Well, we've seen here in this reading that the scene is shifted once again in
Mark's record of the final days of our Lord.
And each step along the way takes Jesus closer and closer to the cross.
If you'll remember, the chapter began after Jesus's Olivet Discourse.
The chapter began in Bethany. It wasn't actually in Jerusalem.
They're outside of Jerusalem, about two miles.
They're in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper.
And that's when Mary takes the alabaster flask of ointment and worships and anoints Jesus there.
The next passage, Jesus and the disciples move into the city of Jerusalem.
New scene is set up for us.
This time it's in the upper room in Jerusalem where John and Peter have prepared the Passover meal.
Jesus leads that amazing final Passover and institutes the Lord's Supper for us that we still observe and will observe even this morning.
Last week we saw the scene change once again.
This time they're on a midnight stroll moving from the upper room in Jerusalem out to the Mount of Olives
where Jesus tries to prepare his disciples for what lay ahead of them later in the evening.
It's like flipping through a picture book.
Each page, each turn of the page reveals a new, vivid, colorful picture and scene following Jesus in these snapshots
along the way in these final hours of his life as he moves towards the cross and providing our redemption.
And verses 32 and 33 are what provide the background for this particular portrait in Mark chapter 14.
Look at verse 32 with me again.
They went to a place called Gethsemane and he said to his disciples,
Sit here while I pray.
And he took with him Peter and James and John and began to be greatly distressed and troubled.
So if we were looking at each scene in this chapter as a new page in the picture book, the flip book, so to speak, of Jesus' final hours,
what sets the scene here for us is these three elements given to us here in verses 32 and 33.
The first one being the place.
It was a place called Gethsemane, a garden near the Mount of Olives.
It was probably an olive tree garden, probably was surrounded by some sort of wall that paired it off.
In fact, you can go to the Garden of Gethsemane today.
I actually think I have a picture.
Becky, you want to throw this up?
This is the Garden of Gethsemane today.
This is where it is today.
Since the times of Jesus and even before, from what we understand historically,
the Garden of Gethsemane was privately owned.
Luke says Jesus and his disciples frequented the Garden of Gethsemane often,
which tells us why it was so easy for Judas and the soldiers to find Jesus later this night.
He already knows where Jesus is going to be.
They would often meet there and convene there, Luke says.
It was a place of prayer for Jesus.
No doubt Jesus being familiar with the owner of the garden,
who would allow him a quiet place of solitude to go with his disciples,
to teach them and to pray with them and to spend time with them.
That's where he's moved once again.
You can imagine under the cover of night, the middle of the night,
in a small garden like this, Jesus leaves ten of the disciples,
or excuse me, about eight of the disciples at the gate keeping guard.
Then he takes Peter and James and John, who are the participants here,
and he drops them off.
Perhaps, let's just say, perhaps he drops them off right here
where this plaque is on the bottom part of the screen.
And then he goes a stone's throw away, Luke says, just a little further,
maybe to that furthest tree out there.
And under the blackness of night, with no electricity,
nothing but the stars and the moon that would be shining down on them,
our Savior gets down and he begins to pray,
which was the purpose in this.
The place is Gethsemane.
The participants is Peter and James and John.
But why Peter and James and John?
Why take the three of them further into the garden in this moment?
Well, one easy answer is, well, he needed to take somebody,
otherwise we wouldn't have had the record of what happened in the garden that night.
So we're reminded then that the Gospels that we read here
are not stories that we think might have happened.
These are actually the eyewitness accounts of Peter and James and John.
But it's more than that.
They're also leaders among the disciples, aren't they?
Peter especially being the primary leader
and will continue to be the primary leader of the apostolic band
as they move past the ascension of Jesus
and begin the mission that Jesus had called them to.
We continually in the book of Acts see them coming back to Peter,
asking Peter, following Peter.
He was their leader.
Jesus had prepared him for that.
So we would think these three are major leaders among the disciples,
but I think it's more than that as well.
These three needed to learn a particular lesson from Jesus on this night,
a lesson that because of their role in leadership among the other disciples
would be necessary for them to teach the others.
Remember we quoted or we looked just briefly last week at John chapter 21.
Remember Peter says to some of the disciples as they wait for Jesus in Galilee,
I'm going fishing.
This is a sign of his leadership, isn't it?
He says I'm going fishing.
