. 00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:21.000 And it's a real temptation. 00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:24.679 At the end of the Olivet Discourse in chapter 13, 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:28.839 Jesus ends with watch and pray, and the disciples are missing it. 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:31.379 Missing it time and again. 00:17:31.380 --> 00:17:42.720 We can often fail to pray, or if we do pray, we do so in a way that does not move us to trust in Christ. 00:17:42.860 --> 00:17:48.220 But in a sense, oftentimes, I'll speak for myself, oftentimes it satisfies a Christian guilt. 00:17:49.280 --> 00:17:49.980 I need to pray. 00:17:50.220 --> 00:17:50.800 I'm a Christian. 00:17:52.040 --> 00:17:55.280 Jesus has eternal salvation for me on the cross. 00:17:55.420 --> 00:17:56.060 I should pray. 00:17:56.059 --> 00:18:02.839 And you run through, if you do the daily offices, or you have your own kind of set way of praying, 00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:09.159 not every single time of prayer is this, if you pray, if you remember, 00:18:09.619 --> 00:18:12.940 is this warm, incredible, intimate connection with God. 00:18:13.679 --> 00:18:14.579 You kind of run through it. 00:18:14.919 --> 00:18:18.639 And I would just say, by the way, if that happens here and there, 00:18:19.399 --> 00:18:25.279 if that's, you know, what ends up happening, say, three, four times out of ten, 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:28.500 then still pray, still get in that habit, 00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:33.359 still lean into the reality and the truth that you are a child of God, 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:38.180 and that it is a privilege to pray, whether you feel warm to it or not. 00:18:38.839 --> 00:18:41.899 But all too often, we fail to pray. 00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:45.079 And notice what Jesus says about prayer. 00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:46.180 He says in verse three, 00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:49.200 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. 00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:52.240 The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:54.420 Prayer is so vital for the Christian life. 00:18:54.420 --> 00:19:00.740 Why? Well, first and foremost, because it helps us to connect with God the Father, 00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:02.300 God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:07.019 It is a huge privilege to pray and to be heard by God. 00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:11.380 But also, it helps us to avoid a spiritual stupor 00:19:11.380 --> 00:19:15.180 that often results in a kind of narcissism, 00:19:15.259 --> 00:19:19.400 that on one hand can take the form of a puffed up self-love, 00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:23.420 but on the other hand, a spiraling self-hatred. 00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:26.540 It's always interesting that pride goes both ways, 00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:29.740 either puffed up or super low. 00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:31.320 And prayer, 00:19:31.560 --> 00:19:36.620 prayer in essence helps us to remember that it is by God, 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:41.019 and God alone, through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, 00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:42.740 that we are saved, 00:19:43.339 --> 00:19:46.279 that we have the strength to do what he has called us to do, 00:19:46.619 --> 00:19:48.079 and it gives him the glory. 00:19:48.299 --> 00:19:52.779 It removes us, in a sense, from the throne of our own lives, 00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:55.220 and puts God where he ought to be. 00:19:56.879 --> 00:19:59.160 Prayer is vital for the Christian life, 00:19:59.180 --> 00:20:01.119 and it's no surprise that Peter, James, and John, 00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:07.539 but especially Peter thumps his chest just the moment before they get to the garden. 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:12.119 I swear to God I will follow you to the grave, Peter says. 00:20:13.739 --> 00:20:16.559 And here he falls asleep three times, 00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:21.639 which is interesting because when he is about to deny Christ, 00:20:21.719 --> 00:20:22.979 he will deny him how many times? 00:20:23.259 --> 00:20:24.199 Three times. 00:20:24.679 --> 00:20:25.219 Yeah, that's right. 00:20:26.639 --> 00:20:28.539 It's a deep connection between this, 00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:30.059 on one hand, 00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:32.299 this slumber, 00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:33.240 this tiredness, 00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:34.980 and a spiritual tiredness. 00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:36.180 And you could say, 00:20:36.299 --> 00:20:37.079 okay, I mean, 00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:38.299 he just ate the Passover meal. 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:39.500 It's a big meal. 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:41.200 Four cups of wine, 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:41.899 maybe more. 