Untitled Sermon

Bradley

Gospel of Mark • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

0 ratings

· 2 views

Notes

Transcript

Sermon Tone Analysis

Emotion

Language

Social

View more →

This morning we are picking back up in our study of the Gospel of Mark.

If you’re new to MCF, it would be good for you to know that we practice a form of preaching called “Expository Preaching”. What that means is we believe the Bible is best taught by taking books of the Bible, and then studying them from beginning to end, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. Our goal. To understand what God’s Word is saying in our lives today.

With that said we are currently working our way through the Gospel of Mark, a Gospel written to tell us who Jesus is, what He came to do, and what it means for you and I to follow him.

Today, we find ourselves back in chapter 14 of the Gospel, a chapter that marks the beginning of the end of Jesus’s ministry on earth. A chapter that will lead to his betrayal, arrest, and trial of Jesus.

Last week we left off as Jesus and his disciples were making their way up the Mount of Olives. It was during this journey that Jesus made a startling prediction, as he predicted that each of the disciples would soon fall away. That something was about to happen that would cause each of them to literally abandon Him and run for their lives.

And if you recall, it was a prediction that the disciples were offended by, especially Peter, who proudly proclaimed that he would never deny Jesus. That no matter what happened, he would stand with Jesus to the death.

Unfortunately, good intentions didn’t and won’t win the day. Because as we learned last week, the event Jesus is referring to is his arrest. And as we’re going to see next week, when that arrest comes, the disciples will run for their lives, and by the morning, to save his own skin, Peter will do exactly as Jesus predicted. He will deny his association with Jesus not once, not twice, but three times.

The good news of Jesus’s prediction though is, the disciples will return to Jesus. Because along with his prediction of their denial, Jesus also predicts their repentance.

However, before we get to the arrest of Jesus, Mark gives us a preview into the final moments leading up to Jesus’s arrest. A moment that might surprise us. A moment where in his humanness, Jesus comes to terms with what he’s about to face.

And as we come back to chapter 14 today, that event that Jesus is referring to

And to be honest, it’s a picture of Jesus that might confuse and even bother some. Because up until this point, we’ve seen Jesus as a person of great strength. A person of great faith. A person of great confidence. A person with miraculous power. But in these final moments, Mark displays the humanness of Jesus.

So, while this next section could seem to paint a weak picture of Jesus, my hope is, when understood in its context, it will paint a picture of Jesus that should inspire, encourage, and strengthen our faith.

So, while this next section could seem to paint a weak Jesus, my hope is, when understood in its context, it will paint a picture of Jesus that should inspire, encourage, and strengthen our faith.

So, in order to help us get our minds around what Mark is about to share with us, and to give us some framework for what we are about to read, I want to begin by asking you a few questions.

Question 1 - Have you ever found yourself dreading a painful situation in your life? In other words, something was about to happen to you or you were going to have to go through something that wasn’t going to be fun, and as a result, you were dreading it?

For example, how many have ever had to confront someone? That’s never fun, right? Like maybe you had to confront your boss, a co-worker, or a friend, or a family member, and you knew it was going to be a tough conversation, so you dreaded it. The fact is, most people don’t like confrontation. And as a result, we not only dread it, we often avoid it at all costs.

As a result, in the moments leading up to the conversation, you were nervous, your heart was racing, and you were wishing there was another way to deal with the problem.

The fact is, most people don’t like confrontation. And as a result, we not only dread it, we avoid it at all costs.

How about this. Have you ever dreaded going to the dentist?

Yeah, that’s a fun appointment to look forward to. I don’t know about you, but going to the dentist isn’t high on my list of enjoyable experiences. For me, there’s nothing more terrifying than the sound of a drill in my mouth and the fear that at any moment that drill is going to hit a nerve and put me through the chair. I dread going to the dentist.

The fact is, if we thought about it, we've all had to face situations and circumstances that we dreaded.

I think we’ve probably all had the experience of dreading a situation or circumstance in our life.

Question 2 - Have you ever been so worried or fearful about something that it had a physical affect on your body? Like you literally felt sick to your stomach or you maybe even got sick?

For example, maybe you found out you might have cancer or some kind of terminal disease, so the doctor ran some tests to verify his diagnosis. But then you had to wait like 2-3 days to get the results. 2-3 days where you worried. 2-3 days where you imagined the worst. 2-3 days of literally feeling nervous, worried, and sick to your stomach.

