Passion Week: The Garden of Gethsemane

Jesus's emotions are running deep by the time he reaches the
Garden of Gethsemane. So what does the savior of the world say when he is alone with His Father? "God, if there was any way that I could get out of this, then
you know I would."

Is this a sign of weakness? Is Jesus scared of a
little pain? Actually, a few bumps and bruises are the last thing on
Jesus's mind. In a moment of raw emotion, Jesus begins to realize
that the punishment that awaits him is the full wrath of a very holy
and just God. And if the possibility of facing the wrath of God
doesn't freak you out then I suggest you read a few verses in
Revelation.

Yet, even though Jesus asks multiple times, he knows there is no exit
strategy. He knows what he has to do. He knows its the will of the
Father. Someone has to take the blame. Someone has to be the one
to pay the price. He is the ultimate sacrifice. Despite doing no wrong,
somehow he is the only one that can accept responsibility if we are to
have a chance.

“The doctrine of the death of Christ is the substance of the gospel.”
-Stephen Charnock

Jesus knew that without him, there is no hope. Without his sacrifice,
there is no salvation. Without the death, there is no Gospel.
Without Good Friday, there is no Easter. And without the cross, there
is no Christianity. You can't blame him for wanting to avoid the
wrath of the Almighty (he was fully human). But he knew that without
his sacrifice, mankind would forever be seperated from God.

So He did it anyway. He did it for you.


God forgive me for sleeping while you are all around me fighting to
save the world.

Forgive me for my passiveness as your heart breaks
for the people that are dying everyday without you.

"The Garden of Gethsemane"

Matthew 26:36-46

Key Theme...Propitiation.

Key Truth..Jesus endured our condemnation.

Key Texts...Romans 3:21-26, Hebrews 2:17, 1 John 2:1-2, 1 John 4:8-10

-Sin arouses the fury, anger, and wrath of God.

-As sinners, we deserve to bear God’s wrath against sin.

-As our substitute, Jesus became the object of God’s fury, anger, and wrath so that we might not experience it.

-Expiation (Our sin is removed) is different from Propitiation (God’s wrath is satisfied.)

“In the Garden...”

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39

He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” Matthew 26:42

So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Matthew 26:44

-The cup of the cross is not primarily physical suffering; the cup of the cross is predominantly spiritual suffering.

-Jesus is not a coward about to face Roman soldiers; Jesus is a Savior about to endure divine wrath.

In the hand of the LORD is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs. Psalm 75:8

Awake, awake! Rise up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of his wrath, you who have drained to its dregs the goblet that makes men stagger. Of all the sons she bore there was none to guide her; of all the sons she reared there was none to take her by the hand. These double calamities have come upon you— who can comfort you?— ruin and destruction, famine and sword— who can console you? Your sons have fainted; they lie at the head of every street, like antelope caught in a net. They are filled with the wrath of the LORD and the rebuke of your God. Therefore hear this, you afflicted one, made drunk, but not with wine. This is what your Sovereign LORD says, your God, who defends his people: “See, I have taken out of your hand the cup that made you stagger; from that cup, the goblet of my wrath, you will never drink again.” Isaiah 51:17-22

This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup filled with the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. When they drink it, they will stagger and go mad because of the sword I will send among them.” Jeremiah 25:15-16

This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “You will drink your sister’s cup, a cup large and deep; it will bring scorn and derision, for it holds so much. You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, the cup of ruin and desolation, the cup of your sister Samaria. You will drink it and drain it dry; you will dash it to pieces and tear your breasts. I have spoken,” declares the Sovereign LORD. Ezekiel 23:32-34

You will be filled with shame instead of glory. Now it is your turn! Drink and be exposed! The cup from the LORD’s right hand is coming around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory. Habakkuk 2:16

He, too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. Revelation 14:10

Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own cup. Give her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, “I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn.” Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her. Revelation 18:6-8