Gethsemane

Luke 22:39 – 53   [Outline notes for an all-age talk]

After their last supper, Jesus led the disciples out to one of their favourite places – the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives.

When they got there, Jesus asked the disciples to do something: Pray that you will not fall into temptation. Simple request. The disciples just had to pray.

 

Now, I need someone to come and help me...

Stand here & hold this cake would you? I'm just going over here to carry on talking to everyone, I'll come back to you in a while.

Oh, by the way, the cake's called, 'Devil's Food Cake'.

Where were we? Oh yes, Jesus has asked the disciples to pray so that they won't fall into temptation. 

Then Jesus went off by himself – about a stone's throw from the disciples. And he too prayed. And he said, Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done.

Jesus knows he's going to be falsely accused. He knows he'll be sentenced to death.

There's a part of him that doesn't want to suffer. None of us likes pain – nor did Jesus - so he says, Father, if it's possible take this cup – this cup of suffering – away from me. But not what I want. I'll do whatever you want.

As he prayed, an angel strengthened him.

And he prayed on – more passionately, more intensely – and as he prayed, the sweat poured off and dripped on the ground like drops of blood.

Now, where's my volunteer?

What?! What are you doing? You've eaten the cake!! I told you to stay over there and hold the cake, not sit down & eat it!

[“But I was hungry – I couldn't resist!”]

Then, when Jesus had finished praying, he went back to the disciples. And he found them lying on the ground fast asleep. 'Why are you sleeping?' He asked them, 'Get up and pray that you will not fall into temptation.'

While Jesus was still speaking, a crowd appeared, led by Judas who had been one of Jesus' disciples.

He came up to Jesus and was about to greet him with a kiss, when Jesus said, 'Judas, are you really going to betray the Son of Man with a kiss?'

The disciples could see what was happening – they saw the soldiers and their weapons – and said, 'Lord, shall we fight with our swords?'  And before Jesus had a chance to answer, one of them struck out at the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

The disciples don't want Jesus to be arrested - they just cannot accept God's plan for Jesus – that he must be arrested and killed. They can't, or won't, believe what Jesus has been telling them – that he must suffer & die. The disciples have succumbed to temptation and disobeyed God's will – just as N succumbed to the temptation of the Devil's Food Cake, and disobeyed my request.

Meanwhile, Jesus struggles in prayer & fights the temptation to avoid suffering. Jesus resolves to do God's will – to be obedient, even if it means an agonising death.

But there's something more here.

When Jesus prays, he says, 'Father if you're willing, take this cup from me.' What does he mean?

Well, the OT talks about the 'cup of God's wrath' – that is, the cup of God's punishment on people's sin, unbelief, disobedience and rejection of his will.  So here in the garden, Jesus knows that he's facing death because he's facing God's just punishment for our disobedience and unbelief – the same kind of disobedience and unbelief that the disciples showed when they tried to prevent Jesus doing God's will.

If Jesus doesn't drink the cup of God's wrath, then we have to drink it. But if he drinks it, we don't.

Like the disciples, we're weak and fall into temptation.

Like the disciples, we fail to be obedient to God's will – especially if it involves humility and service.

But Jesus resists temptation.

Jesus obeys – even when it means suffering for others – even when it means dying for you and for me.