NOVEMBER 29, 2015
CHRIST COMES TO GETHSEMANE
INTRODUCTION:
1. Our Lord, after Judas had gone out, continued at the table with His disciples talking with them in a very solemn manner. In John 13:31 we read, “Therefore, when he (Judas) was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.” John went on to record three wonderful discourses which Jesus gave for the eleven remaining disciples. (John chapters 14-16) He then offered up that glorious prayer, known as our Lord’s great high priestly prayer. (John 17)
2. After this, knowing all things that were in store for Him, He left the upper room with the disciples to make His way to the Garden of Gethsemane. This had previously been His place of quiet retreat, but this night it would be a place of bitter agony.
3. As He walked with the disciples along the narrow streets of Jerusalem, coming to the Brook Kidron, He continued to speak with them as they made their way to the Mount of Olives.
4. In this lesson we will first consider what He said to them, and the exchange between Himself and the disciples, particularly Peter. Then, secondly, we will consider the scene after Christ and His disciples arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane.
I. JESUS CONVERSES WITH THE DISCIPLES AS THEY ARE WALKING TO THE MOUNT OF OLIVES. (VERSES 26-31)
A. HE PREDICTS WHAT EFFECT THAT THE EVENTS OF THIS NIGHT WILL HAVE UPON HIS DISCIPLES. (VERSES 27, 28)
1. He predicts that they shall all be offended because of Him. This word can mean to begin to distrust and desert one whom ought to be trusted and obeyed. That is clearly the meaning here. Notice, not one or some, but ALL will be offended.
a) Literally, it could also be rendered “…because of me, because of the night.”
b) Because of the things He would suffer, they would lose hope, and not be able to cleave to Him.
2. Notice, this prediction is that which the prophet Zechariah had foretold. Jesus was careful to call attention to the prophetic writings as they pertained to Him, “…for it is written.” (Zech. 13:7)
a) He would, after the resurrection, explain these things to them from all of the Scriptures. (Luke 44:25-27, 44)
b) The apostles would come to see and declare these things just as their Master showed them. (Acts 4:27, 28)
3. His prediction goes beyond this night, and their being scattered, to the time after the resurrection when they shall be gathered again in Galilee. (Verse 28)
a) This was the very announcement that the angel made to the women at the empty tomb with instruction to tell the disciples. (Matt. 28:5-7)
b) This word was also delivered to the women by the risen Lord in person that same morning. (Matt. 28:9, 10)
c) Though they all were offended and forsook Him in His hour of need, He would never forsake them. “And I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.” (Zech. 13:7c) or, “I will bring my hand again to the little ones.” This is a promise to regather the scattered disciples.
B. PETER PROTESTS, AND PRESUMPTUOUSLY CONTRADICTS HIS MASTER’S PREDICTION. (VSE. 29)
1. This protest was indeed presumptuous.
a) First, it contradicted the words of Christ, and His interpretation of the prophetic Scriptures.
b) Second, it displayed an attitude of self-confidence. Where was the humble self-suspicion that was displayed only a little while before this? (Verse 19) Each one, Peter included, asked, “Lord, is it I?” How quickly pride can be rekindled in our hearts!
c) No doubt Peter’s words came from his heart, and expressed what he thought his love for Christ would never allow him to do. We must remember that our hearts are by nature deceitful and desperately wicked.
2. Peter had a sad awakening in store. He must have been amazed and deeply saddened the next morning when faced with how his heart had deceived him.
3. It is not unlikely that he who thought of himself as being the one exception with respect to temptation will prove to be the weakest of all when the test comes.
C. JESUS MADE PETER THE OBJECT OF A PARTICULAR WARNING. (VERSE 30)
1. Christ knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows the evil that is in us. He knows the wickedness of which we are capable, and will do, but for the grace of God.
2. Satan also heard Peter’s boast, and was more than happy to accept the challenge of his proud boast. Pride goeth before a fall, and the devil saw an opportunity to score a swift victory.
3. The Lord’s warning was such that Peter would not have thought it possible.
a) He would deny his Lord. “Thou shalt deny me…”
b) He would do so very soon. “This night, before the cock crow…”
c) He would deny his Lord repeatedly. “Thou shall deny me thrice…”
D. PETER, IN RESPONSE TO CHRIST’S WARNING, DOUBLED DOWN, REPEATING HIS RESOLVE,WHICH WAS NOW ECHOED BY THE OTHER DISCIPLES. (VERSE 31)
1. Not once, but twice, Peter contradicted Him Who is very Truth itself. His insistence will make his fall even more regrettable.