A few of them say, okay, we'll go with you.
Because Peter is a leader and leaders have followers
and they're following him on the way.
And remember what Jesus had already told Peter.
When you finally are restored,
strengthen the brothers.
This is going to be necessary for you.
And Jesus restores Peter.
And then what do we find Peter doing moving on from them?
Really becoming the rock that Jesus had named him to be.
That's what we see.
Strengthening the brothers.
He needed to learn a lesson in the garden that night.
James and John needed to learn a lesson in the garden that night.
But why them?
Do you remember in chapter 10
as Jesus and the disciples and the huge crowd of people
are leaving Jericho and they're headed to Jerusalem?
Remember it was James and John
who brought their mother
to ask the Lord for a favor.
Do you remember the favor?
Lord,
will you let us sit one on your right hand,
one on your left hand in the kingdom?
Will you give us the place of position?
Will you give us the place of superiority over the others?
We want that.
And do you remember what Jesus said?
Can you drink the cup
that I'm going to drink?
And they said,
yeah,
we can drink it.
They had no idea what they were agreeing to in that moment.
Jesus says,
you will drink the cup,
but to give you that,
that's not for me.
The Father has determined that.
You need to stop worrying about that.
I'm not concerned about that,
men.
Do you see?
There's some spiritual pride here.
They don't even know what they're agreeing to
as far as the cup is concerned,
but they're saying,
we can do it.
We can do it.
Rather than desiring to follow Jesus
on the path of suffering,
which is what the call to discipleship is,
they only want to follow Jesus
on the path to the throne
and on the path to ruling
and pride
and power.
And we just saw it last week in Peter,
didn't we?
Jesus tells the disciples,
you're all going to forsake me.
Peter says,
no,
I'm not.
And he says,
he says,
all of these other guys,
I can,
I can see them doing that,
Lord.
I won't do it.
I'll follow you to the death.
Jesus says,
to be honest with you,
Peter,
before the rooster crows in the morning,
you're not only going to forsake me,
you're going to outright deny me
three different times,
something that the rest of them won't do.
You're going to do that.
You're going to deny me
before other people.
Peter says,
no way.
And now Jesus takes these three men,
whom Mark has been determined
to show us exactly the extent
of their spiritual pride.
And he begins to show them
what it actually means
to understand your own condition,
to understand the weakness
of the flesh,
how to overcome temptation
in your life.
It's a lesson that they needed.
And the purpose
is prayer.
Jesus leaves
eight of the disciples
at the gate.
He takes three of them
inside with them
as eyewitnesses
that needed to learn the lesson.
And then his purpose
was to go there
because he needed to pray.
And the context
of this prayer
is extreme.
He becomes greatly distressed,
we're told.
Troubled
in this moment.
He was under intense
mental and emotional stress,
which gives us
the critical context
for this particular passage.
This was Jesus'
final and greatest
experience
with temptation.
And he knew
that prayer
was essential
in persisting
through such
spiritual distress.
Which brings
an interesting question
to our minds,
doesn't it?
How is that even possible?
How is it that
Jesus,
our Savior,
our resolute Lord
and determined Savior
who has been
on this path
to the cross
knowingly
for so long now,
how is it
that in this moment
he seems so weak?
How is it now
that in this moment
he seems
to be so distraught
over what is about
to happen?
How is that possible?
We spend
a lot of time
contemplating
and convincing others
of the fact
that Jesus
is a man
who was also
truly God.
That sometimes
we forget
that the opposite
perspective
is also true.
that Jesus
is the eternal God
who also
became
truly
man.
And in becoming
truly man
he took on
every dynamic
of humanity
aside from
our sinful nature.
Which means
that he understood
weakness,
he understood
temptation,
he understood
emotion,
he understood
trouble
and hurt.
And it's
this dynamic
of Jesus'
being
that makes
this text,
at least for me,
maybe you haven't
thought of it
this way
and I don't mean
to put questions
in your mind
intentionally.
this is just
what comes
to my mind
every time
I come
to this
passage.
It's so
difficult
for me
to comprehend.
Because I
can't fully
comprehend
the compatibility
of Jesus'
humanity
and his
divinity
and his
deity,
I find it
really difficult
to understand
his emotional
distress
in the garden.
It makes
me wonder
was Jesus
actually
willing
to go
to the
cross.
Did
his
will
differ
from the
Father's
will?