So, what we did is, the night before the closings, we packed everything in a U-haul and then we went and parked the u-haul in the driveway of the new home we were buying. But no sooner had we done that, I got a phone call from our Realtor. He said, “I have some bad news. Apparently the buyer of your home is having trouble getting his financing. In fact, he lied to the mortgage company and it doesn’t look good.” He said, “I’m not sure if they will show up for closing tomorrow.”

How about this. Maybe you got a phone call that somebody close to you was in an accident and they might not make it. So, in that moment of shock, your body responded as fear and worry set in. You’re heart began to race and tears began to flow as you imagined the worst.

So, here we are with all of our stuff packed in a u-Haul in the driveway of a home we might not be able to buy now. To be honest, I was beside myself. As a result, I couldn’t sleep that night, might heart was racing, and I was literally sick to my stomach. To try and calm my nerves I got in my car and drove around for a few hours praying and asking the Lord to help.

Again, I think we’ve all experienced the physical affects of worry and fear.

Question 3 - Have you ever gone through a difficult moment or situation and felt alone? A moment where you needed comfort, but no one was there. A moment when you needed somebody to lean on, but people showed little concern. And as a result, in that moment you felt alone.

I can honestly say, I’ve ne

For example, maybe you experienced the loss of a loved one, and it just seemed like people didn’t understand or care. And in the midst of your loss, you felt alone.

For example, I know this happens to people who go through a divorce.

For example,

Or maybe you shared a personal need with a friend hoping they would pray for you or say something encouraging, but instead they seemed disinterested and offered no support or encouragement.

Or maybe you were going through a depression, and it just seemed like nobody cared. Nobody understood. And when you tried to talk about it, nobody wanted to listen. As a result, you felt alone with no hope.

Again, I think most of us can identify with a situation like that. A situation where we needed the support of others but in the end we found ourselves alone.

Now, you might be thinking, “Pastor, where you going with this. I don’t like the way you’re making me feel. You’re questions are brining back memories of fear, disappointment, and loneliness.”

I bring these questions up because that’s exactly where we find Jesus today. Because as we come back to today, Jesus is facing a dreaded circumstance. Jesus is experiencing the physical affects of worry and fear. Jesus is seeking the support of close friends. Jesus is experiencing the loneliness that comes when his friends let him down.

The fact of the matter is, in his human state, Jesus is about to face the lowest and loneliest point in his earthly life.

So, a good question might be, “Why is this so important and how does this apply to our lives?”

It’s important for a few reasons:

First, in a way this is Jesus’s final test before the cross. This is the critical moment where Jesus will either choose to die for the sins of mankind or he will not. He will either embrace his destiny or he will reject it. It’s a critical moment for Jesus and the eternal future of mankind. What Jesus does next has eternal consequences for you and I.

Second, it’s important because in this moment Jesus displays his humanity. You might say, “Why is this important?” It’s important because quite frankly, if Jesus can’t identify with us, he can’t help us. In other words, for Jesus to help us, he has to become like us, put himself in the same situation we’re in, and then present a solution to our sin problem. If he can’t do that, then he can’t help us.

But unfortunately, people who haven’t experienced divorce fail to understand that. So when the person going through the divorce tries to talk to their friends or family members about it, they are met with less then encouraging words. Instead of receiving empathy and support in their time of need, people instead say things like, “I don’t know why you’re so upset, you ought to be glad to be rid of them. They don’t deserve you. Don’t you know, there are other fish in the sea. It’s not the end of the world. You need to pull yourself together. You’re making way to much of this. It could be worse. You’re not the only one that’s gone through this.”

Think of it like this. If you’re struggling as a parent, and you need advice or help, who do you go to? Do you go to somebody who’s never had kids? Somebody whose never experienced parenthood? Somebody who has never had to raise a child? No, you go to somebody who’s been where you’re at. Somebody who faced the same struggles and understand the challenges of parenting. Not only that, but you go to someone who was been successful as a parent. Somebody’s whose kids you look at and think, “Wow, I want my kids to turn out like that.”

Same thing here. In order for Jesus to help us, he has to become like us, live like us, and experience the same challenges, emotions, and temptation we struggle with. Only then can he identify with us. Only then can he present a solution.

