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March26,2017Sermon:BeAwedbyEasterbyPressingintoPrayerItissoon-to-beApril.Growingup,thesayingwas,AprilshowersbringMayFlowers.Letusbepreparedforsomerainydays,andbeassureditwillnotrainfor40daysand40nightsasitdidinNoah’sday.Asouryouthconsiderprofessions,considerNoah’s.HewasanArkitect.SomethinkNoahwasthefirstone-offtheark,butthebiblesays,hecameforthoutoftheark.Somethinktalkingtoyourselforanimalsisstrange,butNoahwasheardtalking,astheanimalswereloading,andsaid;nowIherdeverything.Letusstand,foranot-lightheartedpassageofscripture.Passage~Matthew26:36-46

TodayweturnourattentiontoJesus’lasthoursbeforeHewasarrested.Heknewtheendwasnear.AsDr.AliciaBrittCholestates“Laststepsandlaststopsareweightyindeed.Whatwedowithourfinalbreathsreflectsthevaluesweholddearinlife.”SohowdidJesuschoosetospendHislaststeps?LetuslookatthebiblicalaccountofJesuslaststopsandlaststeps.

Readpassage:Matthew26:36-46

36ThenJesuswentwithhisdisciplestoaplacecalledGethsemane,andhesaidto

them,“SitherewhileIgooverthereandpray.”37HetookPeterandthetwosonsof

Zebedeealongwithhim,andhebegantobesorrowfulandtroubled.38Thenhesaid

tothem,“Mysoulisoverwhelmedwithsorrowtothepointofdeath.Stayhereand

keepwatchwithme.”

39Goingalittlefarther,hefellwithhisfacetothegroundandprayed,“MyFather,

ifitispossible,maythiscupbetakenfromme.YetnotasIwill,butasyouwill.”

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40Thenhereturnedtohisdisciplesandfoundthemsleeping.“Couldn’tyoumen

keepwatchwithmeforonehour?”heaskedPeter.41“Watchandpraysothatyou

willnotfallintotemptation.Thespiritiswilling,butthefleshisweak.”

42Hewentawayasecondtimeandprayed,“MyFather,ifitisnotpossibleforthis

cuptobetakenawayunlessIdrinkit,mayyourwillbedone.”

43Whenhecameback,heagainfoundthemsleeping,becausetheireyeswere

heavy.44Soheleftthemandwentawayoncemoreandprayedthethirdtime,saying

thesamething.

45Thenhereturnedtothedisciplesandsaidtothem,“Areyoustillsleepingand

resting?Look,thehourhascome,andtheSonofManisdeliveredintothehandsof

sinners.46Rise!Letusgo!Herecomesmybetrayer!”

TheWordoftheLord.ThanksbetoGod.

Prayer.

TodayisadaywepreparetobeawedbyEasterbyconsideringwhatJesusfeltthenighthewasbetrayed.AswefollowJesus,therewillbemomentsthatarefunandexcitingandpowerful,andpopular.TherewillbeothertimeswhenfollowingJesuswillbetroubling,overwhelming,sad,humblingandisolating.FollowingJesuscanbefunandattimesisfun,buttoday’semphasisisnotonfun,butonfollowing.Jesushadalastsupper,andalasttimewithhisdisciples.Itwasn’tfun,itwasn’texciting.Itwasn’tpopular.Itwastroubling.Thisisliketheworkittooktochangethelightbulbsintheatticsothecross-shapedlightswouldilluminate.

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Itislikethetimesofcleaningupthehouse,notjustyourroom,butalsothewholehouseandtheyard;itisworkinghardallday,inpreparationforguests.Itisthetimeofhavingtodohomework,whenyouwouldratherbeoutsideplaying.Thisiswhenyourfriendsareabletogotoaparty,butyourfamily’sconvictionsays,nowedon’tallowourchildrentogotothosekindsofparties.Itislikewhenyouwanttopartakeofanhappyhourbeverageonthewayhome,butchoosetoheadhomeevenwiththefeeling.Hereishowwewanttoillustrateit.Anotherwordforprayingispressing.YoupressintoGod.Youpressagainsttheproblem.InJesusday,oliveoilwashighlyused.Itlitlampsthatlitthehomes.Itmoisturizedtheirskin,asIsraelisadesertclimate.Itwasusetocookwith,anditreallyhadmay,manyuses.Howdoyouthinktheoilfromanolivewasobtained?Theolivewaspressed.Anyideathetypeoftreesthatwereinthegardenofgethsemane?AnyideaoftheroomthatwasnearwhereJesusandhisdiscipleswenttoafterthelastsupper”Itwasaplaceofolivepressing.TheplaceoftheolivepresswastheplacewhereJesuspressedinprayer.Itwasnotfun,itwasnotpopular,itwasnotexciting,andforJesusitwasthemostdifficultmomentofhislife.Theplaceofpressing,theplaceofprayer.Nexttime,lifeishard,praytheprayerofJesus.

