WEBVTT 00:00:02.240 --> 00:00:07.120 This is the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:10.160 Glory to you, Lord Christ. 00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:29.760 Now, when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied and a cult with her. 00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:33.200 Untie them and bring them to me. 00:00:33.520 --> 00:00:41.759 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, The Lord needs them, and he will send them at once. 00:00:42.159 --> 00:00:58.799 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the full of a beast of burden. 00:00:59.200 --> 00:01:03.600 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:10.000 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:18.000 Most of the crowds spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 00:01:18.239 --> 00:01:30.159 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest. 00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:36.640 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, Who is this? 00:01:36.959 --> 00:01:43.359 And the crowd said, This is the prophet, Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee. 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:45.920 The gospel of the Lord. 00:01:46.480 --> 00:01:48.719 Praise to you, Lord Christ. 00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:07.040 It was a week that began with Palm Sunday, with the waving of palms and the shouts of Azanna. 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:13.759 It was a week that began with Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:17.199 Of course, there was fulfillment of scripture. 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:19.120 Zechariah would talk about that. 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:26.960 Shout. 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:34.560 Your king comes to you, righteous, and he comes to you on the fold of a donkey. 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:37.199 They would have known that. 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:40.319 It was the beginning of the most incredible week. 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:42.800 We call that week holy week. 00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:46.800 And Jesus rode into Jerusalem. 00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:55.039 He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey to the shouts of Hosanna of save us. 00:02:56.319 --> 00:03:01.039 And eventually they turned to cries of crucify him. 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:08.240 This was the beginning of the feast of Passover. 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:12.080 This day that Jesus walked down to Jerusalem. 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:23.199 This is in fulfillment of what Luke wrote about in Luke in chapter 9, verse 51, when we read that Jesus set his eyes, resolutely set his eyes on Jerusalem. 00:03:23.360 --> 00:03:25.439 This is the culmination of that. 00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:33.280 He's determined that his path is going to lead him to Jerusalem, and he knows what's before him. 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:38.960 This was the beginning of the Passover feast. 00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:43.280 We read about that in Exodus chapter 12. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:04:03.439 That moment when God gave instruction to the Israelites through Moses and He said to them, He said, Gather up lambs, one-year-old male lambs, lambs without blemish, lambs without defect. 00:04:03.919 --> 00:04:09.360 And they would gather them up, and for four days they they made preparation for that lamb. 00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:19.680 And then they were instructed to sacrifice the lamb and take the blood of the lamb and spread it over the doorframe of the house. 00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:31.120 And they were instructed to eat the lamb, the meat of the lamb, to eat it all, to do it in haste, because the Lord was getting ready to move. 00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:43.120 And it was the blood of the lamb that saved whoever was in the house from the judgment of God. 00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:51.519 God would pass over the house because of the blood of the lamb. 00:04:53.439 --> 00:04:58.560 And Jesus rised into Jerusalem on a donkey. 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:05.279 And the people from surrounding areas would have come, they would have come to Jerusalem to go to the temple. 00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:08.319 They would have brought their lambs. 00:05:08.959 --> 00:05:17.600 And they would have prepared their lambs to be sacrificed to commemorate that moment in Exodus 12. 00:05:19.360 --> 00:05:22.959 And Jesus rides in on a donkey. 00:05:24.079 --> 00:05:32.000 John would say this, John the Baptist, the Lamb of God who comes to take away the sin of the world. 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:34.639 The Lamb of God. 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:46.639 We have to go back to Genesis and chapter 2. 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:55.040 We go back to creation when God created and everything was given to Adam in a garden. 00:05:55.839 --> 00:06:01.839 And he was given one prohibition: do not eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:05.360 For if you do, you will die. 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:08.720 That was the promise of God to Adam. 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:19.040 You will not only die a physical death, but you will experience separation from me, spiritual death. 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:33.839 Paul says in Romans chapter 6, verse 23, Paul says that the wages of sin is death. 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:38.639 He's picking up from Genesis chapter 2. 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:40.800 You will surely die. 00:06:41.680 --> 00:06:43.199 The wages of sin is death. 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:44.240 Do you know what that is? 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:47.120 That is a mathematical formula. 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:48.720 Think about it. 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:54.240 The wages, the penalty of sin is death. 00:06:54.720 --> 00:06:57.199 Sin equals death. 00:06:59.839 --> 00:07:06.000 And if you take away sin, there is no death. 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:17.040 And the Lamb of God, who comes to take away the sin of the world, is entering into Jerusalem. 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:23.279 And we find him going to another garden. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:26.560 It's the Garden of Gethsemane. 00:07:27.519 --> 00:07:33.839 And we're brought into one of the most intimate and revealing moments in all of Scripture. 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:38.000 We heard it today as we reenacted. 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:42.959 Jesus falls on his face. 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:55.040 He falls on his face and he prays, Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. 00:07:56.399 --> 00:08:03.279 Yet, not as I will, but as you will. 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:13.360 Some translations say in verse 2039, yet, or but yet, not as I will, but as you will. 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:18.879 Some translations say, nevertheless, not as I will, but you will. 00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:26.560 That but, that but yet, that nevertheless, that carries the weight of eternity. 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:32.879 Nevertheless, it's the place where human desire meets divine surrender. 00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:36.080 And it happened in that garden. 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:42.159 It's the line between the flesh and the spirit. 00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:50.320 It's the line between walking in the flesh and our own will and walking in the spirit. 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:57.200 It's here in this most intimate moment we find the place of surrender. 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:02.320 And Jesus doesn't hide his anguish. 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:05.440 He knows what's before him. 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:10.960 He doesn't pretend that what's before him is going to be easy. 00:09:12.960 --> 00:09:19.440 But he plainly says, Father, let this cup pass from me. 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:26.320 This is raw, unfiltered honesty. 