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:42.720 Wine, 00:20:42.879 --> 00:20:43.539 a lot of food. 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:44.240 They mix. 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:45.079 It's nighttime. 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:46.259 What do you expect? 00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:47.559 He's going to fall asleep. 00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:50.299 This is what's happening here. 00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:53.259 Jesus is pointing out 00:20:53.259 --> 00:20:56.680 that they are spiritually in a stupor. 00:20:56.859 --> 00:20:58.319 They are not sober. 00:20:58.539 --> 00:21:00.220 In their life. 00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:02.500 Can we not relate to this? 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:04.059 Very interesting. 00:21:04.879 --> 00:21:05.240 Jesus, 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:08.079 in a very kind way, 00:21:08.159 --> 00:21:09.000 but a direct way, 00:21:09.399 --> 00:21:10.339 points out to them 00:21:10.339 --> 00:21:12.659 that temptation is on the doorstep, 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:14.859 that they want to follow him, 00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:17.119 but their flesh is just so weak, 00:21:17.379 --> 00:21:19.059 and that compromise is going to come. 00:21:20.159 --> 00:21:21.180 All too often, 00:21:21.339 --> 00:21:22.460 compromise is something 00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:24.279 that we face, 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:27.680 and it's a very difficult thing. 00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:32.740 So we're tempted to compromise, 00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.680 and in my studies, 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:37.019 I thought it was an excellent, 00:21:37.139 --> 00:21:38.920 so I'll just quote it kind of verbatim 00:21:38.920 --> 00:21:41.039 in one of the commentaries I used. 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:42.539 Temptation is an invitation 00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:43.940 to be untrue to God. 00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:45.940 I think that's a very wise way 00:21:45.940 --> 00:21:46.639 to look at it. 00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:49.720 Because being true to God 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:51.920 is to be untrue to our selfishness, 00:21:52.379 --> 00:21:54.039 and to not trust in our own strength, 00:21:54.099 --> 00:21:54.680 but in his. 00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:57.220 So we have these conflicting desires, 00:21:57.619 --> 00:21:57.899 right? 00:21:57.900 --> 00:21:58.500 Friday, 00:21:59.160 --> 00:22:00.720 Friday, 00:22:01.080 --> 00:22:02.160 I had a chance 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:03.480 to give kind of like 00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:05.640 my preliminary thoughts of this 00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:09.240 to the Parliamentary Hill Fellowship, 00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:10.080 which I've never, 00:22:10.300 --> 00:22:10.500 well, 00:22:10.600 --> 00:22:11.280 once before, 00:22:11.380 --> 00:22:12.780 but never preached there, 00:22:12.980 --> 00:22:15.380 and it was a cool bit, 00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:15.759 but you know, 00:22:15.800 --> 00:22:16.860 I talked about compromise, 00:22:17.100 --> 00:22:17.820 and on the Hill, 00:22:18.900 --> 00:22:19.160 I mean, 00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:20.360 compromise if you're a Christian 00:22:20.360 --> 00:22:22.180 is like a daily thing, 00:22:22.600 --> 00:22:23.080 potentially, 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:23.680 right? 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:26.600 For the sake of politics 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:27.519 and saving face 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:27.959 or PR, 00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:28.359 whatever, 00:22:29.399 --> 00:22:30.539 we can compromise. 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:31.819 They can compromise. 00:22:32.219 --> 00:22:33.359 But in our own lives, 00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:34.159 you know, 00:22:34.199 --> 00:22:35.539 even if we're working from home, 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:37.359 and we don't see our coworkers, 00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:38.699 and we don't necessarily have to, 00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:40.819 we're not faced with this, 00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:42.939 do I follow Christ 00:22:42.939 --> 00:22:44.119 or do I follow the flesh? 00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:46.579 We still have constant, 00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:48.439 daily opportunities 00:22:48.439 --> 00:22:50.199 to compromise. 00:22:51.159 --> 00:22:52.719 Temptation is, 00:22:52.719 --> 00:22:53.079 is, 00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:53.619 is, 00:22:53.859 --> 00:22:56.579 it's a part of all of our experience. 00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:57.119 experiences. 00:22:59.659 --> 00:23:01.079 But here's the thing. 