Now, you might be thinking, “Ok Pastor, but isn’t that a problem? I mean if he’s human like us, then what makes him different than us?” Great question, and the difference is, while he was 100% human, he was also 100% God. How do we know that? Listen to what the writer of Hebrews says, “ Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (ESV)

Now, you might be thinking, “OK Pastor, that makes sense, but how does that help us?” The writer of Hebrews tells us. He writes, “ Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (ESV)

The writer of Hebrews he says we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, His name is Jesus, and He is the Son of God. And not only is He God, but when he was in human form, he experienced the same challenges and temptations we do. In other words, he’s been there, done that, and he has the t-shirt to prove it.

So, here’s how this helps us. First, it should give us great comfort to know that we serve a God who can sympathize with our struggles. A God who understands the temptation of sexual immorality. A God who understands the temptation to lie, the temptation to gossip, the temptation to give ourselves to the flesh. He understands because he’s faced it himself.

Here’s what that means for you and I. It means Jesus understands our pain. In other words, he’s been there, done that, and he has the t-shirt to prove it. And that should give us great comfort to know that we serve a God who can sympathize with our struggles.

A God who understands the temptation of sexual immorality. A God who understands the temptation to lie, the temptation to gossip, the temptation to give ourselves to the flesh. He understands because he’s faced it himself.

Not only that, he understands the pain of this life. He’s experienced the pain of loss, the pain of fear, the pain of doubt, the pain of hopelessness. He’s experienced it all.

Now, you might say, “Ok, great. But again, how does that help me?” Second, It helps because unlike us, Jesus didn’t give into the temptation. Jesus didn’t let the pain get the best of him. Unlike us, and because he is God, he overcame what we couldn’t. The writer says, “15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (ESV)

Second, not only is He God, but while he was in his human state, he was tempted to sin but didn’t.

(ESV)

In his humanness, Jesus overcame sin. As a result, Jesus represents the hope of our hopeless condition. Jesus shows us that no matter what the storm is, no matter how terrible our circumstance is, if we’ll come to him, there is hope for us through him. That’s why this moment is so important. It’s critical for us to see the humanness of Jesus. To see that he can not only identify with us, he has a solution for our problem.

One more reason this passage is important. Not only is this a final test for Jesus, not only does it display the humanity of Jesus, but it will show us how Jesus endured one of the darkest moments in his life. How in the midst of hopelessness and despair, Jesus found peace, and found the courage to keep moving forward.

I don’t know about you, but I’d like to know how in his humanness he did that. How in the midst of his darkest hour, Jesus found hope in hopelessness. How he found courage in the midst of fear. How Jesus overcame the darkness of his circumstance.

Because unless I miss my guess, that’s where some of you are this morning. You are in the midst of a storm, and you’re not sure if you’re going to make it. Life may even seem hopeless at this point. And the truth is, if you’re not there, at some point you will be. At some point all of us will face dark days. Days where there seems to be no hope. Days where we feel alone.

The good news of the Gospel is, not only has Jesus faced days like that, but he overcame them. And this morning, if we’ll put our eyes on him, he’ll help us overcome ours as well.

So, here’s what we are going to do this morning. First, we’re going to read through the passage. Second, I want to give some explanation to the context of the passage. And finally, based on the example of Jesus, I want to give you Jesus’s solution for navigating and overcoming dark and desperate moments in your life. Moments when the dread consumes you. Moments when the fear makes you sick to your stomach. Moments where in the midst of your pain you feel alone.

Maybe

The good news of the Gospel is, not only has Jesus faced days like that, but he overcame them. And this morning, if we’ll put our eyes on him, he’ll help us overcome ours as well.

So, let’s get started as we come back to . Beginning in verse 32 Mark writes:

“And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” 35 And going a little farther, he 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 for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 41 And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” (ESV)

And to be honest, those aren’t helpful statements. I mean imagining telling somebody that at a funeral. To say to a grieving spouse, “Why are you so upset? Don’t you know there’s other fish in the sea. You’ll find somebody to replace them. After all, you’re not the only one that has lost somebody and had to move on.”

You wouldn’t do that, right?

Mark begins by telling us after ascending the Mount of Olives, they went to a place called “Gethsemane”. So, before we get to far, I want to give some explanation to the significance of this place called “Gethsemane”.

First, “Gethsemane” isn’t just a place, it’s a certain type of place. We know this because the name “Gethsemane” is a transliteration of two Hebrew words meaning “oil press”.

Well obviously it’s a place. But the name “Gethsemane” not only represents a physical location, it represents the type of place it is. We know this because the name Gethsemane is a transliteration of two Hebrew words meaning “oil press”.

What that tells us then is “Gethsemane” is an olive orchard where olives are produced and then pressed for the oil.