And if
his will
differed
from the
Father's
will,
does that
affect
his
position
as the
divine
Son of
God?
Was his
distress
here related
to the
physical
suffering
of the
crucifixion
or was
there
something
else
that
troubled
him
in these
moments?
These are
the kind
of questions
that come
to my
mind as
I read
this text.
Perhaps
some of
those or
maybe one
of them
at least
has come
to your
mind and
we can't
ignore those
things.
And here's
the thing.
This event
uniquely reveals
Jesus'
true humanity
which ultimately
points us to
and highlights
his true
deity
and the
extent to
which he
was willing
to go
to save
us.
That's
what comes
glowing off
of the
page as
we read
this text.
And tucked
in underneath
that amazing
picture of
grace we
find this
example of
faithfulness
and what it
means to be a
true disciple
following the
Lord on the
path of
suffering.
And those
are the
things that I
hope that you
will see as
we go through
this study this
morning.
Three things
I'd like to
point out.
The first
thing is
this.
I want you
to see his
agony.
I want you
to see his
agony.
Verse 34.
He said to
them,
my soul is
very sorrowful
even to
death.
Remain here
and watch.
This is what
he said to
the three
disciples that
he has taken
further into
the garden.
I'm very
sorrowful even
to the point
of death
he says.
Now that's
pretty extreme.
We've already
noted that he
was facing
considerable
mental and
emotional distress
but his
words here
reveal exactly
how extreme
his distress
was.
His mental
condition here
was not
good.
It's the
kind of
despair that
we see in
the Psalms
of Lament.
Jesus
indicates that
his sorrow
is so deeply
felt in this
moment that
there is a
physical expression
that brings
himself to
the near
point of
death as
a result.
He is so
sorrowful in
this moment
so distressed
in this moment
that physically
his body
is about to
give in to
death before
he even gets
to the cross.
Those are
Jesus'
words.
Now remember
Luke in his
gospel.
Remember who
Luke was.
Luke was a
Greek physician.
He was a
doctor.
This is something
that he adds
in his account
in Luke
chapter 22
he says
being in
agony
he prayed
more earnestly
and his
sweat
became like
great drops
of blood
falling down
to the
ground.
You're probably
familiar with
that imagery.
Jesus praying
in the garden
and his sweat
literally becoming
blood as he
is in so much
distress and agony
in this moment
Luke says.
Now it's
possible that
Luke meant
that metaphorically
just to give
us a visual
of the deep
distress that
Jesus is
experiencing in
that moment
but it's still
worth noting
that there is
an actual
medical condition
whereby a
person's sweat
is mingled
with blood.
It's called
hematohydrosis
and according
to the National
Library of
Medicine
though it can
be the result
of a blood
disorder
it's most
often associated
with someone
under intense
emotional
distress.
This is a
quote from
this medical
journal
this National
Medical Journal
fear and
intense mental
contemplation
are the most
frequent
causes.
That's
intense.
Have you
ever been
that sorrowful?
Have you
ever been
under that
much distress?
Maybe you
have.
Probably
not.
Whether we're
to understand
this metaphorically
or literally
the fact is
that Jesus
encountered
an emotional
agony that
few of us
will ever
really be able
to understand.
The question
is
what exactly
is it that
caused
this level
of stress
in our
Lord?
Was it the
prospect of
crucifixion?
Something
Jesus
undoubtedly
from being
a very
little boy
had witnessed
probably on
many occasions
in his life?
He knew
what that
would be
like.
He had
seen
mutilated
bodies
crucified
in this
way before.
He understood
that.
Is it the
prospect of
crucifixion
that leads
him to
this moment
of trouble?
Was there
something else
to his
anguish?
look at
verse 35.
Going a
little farther
he fell
on the
ground
and he
prayed that
if it
were possible
the hour
might pass
from him
and he
said Abba
Father
all things
are possible
for you
remove this
cup from
me
yet not
what I
will
but what
you will.
So Jesus
tells the
three disciples
to wait
and to watch
then he
goes just
a little
bit further
and he
cries out
to the
Father
two words
he uses
here
one is
from Mark
and one
is from
Jesus
Mark's
word is
hour
that this
hour
might pass
from him
Jesus'
words in
his prayer
is cup
that this
cup
would be
removed
from him
hour
and cup
are synonymous
expressions
of what
Jesus is
about to
endure
in his
arrest
and trial
and crucifixion
resurrection
the cup
in particular
is an
image used
regularly
in the
Old Testament
to refer
to God's
judgment
against sin
it's a
picture of
God's
wrath
being poured
out against
sin
and against
sinners
and I'm
not suggesting
that the
physical
suffering
of the
cross
was meaningless
to Jesus
but his
agony
in this
prayer
is about
much more
than pain
death
it's about
the judgment
of God
when Jesus
anticipated
this hour
when he
looked
into
this
cup
he saw
God's
plan
for redeeming
sinners
which meant
that someone
must face
God's
wrath
and when
he asked
for the
possibility
of it
being
removed
it wasn't
that he
was pushing
against
the
father's
plan
here's
what he
was saying
if there
is another
way for
sinners
to be
redeemed
let's
go with
that way
if there's
another way
for salvation
to be
provided
let's
take
that route
instead
but of
course
even in
this
prayer
Jesus
knows
there is
no other
way
so I
have two
questions
to consider
the first
one is
this
what was
in the
cup
what was
in the
cup
first it
was a
cup of
sin
was full
of sin
when he
looked into
the cup
he saw
every kind
of rebellion
against
God
every
idolatry
every
immorality
every act
of violence
through history
filled
this cup
and when he
anticipated the
coming hour
he
the perfectly
sinless
son of
God
knew that
he
must become
the sin
bearer
when he
looks into
the cup
he sees
the thing
that he
dreads the
most
he sees
our sin
the sin
of the
world
and we're
reminded of
Paul's words
in 2nd
Corinthians 5
for our
sake
Paul says
God made
him to
be sin
who knew
no sin
why
so that
in him
we might
become the
righteousness
of God
it is this
dynamic
that
theologically
we call it
imputation
where Jesus
as he looks
into the
cup
the sinless
son of
God
sees our
sin
being
imputed
onto
him
so that
his
righteousness
which we
do not
know
may then
be
imputed
into
us
and when
Jesus
looks into
the cup
that's what
he sees
our
sin
but it's
also a
cup of
wrath
it's a
cup of
wrath
for sinners
to be
saved
the
sinless
one
must
suffer
in our
place
for us
to be
received
the
son
must be
rejected
for sinners
to be
forgiven
he
must be
forsaken
now think
about this
who will
be forsaking
him
the father
who will
be rejecting
him
God the
father
whose wrath
will he
then have
to endure
and absorb
his
fathers
which reminds
us again of
Paul's words to
the Galatians
this time
Christ
redeemed us
from the curse
of the law
by becoming
a curse
for us
do you see
what Jesus
saw when he
looked into
the cup
he saw
your sin
not only did he
see your sin
when he looked
into the cup
he saw the
divine wrath
of God
meant for
you and
your sin
being poured
out not on
you but being
poured out on
him the
sinless son
of God
and in his
humanity
he looks
into the cup
and he
awaits the
hour that is
to come
and he recoils
in that moment
not because he's
afraid of death
not because he's
afraid of pain
but because he
understands that
the cup and the
hour are much
more than that
it is being
abandoned by
the father
and he shrinks
from it
bearing shame
and scoffing
rude
in my place
condemned
he stood
sealed my
pardon
with his
blood
hallelujah
what a
savior
when Jesus
looked into
the cup
he saw the
judgment of
God meant
for sinners
being poured
out on him
instead
and he
agonized
over the
thought
of being
alienated
from the
father
something we've
known from
birth
he never
knew
Sinclair
Ferguson
said
Jesus was
about to
be exposed
to the
one thing
in life
he really
feared
not the
cruel death
which would
end it
because he
knew he
would rise
again
but the
indescribable
experience
of feeling
himself
to be
God
forsaken
that's what
was in
the cup
that's what
Jesus asked
if there's
another way
let this
cup pass
which brings
another question
to my mind
I teased it
in the introduction
but it's a
serious question
when we look
at this
prayer of
the Lord
does that
mean that
his will
differed
from the
father's
will
is there
disunity
then
in the
trinity
that's an
important
question we
have to
answer
isn't it
I've spoken
so often
about Jesus
his willingness
