This Week's Message

“The Agony of Gethsemane”

Matthew 26:36-46

Tonight we traditionally consider the events associated with the cross of Jesus. Over the years we have looked at the Last Supper, the Olivet Discourse, the Words from the Cross, and many other events associated with the trial and death of Jesus.

Tonight I want to focus on the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “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. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. (Mt. 26:38-44)

Jesus took his disciples (minus Judas) into the Garden of Gethsemane. He asked Peter, James and John to walk a little further with Him. He challenged them to be fervent in prayer (for themselves and for Him). Jesus went further into the Garden and, we are told, three times went back to prayer asking that “the cup might pass from Him.”

It is apparent, I hope, to all of us, that Jesus is in deep distress. Three times He returns to His place of prayer and “prayed the same thing.” He was in the midst of a battle that he was fighting on his knees before the Father.

We read over these words and tend to assume that we understand them. I want to pause tonight and ask the simple question: “What was it about this ‘cup’ that made it so difficult to drink?” I think the answers will help us appreciate the wonder of our Savior’s sacrifice.

THE PAIN OF CRUCIFIXION

Many of us have a new understanding of the sufferings of Jesus because of the film on the Passion by Mel Gibson. Jesus had some sense of what was coming. He would have to endure unjust beatings, scourging, and the ridicule from the Romans. In this abused state perhaps he knew he would be forced to carry the crossbeam of his cross to the place of execution.

It is well known (and I bet Jesus knew also) that crucifixion is a tortuous death. The agony of having your hands and feet nailed to the cross is a piercing pain we cannot begin to understand. Jesus probably didn’t know how much it was going to hurt . . . but he knew he what going to hurt.

Death on a cross resulted from suffocation. Stretched out as you were with gravity pulling your body down, your ability to take a breath was severely compromised. To breath you would have to push up with your legs (which, because of the nails in your feet, would be horribly painful). The reason the criminals legs were broken as sundown (and the Sabbath) approached was to take away the ability to push up and thus speed their death.

Who of us, if we knew we were going to face such agony would not ask for the cup to be taken from us? If we were told that we were going to die painfully from cancer, would we not also ask the Lord to deliver us from such a cup?

THE PAIN OF LONELINESS

To make the pain worse, Jesus knew that what He was being called to endure, he would have to endure alone. Someone has written,

Loneliness is like a piano without keys,

Like a violin without strings.

Like a sanctuary without a congregation

Or a choir where no one sings

Loneliness is like a blade of grass

Growing through a crack of cement

Loneliness is like a camp ground

Without a single tent

Loneliness is like a mocking bird

That cannot sing a song

Loneliness is a feeling

That one does not belong

Like a pansy in a corn field

Hidden where no one can see

I know all there is to know about loneliness

Because it lives inside of me. [author unknown]

Consider the fact that Jesus was rejected by the very people He came to save. Those whom He loved, cried out “Crucify Him!”. Those He created, taunted Him at the cross: “You who saved others, why not, save yourself?” Those who cheered Him and celebrated Him just days before, would turn away in silence. Those who were His dearest friends deserted Him.

Loneliness comes in many packages,

Being rejected by your friends
Having a mate tell you they don’t “love you anymore”
Being the last person picked for a team
Not having a date for the big dance
Burying someone who has been your companion for life
Having a parent or teacher tell you that you are stupid or worthless
Facing the horror of abuse

Jesus understood loneliness and rejection. In these times we cry out, “Lord, let this cup pass from us!” Jesus prayed this also.

THE PAIN OF LOSS

For many people the pain and sadness of dying is not leaving this life . . . it is the pain of separation from those we love. Jesus knew that He would come back from the grave, but as a man, I believe He felt the pain that comes with separation. Jesus knew the wonder of Heaven. He knew that dying was worse than being dead. He knew the sweetness of being with the Father. However, He also knew that sadness would overwhelm those who loved Him.

I believe as Jesus prayed He agonized at the thought of the disciples’ grief. These friends of His would be crushed. They would imagine that they had wasted three years of their lives. They would be afraid that they would be the next victims.

How His heart must have ached when He considered the anguish of his mother. He knew how she loved him. He knew what a faithful woman she was. The thought of her broken heart must have broken His heart. I suspect He longed to hug her one last time before His death.

Think of the heaviness of soul as He thought of all those who had placed their trust in Him who, at His death, would wonder if they had trusted foolishly. They had thought he was the Messiah. Now, they would believe they were mistaken.

Jesus faced anguish in the garden because He didn’t want to see His friends suffer.

THE PAIN OF SEPARATION

Perhaps the most anguished part of the prayer of Jesus came from something we have trouble understanding. On the cross Jesus would cry out: “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?” As those who believe in the Trinity and the deity (God-nature) of Christ, we can’t help but be baffled by the idea of the Father turning His wrath upon the Son. But this is what happened.

Jesus became our substitute. He took upon Himself our sin and the just punishment of our sin was poured out upon Him. The One who had always known the intimate and undiminished fellowship of the Father, would soon see that fellowship and love turn to wrath. The one who had always known the Father’s smile would now see His righteous anger. We can’t begin to comprehend the beauty and splendor of this undiminished relationship that existed between the Father and the Son. They had NEVER been out of fellowship. There was a never a strain in their relationship. They had always been One in every sense of the word.

Now this was going to change. The Father would turn away from the Son. Love would turn to wrath. It was a rejection and loneliness greater than our feeble minds can begin to comprehend.

Max Lucado describes that situation perhaps as well as anyone.

[Read NEXT DOOR SAVIOR p.139, 140]

CONCLUSIONS

As Jesus agonized in the Garden I think He was thinking about all of these things. He didn’t want to suffer, He didn’t want His friends to suffer, He didn’t want to experience the rejection of those whom He loved, and He couldn’t bear the thought of enduring the wrath of the Father.

In the garden Jesus could have called upon the angels to rescue Him. He could have used His power to strike those who would take Him. He could have come down from that cross anytime He wanted. That was His right. He was God. He had done nothing wrong.

He didn’t exercise this privilege. Instead, He endured all the physical, emotional, and spiritual pain because it was the only possible way for you and me to find forgiveness and new life. Jesus went to the cross so we might know the Father’s love. He stood in our place. He took our penalty. Endured our abuse and God’s wrath, so that we could be set free.

If we see clearly our hearts ought to be moved. On this night when we remember the Last Supper, betrayal, arrest and death of Jesus, we should find our eyes moist. If we understand what our Savior has done for us, His request that we follow Him is no longer burdensome. It is a most reasonable request. He has proved His love. We don’t have to wonder about His intentions. He seeks only our good.

I encourage you tonight to examine your heart. Do you understand what Christ has done for you? Have you trusted His work of mercy and grace on your behalf? Are you willing to put your confidence in Him? I hope so. Tonight, I challenge you to come to the Savior anew and to declare, “All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give.”

Is there some sin you need to repent of this evening? In light of the Savior’s love, we should hold nothing back and keep no secrets. Why would we cherish sin when we see what that sin did to our blessed Redeemer? Tonight we should come clean, start anew, and rededicate ourselves to follow Him and Him alone.

The powerful words of Isaac Watts should be the testimony of our heart

When I Survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died;

My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ, my God;

All the vain things that charm me most – I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down;

Did e’er such love and sorry meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.