So, why is that important? It’s important because symbolically speaking, this is a place of pressure. A place of where pressure is applied as the olive is crushed and turned into something new.

It’s the place many of us have visited throughout our lives:

For some, Gethsemane is the divorce you suffered through. A time in your life where you felt crushed, abandoned, alone, and beaten.

For some Gethsemane is the loss of a loved one. It’s those days leading up to the funeral and the days and weeks to follow. It’s the crushing pain of that first holiday without your loved one. It’s the pressure of wondering how you’ll get through the next day.

For others, Gethsemane is a financial loss.

For some, Gethsemane is a financial loss. It’s the presssure of trying to figure out how you’re going to survive. How you’re going to pay the bills and take care of your family.

For others, Gethsemane is that crushing moment when the doctor says, “You have cancer”. A moment when all of a sudden your world changes. A moment when fear and dread fills your heart.

You see, Gethsemane is that place where you and I experience the pain and pressure of life. It’s the place of dread. It’s the place of worry and fear. It’s where the days where we feel abandoned and alone.

That’s where Jesus went. He went to Gethsemane, a place of pressure.

Second, I want to point out that "Gethsemane” is not a place of escape. In other words, Jesus didn’t go there to hide. He didn’t go there to escape arrest. In fact, if Jesus wanted to escape, he could have. All he’d have to do is keep walking up the mountain and down the other side where he could have escaped into the wilderness. Jesus could have avoided capture, he could have avoided arrest. He could have avoided the cross. He knew Judas was coming. But he didn’t. Instead, he willingly walked into the olive garden, to the place of pressure, and there he stayed.

So, why would he do that? Why would Jesus knowingly walk into a place of pressure? He went there because in his human state, the place of pressure is where he would find strength. A place where he would find peace. A place where he would find the strength to keep moving forward.

And what was true for Jesus is true for you and me. When we find ourselves in the place of pressure, it’s for a purpose. And what I’d like to submit to you, is that it’s in that place, in what might seem the darkest hour that God can bring the greatest peace, assurance, and victory into our lives.

Now, you might be thinking, “Ok Pastor, that’s great. But I’m in a lot of pain right now. I’m dealing with a lot of dread, worry, and fear. So, how does that work? How can God possibly bring peace in the midst of the storm I’m facing. To be honest, it doesn’t make much sense.”

Here’s my hope this morning. My hope is as we look at the solution Jesus models, that we will find hope in the midst of our pain. That through the solution Jesus offers we will find peace, rest, and assurance that God is with us.

So, what is Jesus’s solution? Well, if it was a snake, it would bite you. It’s simply this. In this midst of his dread, fear, and pain:

The Solution: Jesus prayed.

Mark writes, “And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” (ESV)

Mark says, in the midst of his pressure and pain, Jesus prayed. To be honest, this shouldn’t surprise us. After all, prayer had always been an important part of Jesus’s life. Because even though he was the Son of God, even though he had the ability to perform miracles, Jesus had always been reliant on his Father through prayer. So, for the next few moments I we’re going to look at how Jesus prayed with his death just around the corner. And I’d like to offer 5 observations surrounding Jesus’s prayer in the mist of crisis:

First, Jesus didn’t pray out of desperation, he prayed out of established dependence.

Jesus didn’t pray out of desperation, he prayed out of dedication.

The gospel writer Luke tells us this about the prayer life of Jesus, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (NIV)

Luke says Jesus had a habit of praying, in fact, he did it often. In other words, Jesus didn’t just pray when life was hard. Jesus didn’t just pray when the pressure was on. Jesus didn’t just pray when he was desperate for help. No, Jesus prayed at all times and often regardless of the situation he was facing. Jesus led a life of dependence on God. And it was modeled in his daily prayer life. It didn’t matter if he was walking in the park or walking into an olive press, it was natural for Jesus to pray regardless of his situation. And the same should be true of us, but often, it’s not.

Something I learned in ministry a long time ago is, for most people, instead of living a life of daily dependance, they only pray in moments of desperation. In other words, for most people, it’s only when life goes sideways that they begin praying like they’ve never prayed before. It’s only when the ball drops that they begin asking God to intervene on their behalf.

Illustration: Many years ago when I was a staff pastor at another church, we had a couple that attended our church from time to time. They were a great couple, and I would say they were Christians, but their commitment to faith and church attendance was minimal at best.

I see it all the time. People get in a pinch so they start coming to church. Someone finds out they have cancer, and all of a sudden they get religious. The marriage starts going south, and all of a sudden church becomes important. The truth is, most people only get serious about faith and seek God when the bottom drops out.

But that all changed one Sunday when they showed up to church in desperation. The wife had just been diagnosed that week with an aggressive form of cancer and the doctors told her she only had months to live. I remember that Sunday our pastor had them come down front and we prayed for them. We prayed God would heal her.

But what if we lived differently? What if we were prayed up so when the olive press moments come, we could respond out of dependence instead of desperation. What if we cultivated a daily dependence and trust in God.

Let me explain it like this. When it comes to finances, one of the smartest things you can do is build up an emergency fund. For example, Denise and I try and make it a goal to always have $1000 put away for a rainy day. That way when the alternator goes out on the vehicle or when the unexpected bill comes, we don’t have to freak out. Why? Because we have $1000 put away for such an occasion. And while we might not like the unexpected expense, we can pay it in confidence instead of desperately trying to figure out how we’re going to pay it.

But that all changed one day when they showed up at church with a look of desperation. A look of panic. Because earlier that week the wife had gone to the doctor, she hadn’t been feeling well, only to discover that she was in the advanced stages of breast cancer, and the doctors had only given her months to live.

You see the same is true of our prayer life. Because in a way, when you make prayer and dependance on God a daily habit, you are building up your spiritual emergency fund. As day by day you are learning to depend on God. As day by day you are learning to trust God. As day by day you are watching and experiencing his work in your life.

And as a result, when the pressure comes, or when the floor drops out from underneath you, or when you’re facing the storm of your life, you don’t have to freak out. You don’t have to go into desperation mode. Why? Because you’ve built up a dependence on God. You have a storehouse of faith. You know with confidence that God is going to take care of you.

The Psalmist puts it like this, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.” (ESV)

I’ll never forget as the pastor called them down front and with cries of desperation they shared their situation. And as you can imagine our hearts went out to her and we all prayed for her and asked God to heal her. And what’s amazing is, God did heal her. In fact, the doctor’s couldn’t believe it because at her next appointment, the cancer was gone.

3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

The psalmist says, for the person who dwells int he shelter of God. For the one who makes God his daily fortress, God will deliver him. God will protect him. And when the terror comes, and the darkness looms, you don’t have to be afraid, because God is with you .

You see Jesus didn’t reach the garden and freak out. Jesus didn’t reach the garden and start praying out of desperation. Jesus reached the the garden, and knowing what was coming, he prayed out of established dependence.

Let me ask you something, “How different would your life be if you prayed out of dependance instead of out of desperation? What would happen if you built up a spiritual emergency fund. If everyday you made it a habit to pray and depend on God. Do you think it could make a difference when the unexpected comes?

Let me ask you something, “How different would your life be if you prayed out of dependance instead of out of desperation?” In other words, what would happen if you built up a spiritual emergency fund. If everyday you made it a habit to pray and learn to depend on God. If everyday, your habit was to seek him before you did anything else. Do you think it could make a difference when the unexpected comes? Do you think it could make a difference when the loss comes, when the cancer comes, when the worst case scenario becomes a reality in your life?”

I think it could make a difference. In fact, I know it would. Jesus prayed often. He sought and depended on God daily.

Second, while Jesus didn’t pray out of desperation, he did pray from a place of desperation.

Mark goes on to tell us, “33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” (ESV)

Couple thins I want you to notice about this passage and praying desperately.

Number 1, I think it’s important to note there is a big difference between praying out of desperation and praying with desperation. Because the truth is, when we pray, we should pray out of our emotion. We should pray with an understanding that only God can work in our situation. We should pray with a desperate need for God.

That’s how Jesus prayed. He prayed from great distress and trouble. Mark says the depth of his sorrow was so deep that it could have killed him. In other words, the level of emotional stress Jesus was experiencing in this moment was life threatening. Why? Because this is the critical moment of Jesus’s life. This is where the rubber meets the road. This is the moment Jesus had been preparing for. A moment of submission where he willingly would give his life over. And its in this moment he needs his Father’s help more than ever. So he prays out of great emotion as he cries out from the depth of his soul.

Look again at what Mark says. Jesus said to his d

I love how the psalmist describes this type of prayer. Listen to what he says in , “I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. 2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. 3 When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints.” (ESV)

The psalmist cries aloud to God. He stretches out his hands towards heaven. He refuses to find comfort in anything else. He moans as he mediates on God.

