04/05/2025
Matthew 26
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch[a] with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on.[b] See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
Background:
Jesus is approaching the final hours before His death on the cross. It's not just death on a cross which is bad enough.
It is facing the wrath of God where all judgements of sinners past, present and future lay upon the Son.
It's also here that the Father will remove Himself from the Son where Jesus will cry out my God, my God, thou hast forsaken me.
This judgement is the judgement that you and I deserve yet it is Christ that would take it.
Before all this Jesus is praying in the garden pleading with the Father to remove the cup if at all possible.
It is also here that Jesus is pleading Peter and the others to stay awake with Him.
Yet, here Jesus alone as His friends, students, and those He would give His life for are fast asleep.
…..
Question 1:
Have you considered the painstaking please of Christ leading to the Cross. A man who could have left at any time and allowed the Father's wrath to fall upon sinners. But chose to be in agreement with the Father to take the cup.
When is the last time you ever asked the question Lord why would you do this?
Question 2: Like the Apostles who fall asleep in the midst of the King of of Kings who asked them to pray. The slumbering slothful souls who can't even stay awake let alone have a desire to pray with their teacher.
The question to ask in this Confession is I have heard the gospel so much, grew up in the church, where knowing Jesus I now fall asleep at the things of God. Are you a slumbering soul?
Question 3: Have you considered your repentance? We can not help but look at a passage as this and not reflect on our sins. But while we may accept we are sinners, do you we accept that we must repent? That we must turn away from sin and live in the holy calling as the bride of Christ?
Question 4: You have heard the gospel, especially living in the South where you can't avoid at least once in your life having a pure presentation of the gospel. Do you believe the gospel? That you indeed are a sinner who can't save yourself from the wrath of God, but require the work of Christ about repentance and belief in Christ alone.
Challenge
Examine your soul
Stay awake lest you be tempted by your weak flesh
Look upon Christ who instead of passing the cup, took the cup for the forgiveness of sin
Prayer
