The Garden of Agony
Matthew 26:36-46
Luke 22:39-46
Mark 14:32-42
Each writer has a slight differences and additions in their recording of that night
•The real difference is that Jesus knew and understood the time
•The disciples were unconcerned and went to sleep, not able to keep their eyes open although 3 did as they recorded that evening for us.
What do you think the Disciples perspective was on the situation?
Were they aware of what was about to happen?
Do you think they could have understood the enormity of what Jesus was about to do?
Jesus had tried to prepare them for this moment, telling them many times what was going to take place, what must happen to the Son of Man, and Peter being rebuked for saying that would never happen.
Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone who he was. “The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” Luke 9:21-22
Isaiah Prophesies this in Isaiah 50:4-9.
Jesus had always known this was his Destiney he was the only one who could carry the sin of the whole world upon and pay the price for it once and for all your sin and my sin
There's one constant in the recordings – Jesus "I want your will to be done not mine"
It was the most awful situation you could imagine, but Jesus saw a bigger picture he knew what the consequences of his death and resurrection would be, He had heavens perspective even though it meant suffering and a cruel death.
Heavens perspective Jesus would be the perfect sacrifice, giving up his life to death that we might have life, freedom from sin, shame, guilt and fear.
How different would we approach things in our lives if we had heavens perspective on the events that took place in our own lives.
It did not men Jesus didn’t have to suffer, but as it says for the Joy set before him
What about your life?
Your circumstances
Your present and future
What about your past, where was God in that that has already taken place and led you to this point?
We can so easily look through our worldly tainted eyes and not see clearly
God's perspective is always different from ours:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honour beside God’s throne.
Hebrews 12:1-2
There was a prophetic word at our last Catalyst leaders gathering: The church has been sleep walking into a battle
Questions
1) What's your perspective on the events leading upto Jesus death?
2) What do these accounts tell us about the disciples?
3) What do they tell us about God?
4) What can we learn from these events?
If you feel like you’re in a garden of agony then may I encourage you to look to God who will strengthen you and share with another and ask for prayer.