Jesus' Agony in Gethsemane Luke 22:39-46, John 18:2-11

Main idea: Jesus is completely dependent on God the Father by prayer, and submits to his divine will for his own sacrifice.

Luke 22:39-45 v39: The Mount of Olives was a regular place where Jesus met with his disciples. It is also where the Garden of Gethsemane is (Matthew 26:36, Mark14:32).

"Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives." (Luke 21:37)

As one of the disciples, Judas would have known about this regular meeting place. Notice that Jesus does not avoid going to this place, even though he knows that he will be arrested. Jesus is in total control of his destiny and the events leading up to the cross.

"As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem." (Luke 9:51)

The purpose of this particular visit to the garden was for Jesus to prepare for the trial ahead. Prayer was his method of preparation for Calvary. v40: Jesus had already warned the disciples that the trial was coming (v35-38) and now he is telling them to prepare for the trial by prayer.

 How do you face your trial?  Do you go through your trial with the Lord or without him?  Do you pray that 'you will not fall into temptation'?

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6, 7 v41: It was Jesus' regular habit to pray to his Father in heaven. He did this throughout his ministry.

"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." (Luke 5:16)

 How is your prayer life?  Do you find it easy or hard to pray to God?  Do you often pray to God? Is it a regular habit? v42: Jesus demonstrates prayer by being completely honest and expressing his deepest concerns. This is a model for us. This prayer demonstrates Jesus being in total submission and dependence to the Father's will - not his own. He is committed to carry out the purposes that God the Father has with complete humility. The cup is the cup of suffering that he has to endure on the cross of Calvary. The cup represents God's wrath poured out on his Son to pay the price for the sin of mankind.

 Do you submit to God's will for your life no matter what?  Do you pray to God for strength during your trial?

It is not just Christ's anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane, we must remember the Father's anguish knowing that this is God's one and only Son whom he loves (Matthew 3:17).

"Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!" (Romans 5:9) v43: God answers Jesus’ question immediately. No, there is no other way and Jesus must suffer God's wrath for the sin of mankind. Jesus must drink the cup of suffering. God sends an angel to strengthen him for the trial to come. In other words, God is saying, Jesus you must suffer!

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith." (Romans 3:23-25)

We are the recipients of God's grace. We are justified freely! Yet, where was the grace for Jesus, the Son of God, in the garden of Gethsemane? Where was the mercy as he poured out his soul in anguish? There was none because there was no other way for the punishment of sin to be paid. Jesus realized this and fully submitted to the sacrificial penalty that was required of himself. It was the will of the Father that Jesus should suffer! Jesus was fully committed to His Father’s will.

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father." (Galatians 1:3, 4)

 Do you accept that God may have trials for you to endure?

God does not remove trials from our Christian journey, but he does give us supernatural strength to endure them when we we pray to him. v44: "Medical Definition of Hematohidrosis: a rare condition in which an individual is capable of sweating blood. During active hematohidrosis, capillaries that feed the sweat glands at hair follicles rupture to cause local bleeding, typically during extreme physical or emotional stress (https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=207807). v45-46: At the most arduous time of his anguish, the disciples are asleep and 'exhausted from sorrow'. They don't know how the events are going to play out, but they do know that Jesus will be handed over for crucifixion (Matthew 26:2). Again, Jesus tells the eleven disciples to, 'pray so that you will not fall into temptation'. Jesus and the disciples were both filled with sorrow. The difference was the disciples slept but Jesus prayed.

"Battles are won or lost on the field of prayer, but even prayer can be a battle." Garland, ECNT Luke

 How do you respond in a crisis? Who do you trust in, yourself or God?

John 18:2-11 v2-4: Judas comes with, 'a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees'. This group has one mission - to arrest Jesus. They are armed and ready for any resistance. However, they do not get to arrest Jesus - he gives himself up! v5-9: Jesus is in complete control of the situation. He has to ask the group who they are looking for. Twice Jesus responds to them, 'I am he'. This phrase has a sense of divinity about it. 'I Am' is one of God's names in the Old Testament.

"God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14)

In this situation, I believe that Jesus is saying that he is God! Notice how, 'they drew back and fell to the ground'. The only reason they could arrest Jesus was because he allowed them to. Jesus is concerned for the disciples despite his own predicament. He cares for them, 'let these men go.'

 Do you believe that Jesus cares about you in your trial? v10-11: Even at his arrest, Jesus performs a miracle. Yet, they still arrest him! Their hearts are hardened to who Jesus is - the Messiah, the Son of God!

We see Peter willing to fight for Jesus and Jesus intervenes by healing. If Jesus had not done this, Peter would have probably died and possibly some of the other disciples as well. The disciples were no match for the detachment of soldiers!

"The disciples are ready to kill someone whom Jesus is ready to die for." Garland

Application 1) Practice prayer and pray often (Luke 5:6, Philippians 4:6,7). 2) Pray for strength in your trials and God will give it (Luke 22:43). 3) Be honest in prayer and submit to God's will regardless. 4) Pray against falling into temptation (Matthew 6:13). 5) Meditate on how Jesus drank the cup of suffering for you so you can be spared God's wrath (Romans 5:9). 6) Understand that Jesus is in total control of your situation.