Let me ask you something, “Have you ever cried out to God like that? In the midst of your pain, in the midst of your dread, in the midst of your fear, have you ever with no restraint just poured your emotions out before God like that? Have you ever prayed with that kind of desperation?”

In the midst of your pain, I’d like to suggest that’s the best thing you could do. Listen to what he Psalmist writes, “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (ESV)

Mark says Jesus was greatly distressed and troubled.

The fact is, God responds to desperate cries. God responds when a person comes to the end of themselves and pours themselves out before him. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Jesus prayed from a place of desperation.

Number 2, along with praying desperately, Jesus invites a few others to come with him. Mark says he took Peter, James, and John. Why them and not the others? Probably because they were the closest human relationships Jesus had. Outside of God, the ones he depended on the most. And in this hour of distress, Jesus desires their support. So he asks them to remain and watch.

The word for watch here means to be alert or aware. It’s the idea that Jesus wanted them to be spiritually alert. In other words he needs their spiritual support.

And the truth is, we do the same thing, and should. In the desperate moments of our life, we reach out to others for support and help. We call close friends, we ask our church family to pray for us, we seek support from those we know care the most about us. People we know we can count on.

That’s what Jesus is doing here. He’s asking these three men to give him spiritual support. Jesus doesn’t want to bear the burden alone.

But in the case of Jesus, this is a burden Jesus will have to carry alone. Because as Jesus begins to cry out to God, his disciples lose focus. His disciples fail in their support. Listen to what Mark tells us, “And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?” (ESV)

Mark says at some point Jesus gets up from praying and goes over to his disciples only to find that they are fast asleep. And in a way it had to be a slap in the face to Jesus. I mean here he is, visibly shaken and on the brink of death. He’s been on his face just a few yards away crying out to God. And here are his disciples, the ones he counted on the most, asleep at the wheel.

So Jesus says, “Seriously. I’m going through hell and you’re taking a nap.”

So, what’s the disciples problem? Why are they asleep? Don’t they care about Jesus? Are they ignorant to what Jesus is going through? Why are they sleeping when Jesus needs them the most?

How about this. They’re tired. It’s been a long day. They just ate a bunch of bread at dinner. So the carbs get the best of them, and they fall asleep.

In fact, we know that’s why. Listen to what Jesus says concerning their nap. He says, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (ESV)

Jesus says, “Listen guys, I know you’re tired. I know the carbs are getting the best of you. But now’s not the time to sleep. Now’s the time to be spiritually aware. Now’s the time to give me your support. I need you to wake up and pray with me.”

The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

But unfortunately, while the disciples want to be there for Jesus, they can’t overcome their sleepiness. Because over the next few verse we are told on two more occasions Jesus comes to them only to find them sleeping. In verse 40 Jesus approaches them again, Mark writes, “And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him.” (ESV)

And again he went away and prayed, fsaying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for gtheir eyes were very heavy, and hthey did not know what to answer him

Mom and dad, have you ever told your kids to get up and get ready for school, and then you come back and they’re still in bed. And you say, “Hey, I told you to get up”, and then they just look at you with that blank stare. That’s what’s going on here. Jesus is getting frustrated with his disciples as they keep hitting the snooze button. He’s asked them to be his support and they keep failing him.

h [ch. 9:6; ]

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

In verse 41 we read, “And he came the third time and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” (ESV)

Mark says when Jesus needs them the most, the disciples sleep right up to the moment Jesus is arrested.

So, what’s this saying to us? Simply this. While we should seek the support of others, while we should ask others to pray in our moment of need, at the end of the day, we need to remember that people will fail us. And when I say fail, I’m not saying they won’t be there for you or that they will fail you intentionally. What I’m saying is their support is limited. And in that moment, we need to remember that our greatest support and source of strength doesn’t come from our human relationships, but from our heavenly father.

Because the truth is, while our friends have good intentions. While they want to be there for us in our time of need. While the spirit is willing, often the flesh is weak.

For example, I’ve seen this happen when people suffer the loss of a loved one. Because what happens is, in the initial moments of loss people are there for us. They’re at our house comforting us. They’re bringing food by so we don’t have to cook. They’re at the funeral offering their love and support. But as the days move on, as time passes, their support and concern seems to fade. And it’s not because they don’t care. It’s not that their unaware of your loss. It’s just that in their flesh they move on. And it’s easy in those moments to feel alone. It’s easy to feel frustrated. Because they’re acting like everything is fine. But it’s not. You’re still in pain.