00:23:02.139 --> 00:23:02.299 Peter, 00:23:02.299 --> 00:23:04.459 Peter fails in the most miserable way, 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:07.139 precisely because he is not praying 00:23:07.139 --> 00:23:08.779 and trusting in the Lord, 00:23:08.859 --> 00:23:10.079 but trusting in himself. 00:23:11.139 --> 00:23:12.899 For the third time thus far, 00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:15.279 Simon Peter will play the fool. 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:18.039 And this leads to our second point here, 00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:20.139 how this text will help us to see 00:23:20.139 --> 00:23:20.799 that compromise 00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:22.359 compromise and sin 00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:22.879 are, 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:25.240 are indeed a human problem, 00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:27.480 but they're not the end of the Christian. 00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:31.059 So how do we deal with failure and compromise? 00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:32.200 Because we're bound to do it. 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:33.659 So Peter, 00:23:33.859 --> 00:23:33.960 he, 00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:35.359 this is at least the third time, 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:36.139 he plays the fool. 00:23:37.139 --> 00:23:37.579 Right? 00:23:37.639 --> 00:23:39.180 He claims that 00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:40.779 he will follow Christ, 00:23:40.919 --> 00:23:42.180 or he has this insight, 00:23:42.180 --> 00:23:42.560 and, 00:23:42.620 --> 00:23:44.799 and he is constantly 00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:46.240 showing himself 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:47.920 to be 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:49.160 quick to speak, 00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:50.539 but not quick to think. 00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:53.820 This is his hallmark. 00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:55.039 Remember, 00:23:55.140 --> 00:23:55.880 just moments before, 00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:56.620 beating his chest, 00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:58.680 I swear I will go to the grave 00:23:58.680 --> 00:24:00.519 before I deny you. 00:24:02.080 --> 00:24:02.480 But, 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:03.600 he doesn't. 00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:04.500 Three times. 00:24:05.580 --> 00:24:06.100 He will, 00:24:06.140 --> 00:24:07.560 he will deny Christ, 00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:08.740 and then at the end 00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:09.539 of all of this, 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:10.720 when he hears the rooster crows, 00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:12.960 he breaks down and weeps, 00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:14.039 the text says. 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:15.240 We'll look at that in a few weeks. 00:24:15.859 --> 00:24:17.440 But he breaks down and weeps. 00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:18.279 And I'm thinking, 00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:19.000 okay, 00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:19.740 pause there. 00:24:19.879 --> 00:24:20.619 My goodness. 00:24:20.839 --> 00:24:22.240 Where's the redemption for this man? 00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:23.059 But here, 00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:24.339 here's the wonderful thing here. 00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:25.339 Peter, 00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:27.619 just a few decades later, 00:24:28.399 --> 00:24:29.419 will pen this. 00:24:29.779 --> 00:24:31.299 A completely changed man. 00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:31.500 Well, 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.599 I'll just read it from my, 00:24:32.659 --> 00:24:33.159 my notes. 00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:34.519 A completely changed man. 00:24:34.619 --> 00:24:35.039 Peter will, 00:24:35.059 --> 00:24:35.759 will pen this. 00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:37.419 First Peter, 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:38.259 chapter four, 00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:39.119 verses seven and eight. 00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:41.419 And then again in 12 to 14. 00:24:42.159 --> 00:24:43.879 The end of all things is at hand. 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:44.740 Therefore, 00:24:44.899 --> 00:24:46.919 be self-controlled and sober-minded 00:24:46.919 --> 00:24:48.220 for the sake of your prayers. 00:24:48.940 --> 00:24:49.480 Above all, 00:24:49.659 --> 00:24:51.220 keep loving one another earnestly, 00:24:51.819 --> 00:24:54.099 since love covers a multitude of sins. 00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:56.159 I'll read verse 12. 00:24:56.659 --> 00:24:57.119 Beloved, 00:24:57.179 --> 00:24:59.259 do not be surprised at the fiery trials 00:24:59.259 --> 00:25:00.700 when it comes upon you 00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:01.700 to test you 00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:03.259 as though something strange 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:04.159 were happening to you. 