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Notmywill,butthinebedone.

“MyFather,ifitisnotpossibleforthiscuptobetakenawayunlessIdrinkit,may

yourwillbedone.”TheContext

I. Thecontext

ImmediatelybeforeJesusandHisdisciplesenteredGethsemane,theyhadenduredanawkwardsuppertogether.Wecallitthelastsupper.Jesus’talkaboutimpendingdeathandburialhadonlyincreasedinrecentweeks.ThosewhoconfusefaithwithoptimismwouldhavestruggledwithJesus’wordsinthisspace.

Atthesupper,Jesushadannouncedthesoon-comingbetrayalofonedisciple,servedcommunion,andpredictedhowallthediscipleswould“fallaway”(Matthew26:31).

Withthisdisturbingnewsringingintheirears,JesusledthemintotheMountofOlives—athickolivegrove—intheGardenofGethsemane.JustashortwalkoutsideofJerusalemtheytookawalkaftertheLastSupper,intoanolivegarden,ontheMountofOlives.

ThePlace–TheMountofOlives

“AccordingtoJewishtradition,theMessiahwillappearhereandbringthedeadbacktolife.Therefore,thehillsidebecamethemostholiestcemetery,andthehillsideiscoveredbythousandsofgravestones.”http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/MountOlives.html

2Samuel15records:WhenAbsalomstagedhiscoup,KingDavidleftthecityand,

2Samuel15:30DavidwalkeduptheroadtotheMountofOlives,weepingashewent.Hisheadwascoveredandhisfeetwerebareasasignof

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mourning.Andthepeoplewhowerewithhimcoveredtheirheadsandweptastheyclimbedthehill.

JesusweptwhereKingDavidhadwept.

Additionally,LukeplacesJesus’ascensionattheMountofOlives.AfterJesusascended,Lukestates,“ThentheyreturnedtoJerusalemfromthehillcalledtheMountofOlives.”(Acts12:1)

OnthatdayhisfeetwillstandontheMountofOlives,eastofJerusalem.AndtheMountofOliveswillsplitapart,makingawidevalleyrunningfromeasttowest.Halfthemountainwillmovetowardthenorthandhalftowardthesouth.(Zechariah14:4)

(ThefollowingpicturesarepicturesItookonawalkonafreeafternoonduringmytriptoIsrael.TheMountofOliveswouldbeascloseasWatersandCaffiFieldsaretothechurch,fromthewallsofJerusalem.)

OntheeveofHisrejection,JesuschosetospendHisfinalhoursinaplacethatwasdeeplymeaningfultoHim.TheMountofOliveshostedHistriumphalentryintoJerusalem,itwastheplacethatDavidweptashefledfromAbsalomandwouldhostHisbetrayalandarrest,Hisascension,andHisreturn.

Jesus’paininhisfinalstepscross-wardisbookendedbythetriumphalentryandthetriumphalreturn.

WeneedtorememberthatJesus’triumphalsosurroundsourpain.

ThePeople:JesusDisciples

Jesusspenttheevening,notwithstrangers,butwithHisclosestfriends.

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TheElevenaccompaniedJesusintotheolivegrove.

JesusinvitedthreetojoinHimfurtherin.

Theyweren’tthebestofcompany.Theyfellasleep“exhaustedfromsorrow.”(Luke22:45)

ButtheirpresencewasmeaningfultoJesus.OtherwisewhywouldHehaverequested,“Stayhereandkeepwatchwithme?”(Matthew26:37)

ThePurpose:PreparatoryPrayer

Jesuscouldhaveheldonemoremeetingorpreachedonemoresermonorhealedonemoreperson.

Instead,Heinvestedthetimeinraw,honest,agonizingprayer.

Honestprayerneedsspace.HonestprayerismessyandintenseandheardbyGod.

Inourdayoftrialwhatcanwedo?Aswejourneycross-wardinthesefinalweeksbeforeResurrectionSunday,letuschoosemeaningfulplacesovermeaninglessactivity.

WhatCanWeDo?

Choosemeaningfulplacesovermeaninglessactivity.

Rememberthetriumphsofthepast,andinfaithdeclareJesus’triumphoveryourfuture.

Surroundyourselfwithdearfriends.

WhenJesuswasoverwhelmedtothepointofdeathintheGardenofGethsemane,washissoulhealthy?WhenJesussaid,“Mysoulisoverwhelmedwithsorrowtothepointofdeath”washissoulhealthy?