and desire
to make
an atonement
for our
sin
but on
the surface
this prayer
seems to
indicate that
he wasn't
so willing
here's what
we need to
remember
what awaited
Jesus in
his death
was always
known to
him
and he
routinely
spoke
of his
unity
with the
plan of
the father
let me
give you
just a few
quotes
Jesus'
quotes
John 4
34
Jesus said
to them
my food
the thing
that gives
me life
my food
is to
do the
will
of him
who sent
me
and to
accomplish
his work
does that
mean that
Jesus had
a will
that was
different
than the
father's
no
it means
that he
was actually
working
and acting
in perfect
unity
with the
will of
the father
the thing
that gives
me life
my food
is to
do the
will
of him
who sent
me
to accomplish
his work
and what
is the work
that he was
sent to
accomplish
our
redemption
john
6
38
i have
come down
from heaven
not to
do my
own
will
but to
do the
will
of him
who sent
me
john
10
18
no one
takes
my life
from me
i lay
it down
of my
own
accord
of my
own
will
i have
authority
to lay
it down
i have
authority
to take
it up
again
this
charge
i have
received
from my
father
again
unity
in the
trinity
not
division
the
agony
of the
garden
is not
suggestive
of
an
opposing
will
but of
wholehearted
commitment
to the
will of
the father
even
amid
extreme
temptation
jesus
always
willingly
and joyfully
moved
toward the
cross
but he
also
faced
the
temptation
to avoid
it
let me
explain
think of
all the
times
that mark
as we've
worked
through
if you can
remember
them from
the last
six or
seven years
that we've
been here
if you
if you can
remember
all the
times that
mark has
specifically
noted
jesus's
private
prayers
the first
one is
in chapter
one
it's when
jesus
spends
40 days
and 40
nights
in the
wilderness
do you
remember
what was
happening
in the
wilderness
in those
40 days
and 40
nights
he's
being
tempted
of the
devil
what was
the purpose
of those
temptations
as summed
up in the
three that
are given
it was
continuous
temptation
three of
them are
actually
listed
for us
the purpose
of that
was to
get jesus
to circumvent
the cross
to act
in a
will
that is
different
from the
fathers
and in
each of
those
temptations
he
resistes
he resists
and it's
connected to
his prayer
life
we get
to the
end of
chapter
one
remember
jesus
had just
had these
amazing
few days
of
ministries
healing
all these
people
and all
these
people
are now
demanding
his attention
and his
time
even the
disciples
themselves
are trying
to get
jesus
to do
what
they
want
it's
a
temptation
to fame
and to
glory
and perhaps
kingship
apart from
the cross
and what
does jesus
do
he gets
up a great
while before
day
and he
goes out
to a
solitary
place
and he
doesn't
tell
anybody
where
he's
going
and what
does
he
do
he
prays
why
well it's
connected to
a temptation
in that
moment
fast forward
a few more
chapters
is it chapter
eight
maybe it's
chapter six
i can't
remember
remember the
feeding of
the five
thousand
when they're
leaving
john's gospel
tells us
that jesus
had to
escape
because the
zealots
in that
area
were trying
to make
him a
king
by
force
temptation
he could
become the
king
without the
cross
and what
does jesus
do
he sends
the disciples
out on the
sea of
galilee
in the
boat
and he
goes up
into the
mountains
by himself
to pray
the next
time we
see his
prayer
is here
what's
happening
in the
garden
this is
the pinnacle
of
temptation
one
final
assault
and final
effort
on the
part of
the evil
one
to get
jesus
to circumvent
the cross
to get
jesus to
go against
the will
of the
father
it is
stronger
than it's
ever been
before
and in
this moment
jesus faces
temptation
and he
perseveres
through this
temptation
once
again
he never
sinned
that's what's
happening here
it's not that he
wanted something
different from
the father
of course he
didn't
remember he
was a man
who was subjected
to the same
temptation we
are subjected
to
philippians 2
and verse 8
being found in
human form
he humbled
himself
how
paul says
by becoming
obedient
to the point
of death
even death
on a cross
what does
obedience
indicate
submission
to the
will of
the father
again
sinclair
ferguson
everything
in jesus
longed to
escape
this terrible
experience
seen in
its own
light
yet
everything
in jesus
also
longed
to be
obedient
to the
father
so he
took the
cup
never in
the gospels
does the
humanity
of jesus
shine
through
more
clearly
never in
the gospels
does his
holiness
appear
more
forcibly
and the
apostles
picked up
on this
let me remind
