Sunday, July 4, 2021

Jesus in the Garden

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Matt 26:36-39 (Luke 22:42; Mark 14:36)

Many associate this prayer with Jesus' desire to avoid the cross. But before this point, He said the following:

And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. 27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die. Jn 12:23-33

Jesus knew his purpose  this is evident throughout the gospels when He states what he has come to do. (Matt 12:40; 16:21 and MANY others) When you read Mark it seems like every other chapter.

In Matt 26 He proclaims again that the scripture must be fulfilled; and he had rebuked Peter for suggesting otherwise. Lastly He says this:

John 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. 27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.


When He prays to let the cup depart from Him; it is not the hour of the cross, but the cup of suffering; being tempted and assaulted by the powers of darkness trying to keep him from his appointed hour. He is exceedingly sorrowful even unto death, because that was literally true.


Mark 14:32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. 33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; 34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. 35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.


He knew His purpose, He was exceeding sorrowful because something was pressing on Him. He was sweating great drops of blood striving against sin, refusing temptation and submitting to the Father and trusting the Father to keep Him from the evil. The crux of all the history of man was found in the moment, Satan was doing all He could do to prevent Jesus from the cross, and as we shall see, Jesus was heard! He even had to step out and rebuke Peter from taking things into his own hand:


Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? John 18:11


Bringing out the sword was a danger to them all, He had prayed for the Father to spare his life from temptation and from wicked men, Peter was putting this in danger, therefore He took command of the situation.


We see commentary on this in Hebrews:

Heb 5:5-9

So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.


He prayed and was heard; instead of fighting the battle in his own strength He submitted to His Father who kept him safe until He could see the scripture fulfilled.


Some disciples asked about sitting at His right hand, He answered:
But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? 39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto the
m, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: Mark 10:38-39 (Matt 20:22-23)


They could never fulfill His hour of crucifixion for the sins of the world, but they could and did follow in His steps.


Heb 12:2

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.


Both parts are seen in this scripture; The cross and the suffering which caused him to sweat great drops of blood.

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