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:05.119 But rejoice, 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:06.960 insofar as you share 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:07.900 Christ's sufferings, 00:25:08.539 --> 00:25:09.819 that you may also rejoice 00:25:09.819 --> 00:25:10.519 and be glad 00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:12.019 when his glory is revealed. 00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:13.460 If you are insulted 00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:14.559 for the name of Christ, 00:25:14.680 --> 00:25:15.360 you are blessed 00:25:15.360 --> 00:25:17.160 because the spirit of glory 00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:18.059 and of God 00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:18.819 rests upon you. 00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:20.480 Are we talking about 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:21.259 the same person? 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:22.500 Like, 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:23.000 Peter, 00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:24.400 he, 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:25.500 he doesn't stay awake. 00:25:25.620 --> 00:25:26.360 He is not sober 00:25:26.360 --> 00:25:27.519 for the sake of his prayers. 00:25:27.700 --> 00:25:27.840 He, 00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:29.200 he does not glory 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:29.799 in, 00:25:29.860 --> 00:25:30.600 in suffering 00:25:30.600 --> 00:25:32.220 for Christ. 00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:33.339 What does it say 00:25:33.339 --> 00:25:34.019 in verse 14? 00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:34.799 If you are insulted 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:35.660 for the name of Christ, 00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:36.259 you are blessed. 00:25:36.360 --> 00:25:38.079 He denies Christ three times. 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:39.360 Who is this man 00:25:39.360 --> 00:25:40.299 who is penning this? 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:42.360 Is this the same Peter? 00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:43.460 Maybe there's two Peters. 00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:44.319 There's not two Peters. 00:25:44.420 --> 00:25:45.279 This is the same Peter. 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:48.740 These words of Holy Scripture, 00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:49.759 which Peter wrote 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:50.579 by the inspiration 00:25:50.579 --> 00:25:51.440 of the Holy Spirit, 00:25:51.900 --> 00:25:53.019 are the complete opposite 00:25:53.019 --> 00:25:54.019 of what he did 00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:55.220 in our text 00:25:55.220 --> 00:25:56.220 in chapter 14, 00:25:56.860 --> 00:25:57.700 in our text today, 00:25:57.860 --> 00:25:58.740 our text last week, 00:25:58.799 --> 00:25:59.839 our text to come. 00:26:00.220 --> 00:26:01.579 This is not the same Peter. 00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:03.679 It's remarkable. 00:26:03.899 --> 00:26:04.839 But how is it possible 00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:06.079 for a man 00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:06.819 to compromise 00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:07.699 and sin 00:26:07.699 --> 00:26:09.299 and to give in 00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:10.000 to temptation 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:11.019 in such a way? 00:26:11.699 --> 00:26:12.119 How 00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:13.379 is this possible? 00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:15.019 Remember 00:26:15.019 --> 00:26:16.459 Mark chapter 14, 00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.159 just last week, 00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:18.299 Jesus said to his disciples, 00:26:18.839 --> 00:26:19.679 you will all fall away 00:26:19.679 --> 00:26:20.319 for it is written, 00:26:20.699 --> 00:26:21.699 I will strike the shepherd 00:26:21.699 --> 00:26:22.559 and the sheep 00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:23.199 will be scattered. 00:26:23.319 --> 00:26:23.899 Verse 28, 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:25.959 but after I am raised up, 00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:27.159 I will go before you 00:26:27.159 --> 00:26:28.220 to Galilee. 00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:29.299 The risen Lord 00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:30.460 Jesus Christ, 00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:32.059 he restores Peter 00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:34.359 in the most miraculous way 00:26:34.359 --> 00:26:36.379 that lifts him up 00:26:36.379 --> 00:26:37.519 from the very depths 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:38.759 of despair, 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:41.680 of despondency, 00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:42.619 of failure. 