you of
hebrews
chapter 4
in verse 15
we do not
have a high
priest who
is unable
to sympathize
with our
weaknesses
that's not
who jesus
is
he knows
our weaknesses
because he's
experienced
our weaknesses
the writer
goes on to
say
one who
in every
respect
has been
tempted
as we
are
yet
without
sin
what is
this
scene
in the
garden
about
jesus
conquering
sin
for
us
for
us
he
remains
steadfast
and true
and perfect
and holy
yet at the
same time
he endures
the things
that we
can endure
so that
we can
now look
to him
who
fulfilled
the law
perfectly
his
obedience
and submission
to the
father
are clear
even in
his
prayer
that
amazing
phrase
yet not
what I
will
but what
you
will
again
that's not
meant to be
suggestive of
a different
will
but it's
meant to
highlight his
submission to
the father's
plan
he remains
our perfect
example of
humble obedience
to god
his
humanity
means that
his
temptation
was real
but because
of his
deity
he was
able to
show us
how to
defeat
temptation
in
suffering
notice the
three parts
of his
prayer
first
power
is
acknowledged
look at
his
prayer
all
things
are
possible
for
you
the
request
is
made
remove
this
cup
from
me
the
will
is
submitted
yet
not
what I
will
but you
will
now
remember
the
context
this
prayer
is in
the
context
of
temptation
that
comes
in
the
face
of
suffering
when
we are
indeed
like
Jesus
in
the
face
of
suffering
he
gives
us
the
pattern
to
follow
God
all
things
are
possible
for
you
because
you
alone
are
God
please
let
this
cup
pass
from
me
but
not
what
I
will
what
you
will
is
that
not
the
pattern
we
are
to
follow
our
prayer
loved
ones
if
we
are
to
endure
this
life
as
faithful
followers
of
Jesus
we
must
learn
to
take
the
Lord's
posture
in
this
prayer
we
have
to
acknowledge
the
power
of
God
to
do
anything
that
we
ask
and
we
must
be
willing
to
make
our
request
known
to
him
he
invites
us
to
do
that
Isn't
that
amazing
that
knowing
that
our
request
may
not
be
in
line
with
his
will
he
invites
us
to
make
it
anyways
that's
amazing
but
we
must
never
seek
our
will
above
his
even
if
his
plan
is
painful
and
difficult
how
in
the
garden
he
persisted
I
may
never
truly
know
the
fearful
weight
of
true
obedience
it
was
held
by
him
alone
what
wondrous
faith
to
bear
that
cross
to
bear
my
sin
what
wondrous
love
my
hope
was
sure
when
there
my
savior
prayed
father
not
my
will
but
yours
be
done
that's
his
agony
that's
a lot
longer
than
the
rest
okay
number
two
his
pattern
look at
his
pattern
verse
37
and
he
came
and
found
them
sleeping
and
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
and
again
he
went
away
and
prayed
!
saying
the
same
words
and
again
he
came
and
found
them
sleeping
for
their
eyes
were
very
heavy
and
they
did
not
know
what
to
so
as
he's
done
so
often
in
this
gospel
Mark
brings
together
again
the
reality
of
Jesus'
messiahship
with
the
instruction
of
faithful
discipleship
and
at
this
point
in
the
passage
he
turns
the
focus
away
from
the
agony
of
Jesus
in
the
garden
representative
of
his
messiahship
and
he
turns
now
the
attention
over
to
these
disciples
the
rest
of
the
text
here
is
about
them
it's
about
how
they
begin
to
fail
in
the
garden
and
there's
a
lesson
here
of
spiritual
vigilance
prayerfulness
for
those
who
follow
Christ
we
learn
here
that
apparently
Jesus'
first
prayer
lasted
about
an
hour
and
when
he
returns
he
finds
the
three
that
he
had
instructed
to
watch
actually
sleeping
instead
so
he
corrects
and
he
instructs
them
but
before
it's
all
over
he
returns
twice
more
to
find
them
still
sleeping
before
we
crack
down
too
hard
on
them
let's
remember
it's
the
middle
of
the
night
and
this
has
come
at
the
end
of
a
long
day
where
at
least
two
of
them
have
been
responsible
for
the
preparations
of
Passover
then
they
gone
through
a
Passover
meal
that
would
have
taken
hours
if
you've
ever
been
under
just
intense
mental
and
emotional
stress
even
for
a
short
amount
of
time
you
know
it
can
wipe
you
out
right
now
imagine
you're
with
these
men
and
you're
at
the
Passover
meal
and
in
the
midst
of
this
you
have
this
stress
and
emotion
laid
on
you
when
it's
revealed
that
one
of
you
is
going
to
betray
the
Lord
and
then
beyond
that
you're
told
that
all
of
you
are
going
to
forsake
him
this
would
be
emotionally
charged
this
evening
and
now
when
they
get
to
a
dark
quiet
place
in
the
night
the
flesh
is
weak
they're
told
to
watch
but
they
fall
asleep
they
shouldn't
have
fallen
asleep
but
let's
not
act
like
we
would
have
stayed
awake
!
