Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

In the first garden “Not your will but mine” changed Paradise to desert and brought man from Eden to Gethsemane.

Now “Not my will but yours” brings anguish to the man who prays it but transforms the desert into the kingdom and brings man from Gethsemane to the gates of glory.

Matt 26.2 “2 “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.””

Jesus Anointed

The Passover with the Disciples = 26:17-25

Go into city - certain house - “my time is at hand”

prediction of betrayal - Judas named

Judas = praise

Institution of the Lord’s Supper = 26:26-29

Body and blood - new covenant = Jhn 6.53.

Je-sus Foretells Peter’s Denial = 26:30-35

“You will all fall away” - Peter denies, denial

Message

Matthew 26:36–46 (ESV) / Luke 22.39-46 & Mark 14:32-42.

36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.”

37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful (distressed) and troubled.

38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”

39 And going a little farther (about a stones throw) he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “(Abba)My Father, (all things are possible for you) if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

(43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.

44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.)

40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping.

And he said to Peter, “(Simon, are you asleep?)So, could you not watch with me one hour?

41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.

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

42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”

43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

(and they did not know how to answer Him)

44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.

45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, (are you still sleeping and taking your rest?)“Sleep and take your rest later on.

See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Gethsemane

Place of Great Heaviness & Intense Suffering

V 37-38

He was in deep sympathy with the holiness of God and the helplessness of man.

May our eyes be opened to see, and our hearts touched to appreciate the “beautiful sadness” of the Son of God!

A Place of Solemn Loneliness

Matt 6.6 “6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.

And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

A Place of Agonizing Prayer

A Place of Entire Resignation

A Place of Special Support

The Lords Prayer

He Prayed Alone

We mean well and yet we fail

He Prayed Humbly

He Prayed Earnestly

He Prayed Persistently

He Prayed Submissively

Close

In the first garden “Not your will but mine” changed Paradise to desert and brought man from Eden to Gethsemane.

Now “Not my will but yours” brings anguish to the man who prays it but transforms the desert into the kingdom and brings man from Gethsemane to the gates of glory.

“Not As We Will, But, Your Will Be Done!”

Group Questions

For ver. 36–46, see Mark 14:32–42; Luke 22:40–46.

What stuck out to you most from this weeks message?

Why?

If you had to summarize this message for someone in your group sho had not heard it what would you say?

Do you think it is possible to pray to God and yet pray against His will?

How do we determine what God’s will is for us on specific topics?

I do not believe that Jesus was “unclear” on God’s will, so what might that teach you about your prayer life?

How do we balance the will of God with the fact that prayer changes things?

What does this passage teach us about how Jesus views this truth?

Jesus prays both alone and with others.

Which do you most prefer?

and why?

When and how do you decide what is more appropriate (personal / corporate) prayer?

What might this passage teach us about the importance of us praying for and with one another?

Many of us have experienced our own “Gethsemane” moment.

If you are willing to share yours with the group please take time to do so.

While in your “gethsemane” what do you wish others would have known, done, asked, etc.?

How did you respond in the end?

How can we help one another respond like Jesus?

Group Challenge: I believe that many of us do not pray for an hour at a time… maybe you do.

Assuming you don’t, I want to challenge you to spend a solid hour in prayer before your group meets.

Take note of your distractions, your emotions, what you prayed for, etc. and share your experience with the group.