Well, a very good morning, Brunsfield.
It is wonderful to be part of your service this morning.
I'm very sorry that we're not able to meet physically together,
but I hope you're keeping well, and not just physically, but spiritually,
and that God is really using this time to speak to you as a church,
but also to you as individuals.
So this time is going to be a time of transformation
and a deepened devotion to Him and everything that happens.
So we're going to be looking at this passage in Matthew 26,
verse 36 and onwards.
And if you have a Bible, I encourage you to have it open wherever you are,
because we'll be looking at that together in a moment or two.
But let me take you back first to 1945.
On April 9th, the German pastor, Dietrich Bonhoeffer,
who was associated with an attempt on taking Hitler's life,
faced the gallows just outside of his prison cell
in the Flossenberg concentration camp.
Now, his famous last words are actually debated whether they are authentic or not,
but they are quite impressive.
He possibly could have said,
this is not the end for me, as he faced his death,
but it's the beginning of life.
But even so, whether it was authentic or not,
he certainly seemed, according to eyewitnesses,
totally at peace and serene.
And it's interesting that when you look up the different famous or lesser famous martyrs,
that's often the description you find.
Some even faced their death with utter joy.
So how different when we read about Jesus' agony and sorrow
and his pleading with the Father,
how different the picture seems to be as Jesus faces his own death.
Now, just to give you a little bit of context,
it's nearly what we would call Good Friday,
but the week has been tough.
Ever since the triumphal entry,
Jesus had opposition growing against him time and time again.
He's also spent a lot of time with his disciples,
trying to get as much teaching and training into them
before it was time for him to die on the cross.
And of course, the cross itself was looming larger and larger over that week.
And events described here in our text describe Thursday night.
Jesus had time with his disciples celebrating the Passover
and actually giving it a completely new meaning,
some of which will have only been fulfilled by Jesus' death on the cross
and maybe only would have made sins afterwards to the disciples.
But afterwards, we now find ourselves in a garden,
very appropriately called Gethsemane,
which meant the oil press,
which may have been a hint to what lay ahead for Jesus
as he would trod the wine press of the anger of his Father.
One certainly can't help but think of another garden,
the very first garden,
which was the garden where the rebellion all began.
But here in this second garden,
it would lead to restoration,
paradise restored,
paradise made completely new.
And Jesus came here to this garden to pray.
And people, this morning, I want us to see three things
as we look at this passage together.
First, I want us to see what leads Jesus to pray
and see how actually Christ's agony
reveals to us Christ's love.
for us.
Secondly, we should also listen to what Jesus prays
and very much see that Christ trusts the Father in his suffering.
Thirdly, though,
we must also see the lack of prayer of those who are with him
and see how this passage also confronts us
with how the disciples are found wanting.
So let's first look at what led Jesus to pray.
And I wonder if there's ever been a time
where you have faced something
very challenging,
very scary, perhaps,
maybe something very difficult.
May have been an exam,
maybe a driving test,
your third or fourth attempt.
But it might have been also an operation.
Or maybe you've even faced death itself.
Whatever it may have been,
you know what it can be like
and how it can really hit your stomach
and it can give you sleepless nights.
What we find in verse 37 and verse 38,
the description that Jesus is becoming more
and more sorrowful and troubled.
It says,
he says to them,
my soul is overwhelmed with sorrow
to the point of death.
It's very much like how Psalm 42 puts it,
how his soul seems to be downcast
and disturbed within him.
And it even leads him to pray to the Father,
if it is at all possible,
may this cup be taken from me.
Now, let's not misunderstand Jesus.
He's not having second thoughts.
He's certainly not afraid of the abuse,
the insults or the lashes
which are going to confront him.
It's something much deeper.
The Greek here literally means
astonished or amazed.
Now, you may think this is impossible
for an all-knowing and an all-powerful God
to be astonished or amazed at anything.
But people, it's the realization,
it's the first experience
that Jesus has of the horror
of what lay ahead.
As one commentator puts it,
all Jesus can see right now
before him is the evil,
the wrath,
the abyss,
the chasm,
the nothingness of the cup
that he was about to drink,
which meant exclusion from God
and with that,
the exclusion of his love
and his light.
And people,
let's remember that this is
really only a foretaste
by Jesus' staggers.
See, people,
the cup
is a reference
to God's wrath.
For example,
Isaiah chapter 51,
verse 17
tells us,
Now,
this notion of God
being angry
and God's wrath
is not something
that many of us like.
It might be exactly
the aversion you have
to Christianity.
See,
I told you
that Christian God
is always angry.
But part of our problem
is seeing anger
from a human perspective
and in that sense
from a human
broken perspective.
Where we see anger
the way we've experienced
it ourselves
as something uncontrolled,
explosive,
often disproportionate
and a violent reaction
and very much
the opposite of love.
However,
it is actually possible
to be angry
not as opposite of love
but as part of love.
Something I can get
really angry about
almost in a helpless way
is abuse.
You just have to open
the pages of the newspaper
and you'll find
abuse of all kinds
but particularly
child abuse.
And I guess
it is motivated
by love for me
because as a father,
as a parent myself,
it's the last thing
I would ever want
to see happen
to my very own children.
And so similarly,
God's love
actually demands
his anger at sin
for him to ignore it
or not to do anything
about it
would be unloving indeed.
And Jesus
would drink
God's anger,
his judgment,
all due to our filth
in our place.
And to put it
in other words,
Jesus actually
would experience
the death
that is due
to sinners.
And people,
that's why
on the one hand
we should by all means
fear death
yet at the same time
we don't have to.
I remember growing up
somebody saying,
do you know
that where Jesus
hung on the cross
is really where
you should have
been hanging?
But I want to take it
one step further
because not only
should we have hung
where Christ hung
on the cross,
we should have also
been where Christ
was in the garden
where we would have
like Jesus
been absolutely
troubled
by the sinfulness
of man
especially our own.
Yet because Jesus
came
out of his very
own free will
and placed himself
into this agony
that he experienced
in this garden
our prayer
can actually
be different
from Jesus' prayer.
And so rather
than praying
to Father
God
if it is at all
possible
may this cup
that we deserve
pass from us
we can actually
pray to the Father
and say thanks
to your grace
and your mercy
this cup
has passed
to Jesus
and I no longer
have to fear
death.
And so people
this is the love
we want
this is actually
the love
that we need
it's a love
that no one
else can give us.
It meant
that the cup
of judgment
could become
a cup of blessing
which we still
rejoice
and celebrate
today.
It also means
that we have
a high priest
who not only
fully understands
anything that we
go through
but also
continues to pray
for us today
bringing each
one of us
before our
Heavenly Father.
Can I encourage you
that if you do
not yet know
this love
that you may
today
commit your
heart and
your life
to this
Jesus
and may
you trust
in him
and know
his love
in what we
see here
today
for Jesus
agony
reveals
Jesus
love
for us.
Now secondly
we also want
to see
that Christ
trusts the
Father
in his
suffering.
Verse 39
doesn't just
tell us
Jesus
praying to
the Father
if it's
possible
may this
cup pass
from me
but he also
says yet
not as I
will
but as
you
will.
People may
be very
clear that
Jesus does
wrestle
and yet
he obeys.
Sometimes
we don't
share that
enough with
one another
but it's
okay to
wrestle
to wrestle
with the
things in
life that
we find
difficult
or find
hard to
understand.
Isn't that
what most
of the
Psalms are
about?
People
wrestling
with God
and yet
the wrestling
must always
end with
a submissive
and a
joyful
obedience
because this
is exactly
why Jesus
prays not
just to
wrestle but
also how
he prays
because Jesus
as we'll
see is
when he
prays he
calls God
his Father
and it
shows us
so many
things.
Doesn't it
remind us
that Jesus
knows exactly
who he's
talking to
and isn't
it also a
reflection of
their relationship
and isn't
Jesus knowing
that God
his Father
is good
and cares
and is not
only all
powerful but
also all
wise
and Jesus
knows that
he's loved
hence he
dares to
say in
pure
submission
not my
will
but yours
that
submission
is even
beautifully
demonstrated
by Jesus
actually falling
face down
before the
Father
what a
picture of
humility
and submission
and that
submission again
is seen in
the movement
in his
prayer
where once
he prayed
if this
cup could
pass
later on
in verse
42
he says
but if
it's not
possible
I'm ready
people
Jesus
trust
the
Father
in his
suffering
I wonder
how we
react
when we
face
any
challenges
or any
fear
or any
suffering
I think
a lot
of us
either try
to run
away
we try
to avoid
discomfort
at all
means
we maybe
even put
our head
in the
sand
or we
try to
sort it
out
ourselves
we place
the trust
in us
and if
we pray
we don't
necessarily
wrestle
in prayer
we might
just
chuck it
towards
God
and even
if we
wrestle
we might
only
wrestle
without
the
submission
to follow
in that
sense
I do
wonder
how much
this virus
and all
the fear
that many
have
experienced
in the
anxiety
has it
changed
us at
all
I mean
how easy
do we
find it
today
to truly
pray
not my
will
but yours
but this
people
this trust
that Jesus
had
is the
trust
that we
need
people
we ought
to be
praying
far more
than we
do
and when
we pray
we must
know
that we're
coming
to our
heavenly
father
who is
good
who is
generous
who longs
to bless
and works
all things
for the
good
of those
who love
him
and people
like
Jesus
we must
also come
in that
submissive
humility
what I would
consider true
worship
falling face
down
and in many
ways isn't
this what the
Lord's prayer
is all about
you may have
heard this
suggestion already
but the
hand washing
for 20
seconds can
be accompanied
by singing
happy birthday
twice but
it's also
the time
you can use
much better
by praying
the Lord's
prayer
because there
we pray
just like
Jesus
our father
and then
we pray
who art
in heaven
and then
we worship
him and say
hallowed be
your name
that is like
coming to
him face
down to
before him
and then
we say
your kingdom