And it’s in those moments we have to remember that our greatest support doesn’t come from below, but from above. So yes, seek support, ask people to pray, but never forget they’re flesh. And while they’re a support, they’re not your source of strength. There’s only once source, and it comes from above. It’s a source we can always count on.

I find it interesting

Three times Jesus sought their support, and three times they failed him. At the end of the day, Jesus had to find his source of strength for what lay ahead from God, and God alone. And as we’re going to see in a moment, he did. This leads us to a third observation:

Third, Jesus desperately prayed that God would deliver him.

Mark writes, “And going a little farther, he 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 for you. Remove this cup from me.” (ESV)

Mark says as Jesus cried out to God, he prayed for deliverance. He prayed that if it were possible, God would remove this burden from Him. He prayed, “God, if there is any other way, please let what’s about to happen pass from me.”

It’s in this moment that we see the humanity of Jesus. Because like any of us would, in his flesh, Jesus isn’t looking forward to what is about to happen. He’s dreading it. Because in the next 24 he’s not only going to be nearly beaten to death and crucified. But he’s also going to take on the sin of mankind. In other words, on the cross, God is going to pour his wrath out upon Jesus. In that moment Jesus is going to bare the penalty of every sin that has been and will be committed. To be honest, we can’t even begin to imagine the depth of that pain.

So, knowing what’s coming, Jesus prays, “Please God, if there’s any other way...”

Here’s what this is saying to us. In the midst of our pain, there is nothing wrong with asking God to remove it. There’s nothing wrong with praying, “Lord please don’t let this cancer kill me.” There’s nothing wrong with praying, “Please Lord, don’t let them die.” There’s nothing wrong with praying, “Please Lord, heal them and make them whole again.” The fact is, in the midst of our desperate need it’s natural to ask God to remove it. In fact, Jesus asked not one, not twice, but three times for another way. Mark writes, “And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.” (ESV)

As I read this portion of the passage this week, I was reminded of Shane and Angie Suther. If you don’t know the Suther’s, before moving to Wisconsin, they were a family that used to attend MCF. And I was reminded of them because a couple years ago their son Jase was involved in an accident that nearly killed him and has left him with some severe brain injuries. In fact, it was so bad that the doctors told them there was no hope and that Jase wasn’t going to make it. But that didn’t stop Shane and Angie from crying out to God. That didn’t stop them from praying, “Lord please heal Jase! God please save him. God all things are possible for you. Please touch our boy. Please heal him.”

And for over two years they have consistently prayed that prayer. They’ve haven’t given up. They continue to cry out to the one who has the ability to heal Jase. And I have to say, I have a lot of respect and admiration for the Suther’s. Because by now, a lot of people would have given up. A lot of people would have moved on. A lot of people would have said, “Well, it is what it is.” But not Shane and Angie. They believe God has the ability to heal their son, so they continue to cry out.

And what’s been amazing to watch is over the past couple of hears, God has touched Jase. No, he’s not completely healed. No, he’s not fully restored. But the doctors have been proved wrong. Jase did make it as Shane and Angie continue to cry out to God.

You see, there’s nothing wrong with asking God to remove the pain. Nothing wrong with asking him to heal the cancer. Nothing wrong with asking Him to do what only He can do. We should ask for that. And while some might say we’re being desperate. While some might say, “You need to give up”. I would say, “Don’t give up. Don’t lose hope. Keep praying, keep believing. We serve a God for whom all things are possible.” However, when we ask, we do need to be willing to accept an outcome we were praying against. This leads us to a fourth observation. Because while Jesus did ask for God to remove his circumstance:

Fourth, Jesus also prayed for God’s will not his own will.

Mark writes, “And he said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’” (ESV)

Fourth, Jesus prayed for God’s will not his own will.

Yes, Jesus prayed for deliverance, but ultimately he prayed for God’s will. In other words, at the end of the day Jesus was willing to submit to God’s way and not the way he would prefer.

That’s a tough prayer to pray isn’t it. It’s hard to pray that prayer when your loved one is laying in a hospital bed. It’s hard to pray that prayer when the doctor says, “You only have a few months to live.” It’s hard to pray that prayer when your loved one is laying in a casket. It’s hard to pray, “Lord not my will, but your will.”

And the reason that it’s hard is because sometimes God’s way is painful. Sometimes it really hurts. And often, it’s very confusing. It’s hard for us to understand. Hard to understand why God didn’t heal them. Hard to understand why God allowed them to die. Hard to understand if all things are possible, why wouldn’t He heal, why wouldn’t He deliver, why wouldn’t He intervene?