Because
every
one
of
us
would
have
fallen
asleep
that
night
Jesus
goes
a little
further
and he
begins
to pray
and when
he
comes
back
he
finds
them
sleeping
it's
not
that
they
didn't
want
to
obey
Jesus
they
did
but
in the
weakness
of their
flesh
they
failed
to
do
as
they
were
told
the
three
disciples
who
were
most
vocal
about
their
commitment
were
sleeping
at
the
moment
they
should
have
been
most
watchful
and
it's
a
warning
to
us
about
spiritual
pride
and
complacency
that is
produced
by it
if the
men had
stayed
awake
they would
have
witnessed
the
premier
example
of how
to
endure
temptation
but
they only
got
snippets
of it
where
Jesus
prayed
was
far
enough
to
be
private
but
close
enough
to
still
be
heard
that's
what
Luke
tells
us
Luke
says
he
was
a
stone's
throw
away
given
the
intensity
of
Jesus
emotional
state
we
can
easily
discern
that
his
prayer
was
not
a
quiet
whisper
!
days
of
his
flesh
Jesus
offered
up
prayers
and
supplications
with
loud
cries
and
tears
to
him
who
was
able
to
save
him
from
death
now
think
about
this
Jesus
is just
a little
ways
away
and
his
prayers
are
cries
to
the
father
his
emotional
state
in
this
moment
has
brought
him
near
to
death
itself
by
his
own
words
and
here
he
cries
out
to
the
father
he's
not
saying
oh
lord
please
let
this
cup
pass
from
me
no
he's
crying
out
lord
please
if
there's
another
way
if
there's
another
way
he's
crying
to
his
father
in
this
moment
the
disciples
could
hear
this
agony
they
could
witness
the
agony
with
their
own
eyes
and
yet
they
fall
asleep
when
Jesus
tells
them
to
watch
in
verse
34
he
wasn't
asking
them
to stand
guard
he
was
inviting
them
to
observe
his
struggle
he
says
watch
me
he
was
teaching
them
how to
prayerfully
persevere
through
the weakness
of the
flesh
and this
comes through
most clearly
in verse 38
look at it
with me
again
watch
and pray
watch me
men
watch
and pray
that you
may not
enter
temptation
in
and here's
the ground
for that
statement
the spirit
is willing
the flesh
is weak
they knew
that
because their
spirits were
willing
James and
John without
even knowing
what was in
the cup
said I'll
drink it
for you
Lord
Peter said
everyone else
will
will abandon
you
I will
go to
the death
with you
the spirit
is willing
the flesh
is weak
and in the
moment of
temptation
Peter
and James
and John
flee
for Jesus
the spirit
is willing
over and
over
he's come
to do the
will of the
father
in the moment
of temptation
the flesh
is weak
and the
perfect son
of God
shows them
a pattern
of how
to endure
to be
mindful
of your
weakness
and persevere
in prayer
and he does
it without
sin
watch
is
observe
me
pray
is mimic
me
not into
temptation
is the
result
which is
following
him
they'd
already
proven
their
spiritual
willing
they just
didn't
account
for the
weakness
of their
flesh
and their
sleepiness
illustrates
a complacency
in us
that prevents
us
from watching
him
and from
praying
as he
prayed
and being
faithful
as we
follow
him
number
three
we see
his resolve
we see
his agony
his pattern
finally
his resolve
verse 41
and he came
the third
time and
said to
them
are you
still sleeping
and taking
your rest
it's
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
so we
begin this
section
looking at
Jesus
emotional
agony
we end
it
by observing
his
absolute
resolve
notice
his words
here
are you
still
sleeping
and taking
your rest
it's
enough
it's
enough
you know
what does
this
mean
I think
there's a few
possibilities
I'm going
to give
you what
the possibilities
are and
then I'm
going to
tell you
what I
think
it is
you can
make up
your own
mind
it's
possible
that he's
just
referring
to their
sleepiness
you've
slept
enough
it's
time
to get
up
maybe
that's
what he
means
it
could
be
that
it
is
enough
as a
reference
to his
prayerful
struggle
that there
has come
a point
where Jesus
there is
a final
moment
of
submission
he
said
his
prayer
he knows
the
father's
plan
and he
resolves
to
no longer
tarry
in that
prayer
but accept
the plan
of the
father
that could
be what
it is
I think
it's probably
a little
bit of
both
to be
honest
with you
what I
think
it is
is a
final
statement
similar
to what
Jesus
says
on the
cross
when he
says
it is
finished
but not
that
complex
yet
remember
when Jesus
comes
into
Galilee
what is
it that
he's
preaching
repent
and believe
the kingdom
of heaven
is at
hand
the kingdom
of God
is at
hand
I think
probably
what he
means
here
is
everything
that
leads
up
to my
cross
has been
accomplished
it's
all done
all that's
left
is for me
to drink
the cup
so get
up men
it's time
to go
and notice
where he
leads them
not to
the back
alley
behind
the garden
he
goes
to the
front
gate
of the
garden
and why
does he
go there
because he
knows when he
gets there
Judas and the
band of the
soldiers will
be there
he doesn't run
from the
father's
plan
he runs
to
the father's
plan
and again
he becomes
our perfect
example of
resolve
every one
of his
disciples
in just a
matter of
moments
now
are going
to run
away
Jesus
doesn't run
away
Jesus
runs
to
what does
this show
us
his resolve
and temptation
was not to
give in
but to
obey
to submit
to make
a redemption
and atonement
for me
and you
are you not
thankful for
that resolve
that in his
greatest temptation
he persevered
because if he
had not
persevered
you and I
would be
lost
we'd be
lost
forever
in the
greatest
display of
obedience
says Kent
Hughes
that will
ever be
known
Jesus
took the
full
chalice
of man's
sin
and God's
wrath
looked
shuddering
deep
into
its
depth
and in
a still
act
of his
will
drank
it
all
every
drop
of the
cup
he
drank
he
left
nothing
behind
he
resolved
in unity
with the
father
on the
basis
of his
own
joyful
will
to
drink
up
every
bit
of
wrath
that
God
had
reserved
for
you
and he
remained
faithful
to the
death
and it's
with this
same
resolve
that he
calls us
to follow
him
even on
the path
of
suffering
to stay
faithful
to stay
prayerful
engaged
in
watching
him
and
mimicking
him
let me
close it
this way
Hebrews 12
and verse
2
says that
it was
for the
joy
that was
before
him
that he
endured
this
temptation
and
submitted
to the
father's
plan
it was
for joy
that he
drank
the
cup
we
don't
find
much
joy
in this
passage
but the
writer of
Hebrews
said it
was indeed
for joy
that he
did this
do you
know what
the joy
is
what was
the joy
that was
before him
what moved
him to do
this
our
redemption
our
forgiveness
our
reconciliation
our
peace
our
salvation
our
sin
made the
cross of
Christ
necessary
his
love
drove him
to endure
it
with
joy
for
God
so
loved
that
he
gave
that
whosoever
will be
saved
you can
fill in
those
gaps
he
took
our
place
so
that
we
may
know
his
peace
he
procured
our
salvation
and
he
offers
it
freely
to
all
who
will
believe
and
follow
him
and
the
question
is
will
you
repent
and
believe
and
follow
him
Sinclair
Ferguson
said
he
has
drawn
the
sting
from
our
darkest
hour
for
he
has
entered
our
God
forsaken
God
forsaken
!
God
condition
so that
we
might
share
his
God
accepted
relationship
to
the
Father
and
just
as a
final
point
of
application
for
those
of
us
who
are
believers
indeed
our
spirits
are
willing
to
follow
Christ
no
matter
what
we
face
but
don't
forget
your
flesh
is
weak
my
flesh
is
weak
the
only
answer
for
persevering
is
to
follow
the
Lord's
pattern
watch
and
pray
that
you
enter
not
into
temptation