come and
then
exactly
your will
be done
on earth
in my
life
as it is
in heaven
people will
we like
Jesus
trust the
father
in our
suffering
but thirdly
sadly we do
find a real
contrast
to Christ's
prayerfulness
in the
disciples
prayerlessness
verse 40
and verse 41
tells us that
Jesus returns
to the disciples
and finds them
sleeping
and he says
could you men
not keep
watch with
me for
one hour
he asked
Peter
watch and
pray
so that you
will not
fall into
temptation
for the
spirit is
willing
but the
body
is weak
I found
it quite
tempting
to nearly
overlook
this
or certainly
underestimate
its importance
I mean we
can make
excuses
can't we
for the
disciples
it's late
the middle
of the night
it's been
an intense
week
I mean
wouldn't
you
have
fallen
asleep
yourself
of course
it's sad
that they
weren't
more supportive
but if you're
anything like
me I start
yawning from
about 930
onwards
I remember
in my college
days somebody
had organized
an all night
prayer meeting
boy did I
struggle
through that
indeed
and yet people
in the context
it's very clear
that the
disciples
sleepiness
is understood
first of all
as disobedience
disobedience
to Christ's
call to
watch
and later
to watch
and pray
I even
wonder if
it's the
initial form
of denial
that Jesus
predicted
not only
Peter but
also his
disciples
to be
guilty of
later
Matthew
particularly
mentions that
it happened
three times
that they
fell asleep
and so even
though there's
no crow
remember Peter
had just said
to Jesus
I will never
leave you
nor forsake
you
but here's
the beginning
of him
already
starting to
give in
and give up
and deny
his very
savior
his lord
but Jesus
also points
out that it's
not just
disobedience
it's not
just some
form of
denial
it's actually
that prayerlessness
is actually
dangerous
he is calling
to watch
and pray
so that they
will not
fall into
temptation
well what
temptation
may this
be
it's
probably the
temptation
of
unfaithfulness
the disciples
are found
wanting
and people
I do wonder
how the church
compares
to them
how we
compare
for we
like the
disciples
have also
been called
to watch
and pray
and it's
interesting
that in
1st Peter
chapter 5
verse 6
through 8
and I wonder
if Peter
might have
even thought
back of that
moment in
Gethsemane
he writes
humble yourselves
therefore under
God's mighty
hand
that he
may lift
you up
in due
time
cast all
your cares
on him
because he
cares for
you
be self-controlled
and alert
your enemy
the devil
prowls around
like a roaring
lion
people how often
do we find
that combination
of watching
and praying
of being alert
because of the
devil our enemy
again in
Ephesians chapter 6
it reads
and pray in the
spirit on all
occasions
keep alert
and always
keep on
praying
one commentator
says no
prayer
no power
people not
only is
prayer the
secret to
faithfulness
and fruitfulness
in our life
to God
but it's also
the defense
people insufficient
prayer and a
prayerless frame
of mind
if we're not
vigilant
we will be
ensnared
also
by
temptation
and into
temptation
people were
told that
Jesus
his
Jesus Christ
his soul
was heavy
and the
disciples eyes
were heavy
but people
even if our
eyes are heavy
actually
exactly because
our eyes are
heavy
we must
watch
and pray
there is too
much
at stake
I guess
part of the
problem
their problem
as well as
our problem
was just
simple
incomprehension
of all that
was going
on
not fully
realizing
what Jesus
was about
to do
they hadn't
fully grasped
the love
of Christ
which was
on display
now the
tiredness
wouldn't
have helped
but all
this
incomprehension
even of
what was
at stake
would not
have helped
them
in their
lack
in trust
in the
good father
so people
may
this
scene
and the
agony
that Jesus
went through
for us
be a great
reminder
not only of
the great
love that
Christ had
for us
that even
though
he had
a picture
of what
he was
still to
go through
and he
went through
with it
and for
it for
us
may it
also
encourage
and challenge
each one
of us
to like
him
put our
trust
fully in
the father
whatever we
may be
suffering
today
and ultimately
may we
always be
watching and
praying
like Jesus
it's so
encouraging to
see that
that even
when the
disciples fail
Jesus
Jesus doesn't
fail the
father
how wonderful
to see the
depth the
height the
width and
the length
of the
love of
God even
before we
get to
the cross
may it
encourage you
may it
challenge you
and change
you forever
let me pray
with you
just now
heavenly
father we
thank you
again for
your word
we thank
you that
it's
relevant
thank you
that it
can speak
right into
our situation
in 2020
but thank
you lord
that you've
taken us
back this
morning to
that moment
in which
Jesus Christ
saw the
death which
really we
as sinners
are due
thank you
that you
put your
trust in
the father
and said
not my
will but
yours
and so
you willingly
took your
place on the
cross for
each one of
us
we thank you
for that
great love
and we ask
you to help
us now
to put our
trust in
the father
also just
like you
and to be
a church
and to be
a people
who watch
and pray
so that we
will not fall
into that
temptation
of unfaithfulness
for your
glory
in Jesus
name
amen