00:26:44.359 --> 00:26:45.659 When we compromise, 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:46.839 and compromise, 00:26:47.059 --> 00:26:48.180 I don't want to downplay it, 00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:49.539 I don't want to downplay sin 00:26:49.539 --> 00:26:50.619 and giving in to temptation, 00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:52.279 because it is grievous, 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:54.079 but it is not too grievous 00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:54.700 for Christ. 00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:56.240 He can redeem 00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:57.639 and restore all people. 00:26:57.640 --> 00:26:59.259 When you mess up, 00:26:59.500 --> 00:27:00.320 when you give in, 00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:01.460 it is not the end 00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:02.280 of your story. 00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:03.360 What do you do? 00:27:04.100 --> 00:27:05.000 Peter didn't do 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:05.680 the greatest thing. 00:27:05.800 --> 00:27:07.320 He just continued 00:27:07.320 --> 00:27:08.060 to spiral down. 00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:09.360 Throw yourself 00:27:09.360 --> 00:27:11.040 at the foot of the cross, 00:27:11.100 --> 00:27:12.060 at the mercy of God. 00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:13.860 Throw yourself 00:27:13.860 --> 00:27:14.700 at Christ. 00:27:15.840 --> 00:27:16.500 Be open 00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:17.300 and honest 00:27:17.300 --> 00:27:17.920 and authentic 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:19.140 with your prayers. 00:27:19.140 --> 00:27:21.520 I have sinned. 00:27:21.600 --> 00:27:21.780 I mean, 00:27:21.840 --> 00:27:22.759 the Collect for Purity 00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:23.340 that we read 00:27:23.340 --> 00:27:23.900 every morning 00:27:23.900 --> 00:27:24.880 on, 00:27:26.120 --> 00:27:26.800 in the, 00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:28.280 or every Sunday, 00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:29.020 what does it say? 00:27:29.140 --> 00:27:29.720 Almighty God, 00:27:29.780 --> 00:27:30.860 unto whom all hearts 00:27:30.860 --> 00:27:31.380 be open, 00:27:31.800 --> 00:27:32.800 all desires known, 00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:33.580 and from whom 00:27:33.580 --> 00:27:34.540 no secrets are hid. 00:27:35.080 --> 00:27:35.840 Can we hide 00:27:35.840 --> 00:27:36.480 our thoughts? 00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:37.820 Can we hide 00:27:37.820 --> 00:27:38.520 our sins? 00:27:38.660 --> 00:27:39.880 Can we hide 00:27:39.880 --> 00:27:41.180 our desires from God? 00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:42.900 Share it with him. 00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:43.820 Tell him 00:27:43.820 --> 00:27:45.280 exactly what is up. 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:46.800 Be honest with him. 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:50.440 It is a remarkable thing 00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:52.000 that Peter is restored 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:52.599 in the way 00:27:52.599 --> 00:27:54.159 that he is. 00:27:55.079 --> 00:27:55.599 So let us, 00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:55.859 friends, 00:27:55.960 --> 00:27:57.319 continually throw ourselves 00:27:57.319 --> 00:27:58.039 at the mercy 00:27:58.039 --> 00:27:59.299 of the one 00:27:59.299 --> 00:28:00.419 who did not compromise 00:28:00.419 --> 00:28:02.579 when facing temptation 00:28:02.579 --> 00:28:04.200 to avoid God's will. 00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:05.419 Jesus did not compromise, 00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:07.299 but he knew we would. 00:28:07.659 --> 00:28:08.299 Let's throw ourselves 00:28:08.299 --> 00:28:09.240 at him, 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:10.440 at the one 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:11.359 who submitted fully 00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:11.779 and wholly 00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:12.779 to the will of God, 00:28:13.379 --> 00:28:14.319 who defeated sin 00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:15.139 and death forever 00:28:15.139 --> 00:28:16.319 at the cross 00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:16.899 of Calvary. 00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:17.839 It's a beautiful, 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:18.539 beautiful thing. 00:28:18.579 --> 00:28:19.079 And I'll just end 00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:19.700 with one thing. 