2. We may not always verbalize our self-confidence, but doubtless we have all experienced the humbling effects of seeing our presumed strength turn to weakness in the face of temptation.
3. The only way to prevent Satan from sifting us like wheat is to own our weakness, and to seek strength from the Lord, and trust in the power of His might. (See Luke 22:31, 32)
II. CHRIST COMES WITH HIS DISCIPLES TO THE PLACE OF HIS GREAT AGONY, TO THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE. (VERSES 32-42)
A. JESUS, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS DISCIPLES, CAME TO GETHSEMANE KNOWING WHAT AWFUL AGONIES AWAITED HIM THERE. (VERSE 32; JOHN 12:27)
1. This had been a favorite spot of our Lord where He would go for private prayer. The disciples, who undoubtedly knew this, could not have imagined the agony which this last visit would bring upon His soul.
“Twas here the Lord of life prepared,
And sighed, and groaned, and prayed, and feared;
Bore all incarnate God could bear,
With strength enough and none to spare.”
2. Gethsemane means an olive press. It was near the Brook Kidron, about 100 yards east of the bridge. It was probably at the foot of the Mount of Olives, about half a mile from the city walls.
3. Eight of the eleven disciples remained at the gate to keep watch near the entrance as their Lord entered the garden.
B. JESUS TOOK WITH HIM PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN, AND TOGETHER THEY ENTERED GETHSEMANE. (VERSES 33, 34)
1. As they entered, Jesus began to feel and expressed to them the awful weight of His sorrow. It was almost beyond the limits of His endurance.
2. In His great sorrow, He expressed the desire for faithful friends to watch with Him and pray.
3. Peter, James, and John were the favored three of the inner circle. They had even been with Him in the Mount of Transfiguration. Yet, they had never before heard from Him such expressions of sorrow.
4. Our Lord knew that here in the wine press He must “tread the wine press alone.”
C. AS JESUS AGONIZED IN PRAYER, HIS DISCIPLES WERE UNFAITHFUL IN THEIR CHARGE. (VERSES 35-38)
1. The awfulness of the cup of agony is seen in the posture Jesus took and the opening petition of His prayer. (Verses 35, 36)
a) He fell on the ground, face down. (Compare Matt. 26:39)
b) He prayed, if it be possible that this hour might pass, and that this cup might be taken away from Him.
c) This plea tells us two things. First, the agony was real. Second, there was no other way to accomplish the salvation of His people.
d) As Jesus cries “Abba Father, it is the pitiful call of the Only Begotten to His loving Father. Yet, the Father could not spare Him if He was to save the elect.
2. The Son knew that He could not be spared this hour (John 12:27); He knew that He must drink this cup. Therefore, He said, “Not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”
3. We know not how long He prayed, but it was long enough that His disciples fell asleep. (Verse 37)
a) The gentle rebuke was addressed to Peter, but was meant for all three. “…couldest not thou watch one hour?”
b) Peter was ever the vocal one, but here he is silent.
4. Even in His darkest hour, and though their failure added to the sorrow, still His concern it seems was for them. He knew the temptations that were about to assail them, and gives them the best armaments against them. “Watch and pray lest ye enter into temptation…” (Verse 38)
D. TWICE MORE THE SCENARIO REPEATED ITSELF. (VERSES 39-41)
1. The intensity of the second prayer was far greater than these words convey. (Verse 39) Luke tells us that He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:44) But, again He returned to find His disciples asleep. They were ashamed for their drowsiness, but had nothing to say as an excuse. (Verse 40)
2. A third time Jesus went away to pray and again He returned to find them asleep. (Verse 41) When He returned, He said, “Sleep on now, and take your rest…” Luke says they were “sleeping for sorrow.”
3. Jesus then added, “It is enough, the hour is come; behold the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” (Verse 41b)
E. JESUS THEN CALLED UPON THEM TO RISE UP AND GO TO MEET THE MOB LED BY JUDAS. (VERSE 42)
1. Far from trying to avoid them, Jesus went to meet them.
2. The cup was a bitter one, but it was this cup that He came to drink.
3. He had said, “I have a baptism to be baptized with and I am straitened until it be accomplished.” (Luke 12:50)
4. Thank God He counted the redemption of His people to be sufficient joy to offset the suffering. “For the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame.” (Heb. 12:2)
5. His meat was always to do the will of His Father, and finish the work which His Father gave Him to do. Thus, He said, “Rise up, let us go, he that betrayeth me is at hand.”
Speak Your Mind