00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:29.200 And that's exactly what prayer is. 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:32.559 It's being honest before the Lord. 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:38.559 It's not a place of weakness, but this is a place of honesty. 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:47.759 You know and I know in our flesh we recoil against suffering. 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:51.360 We push back against loss and sacrifice. 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:54.080 We recoil against surrender. 00:09:55.279 --> 00:09:58.720 Lord, Lord, I don't want to walk through this. 00:09:58.960 --> 00:10:00.399 That's been my prayer. 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:02.480 I'm sure that's been your prayer. 00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:06.159 Lord, I don't I don't want to have to forgive. 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:11.519 Lord, I don't want to let go. 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:17.519 Lord, I don't want to have to endure this pain. 00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:21.679 You see, it's in our flesh. 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:31.279 In our flesh that we always seek comfort, that we always seek control, that we always seek self-preserverseverance. 00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:37.759 And yet here's Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:44.320 Fully God, fully man, and he's entering into the very same tension. 00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:48.480 What he feels is real. 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:52.559 And what he prays is authentic. 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:57.279 And then there's the turning point. 00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:00.320 Then there's the but yet. 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:02.320 Then there's the nevertheless. 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:05.360 It's the hinge point of obedience. 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:09.840 It's submitting his will to his father's will. 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:14.000 And that's the very same for you and for me. 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:18.399 The moment when the will is laid down. 00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:23.279 It's not denied, it's not ignored, but it is surrendered. 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:26.879 And it's out of this place. 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:31.440 Out of this place of obedience that we know the very presence of God. 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:36.000 It's out of this place of obedience that we know his favor upon us. 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:46.960 But yet, nevertheless, that's the language of the Spirit overcoming the flesh. 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:52.240 It's what Paul writes about in Galatians, Galatians 5, 17. 00:11:52.399 --> 00:12:01.919 He says, the flesh and the spirit, they are in conflict with each other, and we all live in this tension. 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:05.279 But hear this. 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:11.759 Victory isn't found in eliminating the suffering, the struggle. 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:18.639 But victory is found in the but yet, in the nevertheless. 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:22.639 And that's what we see with Jesus. 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:26.480 That's what we see with Jesus in this moment in the Garden of Gethsemane. 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:28.080 It's a profound moment. 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:34.480 His strength comes after the but yet, not my will be done, your will be done. 00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:41.039 His strength comes after the nevertheless, nevertheless, not my will, but your will be done. 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:44.240 His strength comes from that place of surrender. 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:47.919 And everything changes after that moment. 00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:49.519 Did you notice that? 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:57.600 The second time he goes back to pray, this time he says, if this can't happen unless I drink from this cup, then your will be done. 00:12:57.759 --> 00:12:59.279 What is he talking about, this cup? 00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:00.879 He's talking about the cross. 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:02.960 He knows what's before him. 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:06.639 Everything changes after this prayer. 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:11.519 And we heard he rises with resolve, he's determined. 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:15.519 He faces his betrayal without resistance. 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:20.080 And he walks to the cross with purpose. 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:27.279 It's the but yet, it's the nevertheless that aligns him fully with the Father's will. 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:33.279 And again, for you and me in our lives, it's true. 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:41.360 That peace, that peace that passes all understanding, it comes after surrender. 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:45.440 That clarity, Lord, what do I do? 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:48.799 It comes after obedience. 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:50.879 Power. 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:51.600 Power. 00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:53.840 I don't know if I have the strength to do this. 00:13:54.080 --> 00:14:01.279 It comes after yielding to the Lord Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:04.799 This is the pattern of discipleship. 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:12.399 This is what Jesus meant when he says, if you want to follow me, you must deny yourself and take up your cross daily. 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:15.279 Kind of one and done. 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:28.559 When forgiveness is costly, nevertheless. 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:29.840 But yet. 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:38.879 When obedience is inconvenient and untimely, nevertheless. 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:46.240 When our faith is risky, nevertheless. 00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:50.159 You see, our lives are built on this. 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:53.120 It's built on surrender. 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:59.120 And for Jesus, for Jesus, we know the rest of the story. 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:02.879 What looked like defeat is victory. 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:07.360 For Jesus, what looked like loss is salvation. 00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:14.240 The Lamb of God who comes to take away the sin of the world. 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:18.559 Sin is atoned for out of this place of surrender. 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:27.279 Death is defeated out of the nevertheless, not my will be done, your will be done, and hope is secured. 00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:41.919 It's in this place, this place of surrender, that we will not find weakness, but we will find the very power of God. 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:49.840 That we will walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh. 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:09.519 And we see Jesus constantly in a posture of surrender. 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:13.600 Nevertheless, not my will be done, your will be done. 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:23.840 As we go to Maundday Thursday, as we go to Good Friday, as we come back in a week and celebrate the empty tent. 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:33.519 Father God, we thank you and praise you for the but yet, for the nevertheless. 00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:40.720 Lord, I pray for that position of surrender in our lives. 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:54.879 In the strength of the spirit, and not in the flesh, giving in to our will, but to your will. 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:56.960 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:57.919 Amen.