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| Gethsemane |
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| Inside the Church of All Nations at Gethsemane |
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| Inside the Church of All Nations at Gethsemane |
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| Gethsemane |
Jesus and His followers traveled to the Mount of Olives (Mark 14.26). It is night. It is dark except for some torches that would be shining behind them from the tops of the wall surrounding Jerusalem behind them. Certainly, they would have had a torch or two with them, but no lights as we know it. No streetlights, no lighted pathways, no sidewalks to guide their path. They arrive in Gethsemane – a combination of two words which combine to form “oil press” (specifically for olive oil). We call this spot a garden, but it is not a garden as we think of it, where we grow plants. Rather, the idea is more along the lines of kindergarten. Obviously, kindergarten is not a garden where we raise kids, and yet it is. It is a place of recreation where kids can play and grow. Gethsemane was, perhaps, something like that – an area for recreating among the trees and the olive presses. But on this night, it was anything but relaxing. Rather, it was a place where the spirit of our Lord would be pressed and squeezed much like the olives were during the days.
Following God’s Will Means Going a Little Farther (Mark 14.32-42)
When they arrive, Jesus tells most of the disciples to wait while He goes to pray. This night is definitely different, but this would have seemed normal. As I discussed last week, Jesus has just altered 1500 years of tradition through His choice of words during the meal. But Jesus also said He would be betrayed by one, and then abandoned by all. But now some normalcy sets in. Imagine how many times over 3+ years Jesus must have said to His disciples – “Sit here for a bit, so I can go pray.” This was so typical that it is really one of the only things they ask Jesus to really teach them. The disciples never ask Jesus to teach them to preach, for instance, but Luke 11.1 shows they asked to how to pray.
Leaving most of the disciples at this point, Jesus takes His closest three a little farther. All of the remaining disciples had an important role in continuing the work of Jesus after His death and resurrection, but Jesus chose three to do a little more. Some may think that Jesus is playing favorites, but the reality is that leadership is lonely and most are unwilling to go a little farther. Peter, James, and John were by no means perfect, but these three were with Jesus when He was transfigured on the mountain (9.2-8) and when He raised Jairus’ daughter (5.37-43), and now they would be nearer in the most challenging moment of His life – to date.
The three disciples Jesus chose were able to go a little farther than the others, and thus they got some insights that the others did not. But they were not ready for prime-time. Notice, Jesus goes farther yet (35). Jesus asks these three to keep watch, while He goes to pour out His soul before God. Before I get to Jesus portion, let me jump to verse 37. Jesus returns and these three are sleeping. He calls out to Simon (notice He doesn’t use Peter – the rock) in a stern rebuke. But then the same thing happens again. And then a third time. We know Peter denied Jesus three times while He was on trial, but here Peter, James, and John all fall flat three times in their calling to be near to Jesus in this difficult hour. Again, to follow the will of God means going a little farther and although these three thought they were ready, they were not (see Mark 10.37; 14.29).
Jesus on the other hand does go farther because His intent is ultimately not His own; rather, it is to yield to the Father. While Jesus is with His friends, we are told He is greatly distressed and troubled. Let me broaden these terms – awestruck and horrified. Jesus has been predicting exactly what would happen to Him since the Great Confession in Mark 8. Three times (Mark 8.31; 9.31; 10.33-34) Jesus has provided an account of what was to come. The sequence is about to begin and the situation has Jesus in awe of what is to happen. He is horrified of what awaits Him. The humanity of Jesus is on full display in this verse (Mark 14.33). Verse 35 says He falls to the ground. Most Jews prayed with the arms extended and lifted toward heaven. Only in times of intense supplication might a Jew fall to the ground. And Jesus, is indeed making a request of the Father – that the cup be removed and that the hour would pass.
I mentioned last week that the cup represents the wrath of God. So does the hour (or the time of the end). And Jesus comes with this request as the Son pleading with the Father. Much has been said over the years about Jesus term of the word Abba. Abba is an Aramaic word for “daddy” which was commonly used of a young child toward a father; however, no Jew would dare call God “Abba” because it would suggest a lack of reverence. But Jesus uses the term because He is the Son. And, by using it – and please don’t miss this – it shows that God, as Father does care about what happens in the world. He is not the kind of God, as some suggest, that created the world and just sits back and watches time go by. No, Abba, means God is present, and He cares. He cares for those who do not go very far, but He is certainly watching those who are will to go a little bit farther, and then farther still to follow Him.
And that is where we are in the story. Jesus comes with His request. But He knows the request is about what He wants, not what God desires. In fact, Jesus request is not ultimately what He wants, which should be a big encouragement for us. Jesus desire in the moment must give way to His ultimate desire. Jesus knew why He came. Mark 10.45 is a perfect indication of why He came. He knew that. He wanted that. But now, He wants another way, if it is at all possible. Yet Jesus must remember that the greater purpose is not His comfort in the coming hours, but His redemption of a people that will last for eternity. So, His prayer is to submit to the greater purpose at the expense of His present desire.
This past week, in our Community Groups, we discussed the idea of sacrifice. We all have something that we are unwilling to give up. Our lessons have been building toward this idea of sacrfice as we have been exploring what makes a great Christian. Being a great Christian requires time, endurance, and realigning our life to God’s wholly and completely. It doesn’t mean that we have to leave everything behind and move to some far off place – but it might. It doesn’t mean that we have to give a bunch of money to some cause – but it might. It doesn’t mean that we have to abandon everything dear to us – but it might.
The truth is that many Christians desire to follow Christ, but only until the need to sacrifice becomes too great. The three disciples mentioned here (and Andrew) gave up their fishing business, Levi gave up collecting taxes. Every disciples gave up something, but now more was expected – and they had all said, “Count me in” (see verse 31, paraphased). Jesus stands ready, and moves purposefully to face all that awaits as the rest will now fall away. His betrayer has arrived, and now the God who came to provide mercy for our sins is in the hands of sinners who will show no mercy.
Following God’s Will Means Getting Left Behind (Mark 14.43-52)
Judas approaches and betrays Jesus with a kiss. This kiss is more than just a peck. The Greek word suggests an intimate kiss. For a disciple to kiss a rabbi was not uncommon. In fact, apart from a familial type of kiss, the rabbinic kiss was well understood in that culture. But to use the kiss as a means of betrayal was unthinkable – just like it was for a betrayer to dine at the same table as Jesus (v. 18). Judas has brought a group of people with him to seize Jesus. The Gospel writer (Mark) is not as descriptive in some areas and certainly does not provide the same details about the arresting party. For instance, Mark makes no mention of Roman soldiers, though other accounts certainly suggest many (100s?) Roman soldiers were there.
Jesus is not phased by the moment. The guard has come as a reminder of who is in control, but Jesus continues to prove that He is the One in charge. A bystander (John tells us it was Peter) strikes the head of a man with a sword and cuts off his ear. We have to consider that was not Peter’s intent. But anything worse would have led to a complete slaughter of the well-intentioned men. But again, Jesus is in charge. He heals the man’s ear (Luke 22.51) and then speaks to the guard in a tone of disbelief.
As Jesus speaks, in Mark 14.48-49, He makes three important points.
- You arrest me as a robber or a common thief. I AM the Son of God. (Keep in mind that Jesus was crucified between common thieves.)
- You could have arrested me at any time over these past several days in the temple. You didn’t because you were concerned what others might think if they saw this happen. So you do it at night so that you think you can get away with it.
- These are not your plans. These are the plans of my Father and Scripture is being fulfilled.
Why didn’t Jesus ask them to fight? The simple answer is they would have been slaughtered. But the real answer is found in His prayer – it was not the Father’s will. The disciples were truly willing to die as evidenced by one striking one of the guards with a sword. But Jesus was not concerned about winning a battle in the moment, His concern was providing victory for eternity.
Jesus said as much in Mark 8. Just after He mentioned His death the first time, Jesus taught the disciples the principle that one must die to truly save His life. In the moment they fled, the disciples thought they were sparing their lives. But later, after the resurrection, they would be willing to lose it because of what they had witnessed in Jesus. It is not that they, nor we, are to run into danger, but if we truly believe what God has done, not sacrifice should seem too great.
Following God’s Will Means Never Being Alone
Our sacrifice will not be too great because Jesus will always be near. Jesus said in Mark 14.27 that the striking of the shepherd would cause the sheep to scatter. The sheep were now to be without their leader. But the Leader would not stay away. After the resurrection, the Shepherd gathered His sheep once again, sent them on mission, and continues to do the same with people who are willing to do His will today.
Jesus had to die, but He did not stay dead. Therefore, He is with us now – or, at least, can be if we are willing. Matthew 28.20 says He is with us always as we are doing His work. Hebrews 13.5 says He will not leave us nor forsake us, unlike other aspects of our life in which we place our trust.
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that we have a high priest who knows what temptation is. He knows what being human means. And that means He knows what it is like to be alone. Jesus decided to follow the will of God farther than most and it left Him alone in prayer to the Father. He decided to follow the will of God in not resisting arrest and it left Him alone because He friends deserted Him. And because He knows what it is like to be alone, Jesus makes a promise that we do not have to be alone, if we give ourselves to Him.
CONCLUSION
Jesus was betrayed and abandoned by man, but He still had the Father. And it was to the Father that He prayed and presented His request. In fact, the time in Gethsemane relates well to the Lord’s Prayer, especially when you consider they had just come from a meal having received their daily bread.
- Our Father (Abba, Father)
- Hallowed be Your Name (All things are possible for You (the Holy One))
- Your Will Be Done (Not what I will, but what you will)
- For Yours is the Kingdom (Praying for God’s will because of the Kingdom)
- Lead us not, deliver us from evil (Pray that you do not enter temptation (to disciples))
But Jesus knew as He was praying something we should always keep in mind. The God we pray to can answer any request that we have, but He may not be willing. And He certainly is not obligated to answer in the way we think it should be answered.
Last week, we saw Jesus as the model for faithfulness. This week, we see Jesus setting the example of prayer. And from here forth, we see Jesus perfectly demonstrate sacrifice and obedience because He has a greater goal than the people before Him can see.
JOURNEY: That is why our JOURNEY letter for the week is: J – Jesus.
“…looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12.2
OPPORTUNITY: Go a little farther, even if it means getting left behind.
REMEMBRANCE: Jesus gave up His will to the Father, and we should do the same.
NEXT STEP(S): Live: Do one thing for God this week that you normally would not do.
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