00:28:20.679 --> 00:28:21.559 As we consider 00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:22.619 the grand narrative 00:28:22.619 --> 00:28:23.619 of Scripture, 00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:26.200 we see there's types 00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:27.460 and antitypes 00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:28.099 and symbols 00:28:28.099 --> 00:28:29.000 and allusions 00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:29.899 and prophecies 00:28:29.899 --> 00:28:31.519 that go from 00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:32.059 the Old Testament 00:28:32.059 --> 00:28:32.720 to the New 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:34.679 and we see 00:28:34.679 --> 00:28:36.279 that there are, 00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:38.539 although dozens 00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:38.960 of books 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:40.299 written by different authors, 00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:41.119 different genres 00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:41.980 over the centuries, 00:28:42.099 --> 00:28:42.639 there is this 00:28:42.639 --> 00:28:44.220 consistent narrative 00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:45.119 throughout the Scriptures 00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:46.199 and this is one of them 00:28:46.199 --> 00:28:46.839 with the garden. 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:49.799 When do we see 00:28:49.799 --> 00:28:50.699 the first instance 00:28:50.699 --> 00:28:51.199 of the garden 00:28:51.199 --> 00:28:51.719 in Scripture? 00:28:52.199 --> 00:28:52.979 It's the Garden of Eden, 00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:53.299 right? 00:28:53.839 --> 00:28:55.279 And in that scene, 00:28:55.679 --> 00:28:55.959 Adam, 00:28:56.039 --> 00:28:56.759 the first man, 00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:58.139 he doesn't bend 00:28:58.139 --> 00:28:58.839 a knee to God. 00:28:59.379 --> 00:29:00.279 He doesn't trust 00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:02.179 in the Lord. 00:29:02.699 --> 00:29:03.379 He doesn't say, 00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:04.839 not my will be done, 00:29:04.939 --> 00:29:05.619 but yours. 00:29:06.019 --> 00:29:06.399 Instead, 00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:06.819 he says, 00:29:06.939 --> 00:29:08.500 my will be done. 00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:09.979 It's kind of like Peter. 00:29:09.979 --> 00:29:11.239 He thumps his chest a bit. 00:29:12.399 --> 00:29:13.399 And what happens? 00:29:14.040 --> 00:29:15.160 Sin and death 00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:16.019 and despair 00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:16.900 and brokenness 00:29:16.900 --> 00:29:18.920 enter into the human experience. 00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:20.160 But at the second garden, 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:22.300 the Garden of Gethsemane, 00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:24.700 we see the second Adam, 00:29:24.780 --> 00:29:25.660 the greater Adam. 00:29:26.280 --> 00:29:27.000 He bends his knee 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:27.640 to the Father. 00:29:28.600 --> 00:29:29.200 He says, 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:30.680 not my will be done, 00:29:30.800 --> 00:29:31.340 but your will. 00:29:31.380 --> 00:29:32.120 And what is the result? 00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:33.720 It is healing 00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:34.900 and it's blessing 00:29:34.900 --> 00:29:36.540 and it's forgiveness of sin 00:29:36.540 --> 00:29:37.220 and salvation 00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:38.140 extended to all. 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:39.460 But there is still 00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:40.340 a third garden 00:29:40.340 --> 00:29:41.740 that we see in Scripture. 00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:44.620 And it's in Revelation chapter 22. 00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:45.920 And it's subtle, 00:29:46.059 --> 00:29:47.019 but it's certainly there. 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:48.380 And this is what it says 00:29:48.380 --> 00:29:49.339 in verses 1 and 2. 00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:51.500 Then the angel showed me 00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:53.480 the river of the water of life 00:29:53.480 --> 00:29:54.720 bright as crystal 00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:56.359 flowing from the throne of God 00:29:56.359 --> 00:29:57.579 and of the Lamb 00:29:57.579 --> 00:29:59.000 through the middle 00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:00.519 of the street of the city. 00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:01.220 This is a picture 00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:02.000 of the new heavens 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:02.700 and the new earth, 00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:04.140 the new Jerusalem. 00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:06.960 So also on either side 00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:07.299 of the river, 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:08.519 the tree of life 00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:10.619 with its 12 kinds of fruit 00:30:10.619 --> 00:30:11.960 yielding its fruit 00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:12.559 each month. 00:30:12.619 --> 00:30:13.839 The leaves of the trees 00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:15.019 were for the healing 00:30:15.019 --> 00:30:15.619 of the nations. 00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:16.480 The tree of life 00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:17.139 was in the garden. 