I’ve shared this before, but in 1996, when I finally surrendered my life to Jesus, it unfortunately came at a great cost. It came as the result of somebody’s death. A death that was tragic and nobody understood. The death of a young man named Brook Beringer.

If you don’t know who Brook is, Brook played football for the University of Nebraska. He’d had an amazing career, was popular, loved God, and had every opportunity before him. In fact, he was only days away from being drafted into the NFL when his life was tragically taken in an accident. And while I wasn’t close to Brook, I knew Brooke. He grew up just down the road from me, we both obtained our private pilot’s licenses in high school, and he played for our rival team, the Goodland Cowboys.

So, as I heard the news of his death, not only was I shocked, I was disturbed. My first thought was, “How could this happen to somebody like Brooke. He had so much to live for. Why would a good God let this happen?”

And over the next couple days I grappled with those thoughts wondering how God could have allowed this. And then the funeral came, and I got my answer. Because as people got up to share about Brooke and how he had influenced their life, one of the coaches said something that hit me between the eyes.

He shared how a few months prior to his death, he asked Brooke what his plans were after college. Did he want to go into the NFL? Did want to go into the work force? What were his future hopes?

And after thinking about it for a moment, Brooke said to his coach, “Coach, to be honest, I want whatever God wants for my life. I want his will.”

And three months later, as Brooke took of on an airfield near Lincoln NE, the plane stalled, crashed into the ground, and Brooke was gone. And in that moment, God’s will for Brooke’s future had taken place.

And while tragic, what’s been amazing to see is the number of people who through Brooke’s death, have come to faith in Jesus. In fact it would be safe to say that hundreds if not thousands have come to faith through the testimony of his faith. And I can say with certainty that I am one of those lives. Because as I listened to that coach repeat Brooke’s words, I realized in that moment how far out of the will of God I was. And in that moment I surrendered my will to His will, and I surrendered my life to Jesus. You see, Brooke’s death served a purpose. God used it to lead others to Him.

Jesus said, “Not my will, but your will.” Because at the end of the day, God’s will brings the greatest victory. God’s will serves the greatest purpose. No, it may not make sense at the time. Yes, it might even be painful. But if we’re going to follow Jesus, we have to come to place where we trust His will more than we do our own desires. Because when we come to that place, that’s where we can find peace. That’s where we can find rest. Because:

Fifth, after praying desperately, Jesus found peace and rested in the answer God gave him.

As Jesus closes out his time of prayer, Jesus comes to his disciples for a third time and says, “It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” (ESV)

What I want you to notice is that Jesus doesn’t argue with God when he doesn’t get the answer he’s praying for. He doesn’t get angry. He doesn’t run away. Instead, he gets up and he calmly walks into God’s will.

How is he able to do that? Knowing what’s coming, how does he just walk into it? He’s able to do that because he’s come to a place of surrender and complete submission. We know this from the statement Jesus makes. He says, “It is enough; the hour has come.” Another way to say it would be, “It is settled, this is the answer God has given, and I accept it.”

Jesus prayed if possible to be delivered from this, and God responded. God said, “No, this is the only way.” And Jesus said, “Ok God. I trust your will more than I trust my emotions.” And he surrendered to the Father’s will. And whether you believe it or not, that’s where peace and rest can be found. Because only in God’s will can we find peace. Only in his will can we find rest. Only in his will can we have the assurance that God is in control.

I don’t know what your facing today, but I know this. Regardless of the outcome you may be seeking or desiring, the best outcome will always be God’s will. And in his will, you will find peace and you will find rest. But for you to come to that place, you have to be willing to surrender.

You have to come to that place where you can say, “God, I don’t understand why, but I accept it as your will.” You have to come to that place where you can say, “God, I don’t like this outcome, I don’t like the way I feel, but I trust that you’re control and you have a plan and purpose.” At the end of the day, we have to come to a place of surrender. Because if we don’t, we’ll never find rest. We’ll never find peace.

Jesus got up, gathered himself, and walked into God’s will. And while the next 24 hours would be horrific, on the other side of the pain Jesus would experience the ultimate victory. And what is true for Jesus, is true for you and me. Yes God’s will can be painful. Yes, it can be confusing. No, it doesn’t make any sense. But if we will embrace it and trust it, in the end, God’s will brings victory and hope into our lives.