Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Luke 22:39-46
- The Lord Jesus wrestling in agony at Gethsemane
- We are on the victory side – inc Roman 8
- When was the victory achieved?
- The cross
- The resurrection
- In Gethsemane
- A starting point "An angel appeared from heaven strengthening Him" – v43
- Jesus was fully composed when the soldiers came
- Jesus told Peter to put away his sword – He was to drink the cup of His Father
- Jesus wants His disciples to learn from His agony
- x6 – "prayer"
- x2 – "watch and pray"
- Overview – 4 parts:
- His Custom
- His Concern
- His Cup
- His Composure
His Custom (v38)
- To withdraw to the Mount of Olives to pray
- He often went to pray on His own
- Sometimes He took His disciples with Him
- He lived a life of prayer
- Facing the cross – He does the same thing
- Is prayer a custom for us?
- Do we follow in the Saviour’s footsteps?
- Jesus instructed His disciples to ‘watch and pray’
- Example of African tribe
His Concern (v40)
- ‘Pray not to enter into temptation’
- In the agony of Gethsemane He is concerned for His disciples
- Typical of the Lord Jesus Christ
- Jesus does not want them to enter into temptation
- Tempted to sin
- Testings and trials – not to be overwhelmed by the trial or difficulty
- Temptation is not wrong, but to enter into sin is wrong
- Temptation can overwhelm us
- Sin can overwhelm us
- Example of the Lord’s Prayer
- The disciples were overwhelmed by Calvary
His Cup (v42)
- Take this cup away from Me
- Jesus is now facing the worse of all trials
- 3 times He prays (in the other gospels) – though Luke summarises it
- The cup is Old Testament language
- Ps 75:8 (and other passages)
- The wrath of God / anger of God against sin
- Isaiah, Jeremiah, Revelation
- There are judgments from God – Romans 1
- His wrath is mixed with mercy
- The wrath that Jesus faced was undiluted
- Quote #1 from Jonathan Edwards Sermon: Christ’s Agony
- We deserve this because of our sin
- He prays if possible for the cup to pass from Him – but God’s will be done
- He submits His human will to the will of God the Father
- An angel came to strengthen Him (v43)
- He prayed more earnestly (v44)
- So He could continue in prayer and submit to the will of God the Father
- No human help but heavenly help
- Quote #2 from Jonathan Edwards Sermon: Christ’s Agony
- On the cross wrath was poured out – in Gethsemane He is looking at it
- He is accepting the cup
- Quote from John Duncan
- Christians will never face the undiluted wrath of God – Jesus has faced this for us
- We are justified by faith
- Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ
His Composure (v45-46)
- He knows what will happen and is prepared to go through with it
- The victory was won in Gethsemane
Application
- We not face what Jesus did, but we need divine help
- "Rise and pray lest you enter into temptation"
- Christians in the work place, family life, neighbourhoods
- Wales is the most secular part of the UK
- We need strength from heaven – divine help
- We need the Holy Spirit
- Quote from hymn
- You pray
- Has the grass grown over the path of prayer
- "Pray, lest you enter into temptation"