00:30:17.319 --> 00:30:18.099 The tree of life 00:30:18.099 --> 00:30:20.019 is in the new heavens 00:30:20.019 --> 00:30:20.799 and the new earth 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:21.720 and it's an allusion 00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:22.740 to a garden. 00:30:23.660 --> 00:30:24.440 That in the garden 00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:25.440 to come 00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:26.700 for all those 00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:27.460 that are welcomed 00:30:27.460 --> 00:30:29.319 into eternity 00:30:29.319 --> 00:30:30.759 with God the Father 00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:32.440 through God the Son 00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:34.000 by way of God 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:34.839 the Holy Spirit, 00:30:34.839 --> 00:30:36.339 we get to enjoy 00:30:36.339 --> 00:30:39.000 the end of all despair 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:39.839 and brokenness 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:40.379 where temptation 00:30:40.379 --> 00:30:41.459 is a thing 00:30:41.459 --> 00:30:42.699 of the past. 00:30:43.639 --> 00:30:44.399 No temptation. 00:30:45.480 --> 00:30:46.699 Opportunities to compromise 00:30:46.699 --> 00:30:48.119 will be absent. 00:30:49.399 --> 00:30:50.799 Only enjoyment 00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:51.720 of God 00:30:51.720 --> 00:30:53.720 and giving Him glory 00:30:53.720 --> 00:30:54.199 forever 00:30:54.199 --> 00:30:55.240 will be our destiny. 00:30:56.679 --> 00:30:58.019 And all of our hopes 00:30:58.019 --> 00:31:00.000 and all of our longings 00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:00.859 will be found 00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:02.419 satisfied in Him. 00:31:02.420 --> 00:31:04.120 all because 00:31:04.120 --> 00:31:06.120 Jesus in the garden 00:31:06.120 --> 00:31:07.480 He bends His knee 00:31:07.480 --> 00:31:08.220 to the Father 00:31:08.220 --> 00:31:09.940 and He accomplishes 00:31:09.940 --> 00:31:10.880 the Father's will 00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:12.140 and drinks the cup 00:31:12.140 --> 00:31:13.160 that was meant for us. 00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:15.240 Beautiful, beautiful thing 00:31:15.240 --> 00:31:16.180 that we see Christ do. 00:31:16.820 --> 00:31:17.320 Let us pray. 00:31:18.640 --> 00:31:19.759 Lord, we thank You 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:20.320 that we 00:31:20.320 --> 00:31:23.779 have this beautiful story 00:31:23.779 --> 00:31:24.360 of the garden 00:31:24.360 --> 00:31:25.500 and how Your Son 00:31:25.500 --> 00:31:27.779 facing great anxiety 00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:29.460 and pain 00:31:29.460 --> 00:31:30.240 and agony 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:31.960 He is honest 00:31:31.960 --> 00:31:32.799 on one hand 00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:34.019 with the reality of it 00:31:34.019 --> 00:31:37.180 but He entrusts Himself 00:31:37.180 --> 00:31:37.680 to You 00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:38.140 and Lord, 00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:40.120 help us to be people 00:31:40.120 --> 00:31:41.680 that grow in prayer 00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:44.700 as an expression 00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:47.299 of our relationship 00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:48.500 that You have extended 00:31:48.500 --> 00:31:49.079 to us. 00:31:49.880 --> 00:31:50.400 Lord, 00:31:50.579 --> 00:31:51.500 help us to be people 00:31:51.500 --> 00:31:52.740 that grow 00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:53.559 in our trust 00:31:53.559 --> 00:31:54.960 in You 00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:56.380 and when we end up 00:31:56.380 --> 00:31:57.120 failing 00:31:57.120 --> 00:31:58.000 and falling 00:31:58.000 --> 00:31:59.359 and giving into temptation 00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:00.159 and compromising 00:32:00.159 --> 00:32:00.639 our faith 00:32:00.639 --> 00:32:02.339 when we do 00:32:02.339 --> 00:32:03.939 that we won't be 00:32:03.939 --> 00:32:06.019 slow to come to You 00:32:06.019 --> 00:32:07.359 but we will throw ourselves 00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:08.779 at the foot of the cross 00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:10.719 that we will seek Your face 00:32:10.719 --> 00:32:11.399 that we will confess 00:32:11.399 --> 00:32:12.119 our sins 00:32:12.119 --> 00:32:13.179 and pray 00:32:13.179 --> 00:32:14.759 that we may be healed. 00:32:15.879 --> 00:32:16.299 So Lord, 00:32:16.359 --> 00:32:17.379 we ask that You'll bolster 00:32:17.379 --> 00:32:17.899 in us 00:32:17.899 --> 00:32:19.699 not a great guilt 00:32:19.699 --> 00:32:21.219 for the sin 00:32:21.219 --> 00:32:21.799 that we've done 00:32:21.799 --> 00:32:23.159 although that is very important 00:32:23.159 --> 00:32:24.119 that we would feel 00:32:24.119 --> 00:32:24.839 the weight of it 00:32:24.839 --> 00:32:25.899 but instead 00:32:25.899 --> 00:32:27.000 a great love 00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:27.940 and thankfulness 00:32:27.940 --> 00:32:28.640 for Your Son 00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:30.180 who bore the penalty 00:32:30.180 --> 00:32:30.940 on our behalf. 00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:32.099 Amen. 00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:33.500 Amen.