Mark 14:32-34
‘They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.””
Mark 14:32-34 NIV
We desperately need the presence of friends who love and support us in our times of struggle and distress.
Jesus needed these closest three followers Peter, James, and John to be there with him in Gethsemane and help Him bear His burdens as He approached his crucifixion.
So often, we don't ask for help when we need it. In addition, we often forget to stand with those in need of support. Jesus honesty in His moment of anguish is a powerful reminder that we need both to ask for help when we need it and provide help when others need it!
We are about to step onto holy ground. We are looking at the depths of agony and pain Jesus endured for sinners like you and me.
Even before He went to the cross, He endured an incredible amount of emotional pain. Keep in mind, what we are about to look at is about 12 hours away from Jesus hanging on the cross.
As followers of Jesus, we need to know more about who we are following. The more we know and understand who Jesus is the better we can follow Him.
Today, we learn something significant about Jesus. We are going to see the emotional pain Jesus went through in order to rescue you and me from our sins.
Right here, in Gethsemane, we get a picture of what incarnation literally, in the flesh looks like. Jesus, God’s beloved Son and agent of redemption, is anxious, agitated, troubled, grieved, and afraid.
He needs time alone, yet also wants His disciples close by. He needs time alone in prayer, and He needs the company of others.
Can this really be the one the Church confesses is God’s only Son, the Word made flesh, the second person of the Trinity? If so, He makes a poor comparison with the other gods of the ancient world, gods of power and might, gods dreadful in the vengeance and terrible in their wrath.
But then, maybe that’s the point. Jesus reveals not God’s power but God’s heart, a heart laid open, laid bare, for us. Many have described Mark’s portrayal of Jesus as the most human, the one we can most readily identify with.
He is afraid now and will cry out in despair later. These depictions are not what we expect from God, perhaps not even what we want.
Until, that is, we are distraught, grieved unto death, and afraid. Until we also need to be alone and desperately want others nearby. Until we too throw ourselves in desperation to our knees in prayer.
At those moments we need and crave a God not who is dreadful in vengeance and power but gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.
We are now on the down slope, about to plunge headlong into the story the tradition rightly names Jesus passion, where we will see the passionate commitment that only a God could muster for God’s people and creation. It is right to pause in wonder.
My dear friends, how can we not weep for joy over what Christ did for us, bearing our forever punishment? How can we not love Him more this morning? How can we not cry out with thanks for His suffering and sacrifice?
Do not forget the cost of what He paid. Do not forget the agony He endured for you and for me. Though we can’t fully understand His anguish, His Word reveals why.
He was our substitute, He bore our sin, He paid our price. He suffered God’s forever wrath that was meant for us.
Today, we see the sinful men who cannot stay awake but who fell asleep in the midst of Jesus’ great suffering. The flesh indeed is weak.
The only one who is completely faithful in His love and service to God and mankind is Jesus.
He does not shrink away from His call to suffer for the sin of the world. He is and will be faithful to the end. Thanks be to God that this cup of suffering is not removed from Him and given to us instead to drink.
Christ did all that in order to forgive you, wash you clean of sin and make you brand new. Will you worship Him? Will you thank Him for His great mercy, grace and love for you? Will you adore Him and will you cherish Him? You do so, not with mere emotions, mere tears, mere voices but with your entire life!!!
Father thank You for this day and the Garden of Gathsemane. Lord open the floodgates of heaven and rain down your abundant blessings over my friend and family today. Lord help us stand with those around us who are facing hardships. Lord use us to help them bear their burdens and to pray with them. Lord give us the honesty to share our burdens with those who can stand with us in our times of distress. Lord thank You for joining Yourself to us. Lord thank You for the fear, and the tears, and the grief they are ours. Lord thank You for making them Yours as well. Lord thank You for understanding us, and for saving us. Lord use my friend to be someone’s blessing today. Daddy we love You amen. Be a blessing. Love ya !
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