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ThisisNotadenialofemotions,ThisisperfectSoundnessofmind.Atthesametime,Jesussaidhefeltcrushed,andhealsosaid,Itrustyou,yourwillbedone.FromJesus,wecanemulatethisexpressionofemotions.Expressthetruthofwhatwefeelandwhatwebelieve.ThinkaboutthisrealityaboutJesuswhoneversinned.Jesus’willandemotionswerenotinlinewiththeFather’swill,ie:Jesusadmittedtohisfriends,“Iamoverwhelmedwithsorrow”Wasthatsin,wasthatunholy?AliciaCholesays,thata“troubledsoulisobedienceinthemaking”Shealsosays,“Obedienceisnotamoment:itisaprocessconnectedbycountlessmoments.InthemidstofJesus’journey,hefelttroubled.Clearly,thenatroubledsoulisnotalackoffaithorafaithdeficit.WhenandifwehearJesussay,“come,followme,oureventualsayingyes,andtheFathersaying,“welldone”isprecededbycountlessmomentsinwhichwediscernGod’swillandwithatroubledsoul,recommittocontinuefollowingoverandoveragain.Andbereminded,thattobeChristlike,onoccasionfeelandblurtoutinthepresenceofyourclosestfriendsandfamily.“Mysoulistroubled”Mysoulisoverwhelmedtothepointofdeath”.Please,takeyourselfandothersoffoftheirwhitehorse.Pleasetakeyoureyesoffofpeoplewhomyouthinkhaveitaltogether.And….Please,please,please.IpointblameatthebodyofChrist,whofordecadeshaspromotedanentertainmentlikechurchservicewhereonlytheverypolished,theveryslick,theverysuccessful,theverygreatcommunicator’s,findsuccess.

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OurAmericancultureiseatenuptothecore,andbecomerottentothecorewithourinfatuationwithentertainment.RealityT.V.ourworshipofthe“win”.Thecultofleadershipsuccesshasbredthecurrentgroupofpoliticiansrunningandservingforpublicofficeanditisembarrassingtosee.Itiswhatwehaveallowedandencouraged.Church,pleaseletmeremindyouofourmission.LeadourcommunitywithloveintoagrowingrelationshipwithGod.Thisislowornodrama,Thisisnothighentertainment.Thisisnotadogandponyshow.ThegardenofGethsemanewouldnotbegoodAmericanCulturesuccessstory.Thetryingandtroublingmomentsofexperiencingasoulbeingoverwhelmed,andyetbeingabletoalsosay,notmywill,butthinebedone,is…thepathoffollowingJesus.Itisafaçadetothink,andact,liketherewon’tbemoments,longtiringmoments,oftroublingthoughts,asonestrugglestofindGod’swillandthenonceitfound,thenitisastruggling,overwhelmingmomenttogoaheadandsayanddo,notmywill,notwhatIwant,butwhatyouwant,O,Lord.Jesus,feelingandadmittingthathewasoverwhelmedtothepointofdeathissofarremovedfromthefaçadeofcurrentpopculture,thatoften,wethechurchaskourselveswhatarewedoingthatiswrong.MaybeyouandIarenotdoinganythingbuttheslowobedienceinthemakingprocessofgrowinginourrelationshipwithGod.FromaFBpostofamissionaryfriend,whoalsoofficiatedatDonShore’swedding.

OneofthebiggestquestionsIfaceoncampusallthetimefromstudentsgoessomethinglikethis.IlikeJesusbutIdon'tlikethatpartoftheGospelthePartabout_______..

fillintheblank.sexualsinisoneofthebiggerones.sacrificingmoneyortimeforothersisallsoupthere.

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whatdoIsay,IusuallysayIgetthat...Idon'tlikethingsaboutittoo.Isaythatbecauseitistrue.Idon't,buttheCrossisnotatriptotheCafeteria.youdonotgettopickwhatyoulikeandthrowawaytherest.theCrosswasaallornothing.IfwewantthesecurityofsalvationwehavetoserveallofGod.followallhehasforusevenifwedonotunderstandwhyorhow.evenifourfleshsaysbutIlikedoingthat,orIlikebeingincharge.

ihavetofollowJesusevenwhenitisscary...IhavetoserveJesusevenwhenitisDirty...IhavetoserveJesusevenwhenitisnotconvenient...WeforgetsomethingthatJesusBoughtuswedidnotbuyhim.

IfGodisreal?andithinkheis?andifJesusisGod?andIthinkheis.thenIshouldstoptreatinghimlikeheisthesaladbaratRubyTuesdays.andstartlettinghimguidemeevenifIdon'tunderstandwhy!

ExpressthetruthofwhatwefeelANDwhatwebelieve.

Pray.Prayhonest,rawprayers,knowingthatGodhears.[Invitethoseinneedofprayerforwardandsurroundthemwithsupportasacommunity]

Altarcallandprayer.

Maybetodayistheday;youwishtogiveyourselfasahumanbeingtotheonewhowasbrokenforyou,crushedforyou,woundedforyou.MaybetodayisthedayyouwanttojointhiscommunityofGod’speopleMaybetodayisadaytobecomeamemberofthiscommunityofGod’speople.OnlyinsayingyestoJesus,andbyHisgrace,willyoubecomethememberofacommunityofGod’speople.Prayer: