Sermon: The Journey of Obedience With Jesus
Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46
Last week we discussed how to run the race of faith well. One of the components of running well was for us to consider Jesus. In considering Jesus, we see He was able to set aside the ideas of pain, shame, and suffering of the cross because he knew the joy that awaited him after the trial. We now want to double click on this idea and look at Jesus’ decision making in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Notice:
It was in the garden that Jesus wrestled with God's will for his life. The power of Jesus’ garden prayer is that after he prayed to God, he followed.
You’ll remember another battle that took place in a garden. It was the battle between Adam and Eve and the serpent. Adam and Eve lost that battle. There is a chilling silence in the story of Adam and Eve, and that silence is they did not take their temptations and struggles to Jesus. Jesus with his struggling goes to the Father for help and prevails.
Notice:
The disciples also struggled in this battle. Leading up to this story the disciples were sure they were what Jesus needed. James and John claimed they were ready to go to battle for Jesus. Peter proclaimed that He would never disown Jesus and that he would be right there for him. But in the garden when Jesus needed his disciples, they slept. The disciples were physically close to Jesus but spiritually distant.
Notice:
More than half of our story is about prayer, and it is in prayer that we see Jesus changing. He goes from praying “Lord take this cup from me” to surrender. He is resolved to obey after praying. Prayer first and foremost is not about changing situations, it's about getting on God’s agenda. Prayer is less about demanding God to do something and more about giving our lives to God and resting in him.
So, how do we consider Jesus?
In the imperative from Hebrews 12 we are implored to: Look to Jesus and not the path we are taking. Looking means that we will direct out attention to Jesus without distraction. And where there is distraction, or struggle we will take that to God and be resolved to follow the Lord whatever it takes.
Notice:
It was in the garden that Jesus wrestled with God's will for his life. The power of Jesus’ garden prayer is that after he prayed to God, he followed.
You’ll remember another battle that took place in a garden. It was the battle between Adam and Eve and the serpent. Adam and Eve lost that battle. There is a chilling silence in the story of Adam and Eve, and that silence is they did not take their temptations and struggles to Jesus. Jesus with his struggling goes to the Father for help and prevails.
Notice:
The disciples also struggled in this battle. Leading up to this story the disciples were sure they were what Jesus needed. James and John claimed they were ready to go to battle for Jesus. Peter proclaimed that He would never disown Jesus and that he would be right there for him. But in the garden when Jesus needed his disciples, they slept. The disciples were physically close to Jesus but spiritually distant.
Notice:
More than half of our story is about prayer, and it is in prayer that we see Jesus changing. He goes from praying “Lord take this cup from me” to surrender. He is resolved to obey after praying. Prayer first and foremost is not about changing situations, it's about getting on God’s agenda. Prayer is less about demanding God to do something and more about giving our lives to God and resting in him.
So, how do we consider Jesus?
In the imperative from Hebrews 12 we are implored to: Look to Jesus and not the path we are taking. Looking means that we will direct out attention to Jesus without distraction. And where there is distraction, or struggle we will take that to God and be resolved to follow the Lord whatever it takes.