A Place of Dependence

He had been preparing his disciples.

They had witnessed him as he had come

and set his face towards Jerusalem.

You know, when we consider

when Jesus was going towards Jerusalem,

it was something unique.

As we remember back,

he had set his face to go to Jerusalem

because he knew what was going to happen there.

He knew he was going to die upon the cross.

He knew what was going to take place,

but he went anyways.

He knew all that was going to happen

and we find as he moved through the week

and the picture he presented

during the last Passover

painted a picture of one

that we can remember the hope

that he gives to us.

Because what Jesus has done for us

is something that gives us hope

for it's only through what he was about

to accomplish here upon the cross

that any of us could be redeemed.

And we're going to see here

as the supper has finished

and we remember as Judas had gone out

to gather those as he betrayed him

and he had told the disciples

that they would depart from him,

that they would go away,

they would abandon him

on what was to come.

And we know that all these things

and as they depart from the upper room

and Jesus and his disciples

are walking through Jerusalem with the eleven

towards a place where he would give

some very important final lessons.

And we're going to look

at some of that this morning

of the lessons he gave.

But you know,

when we think about all the things

that took place

while he was walking

between where he,

they exited the upper room

and to where he arrived

at the garden with the disciples,

there was a lot of things

Jesus said to his disciples.

You know,

I want you to understand

that Mark kind of gets,

skips some things

along the narrative,

okay?

And so,

but you know,

you find in John chapter 14

John 14 · chapter mention

through 17

and you know,

I talked about that

a little bit last week

and hopefully you took

some time to read that.

If not,

I encourage you to read that

of what Jesus was doing

because he reminded them

of some very important things.

The need to abide in him

as the true vine.

You know,

we see here that knowing

that we're going to have

a comforter

that he's going to give to us

the Holy Spirit.

Jesus tells them about what,

that he's going to be there

that they might have peace

in the midst of trials

and tribulations.

You know,

all these things

Jesus covered

and was talking to them

as they enter into the garden

of Gethsemane that night

into a place of dependency.

You know,

when we realize the need

at the garden

that we're going to see here

even in the life of Jesus,

but I think as we look at this

we see it's also

Jesus is still teaching

his disciples

something very important

that even applies to us.

The reality of dependence

upon God.

The reality of depending upon him

for all that he's done.

And so if you found

Mark chapter 14 this morning,

Mark 14 · chapter mention

let's stand together

in honor of the reading

of the word of God.

We'll pick up here in verse 32

here this morning.

And it says,

And they came to a place

which was called Gethsemane.

And he saith to his disciples,

Sit ye here,

why I shall pray.

And he taketh with him

Peter and James and John

and began to be amazed

and to be very heavy.

And saith unto them,

My soul is exceedingly sorrowful

unto death.

Tarry ye here and watch.

And he went forward a little

and fell on the ground

and prayed if it were possible

the hour might pass from him.

And he said,

Abba, Father,

all things are possible

unto thee.

Take away this cup from me.

Nevertheless,

not what I will,

but what thou wilt.

And he cometh

and findeth them sleeping

and saith unto Peter,

Simon, sleepest thou?

Couldest not thou watch one hour?

Watch and pray

lest ye enter into temptation.

The spirit truly is ready,

but the flesh is weak.

And again he went away

and prayed

and spake the same words.

And when he returned,

he found them asleep again,

for their eyes were heavy.

Neither wist they

what to answer him.

And he cometh the third time

and saith unto them,

Sleep on now

and take your rest.

It is enough.

The hour has come.

Behold,

the Son of Man

is betrayed

into the hand

of sinners.

Rise up,

let us go.

Lo, he that betrayeth me

is at hand.

Let's pray.

Heavenly Father,

as we just come before you today,

Lord,

we just lift up

the Word of God

here today

before you, Lord.

It's your Word

to do with

as you would please.

Lord, we pray

just to have your hand

upon the message

here today, Lord,

as we look at the reality

of dependency

upon you,

just as you were

dependent upon the Father,

teaching the disciples

the importance

of it

as we see this picture

play out before us.

Lord,

we pray that you

just be with

those not able

to be here today

or those joining us

on the online

or whatever the need

might be, Lord.

They might be encouraged

and strengthened

from the truth

of your Word, Lord,

that we might draw

close to you.

And Lord,

we just ask it all

in your precious name.

Amen.

May you be seated.

You know,

as we see here,

the garden

that Jesus went to

was a place

that the disciples

were very familiar with.

You know,

they had stopped here

many times.

I imagine as you read

through this

and you read the description,

I imagine as they went

back and forth

from Jerusalem,

it was probably a place

that they would stop

and rest along the way

and to the place

where Jesus would often

teach them

or they would stop

and rest

and pray.

And we know

from the picture

we see here

how they had stopped

and were comfortable

in this location.

You know,

of all the things

that were going on,

you know,

Jesus tells us

that the disciples

fell asleep.

And you know

what that tells me?

They were comfortable

in a way

with where they were.

They were comfortable

with what was going on

around them.

They were comfortable

with their surroundings

of where they were.

And they were there

and they were soon

to fall asleep.

But Jesus knew

this was a place also

that Judas would be able

to find Him.

You know,

we often don't think

why would Jesus

want Judas to find Him?

Well, remember,

that was all part

of God's plan

that God laid it out.

John chapter 18

John 18 · chapter mention

tells us this

in verse 2,

And Judas also,

which betrayed Him,

knew the place

for Jesus oftentimes

resorted thither

with His disciples.

So in other words,

Judas,

it was so familiar

that Judas said,

Hey, if Jesus isn't there,

I guarantee

He's going to be over here.

They knew where to find Him

because He had been there

many times

with His disciples.

So the disciples,

the eleven that night,

I want you to see,

were very comfortable

in this location.

It was a place

they'd been many times.

They'd probably heard

Jesus teach them

many things

in this area

where they went

into the Garden of Gethsemane.

And we're going to look

at this a little more

as we go through

because we're going

to see here

that this was a place

of instruction.

You know,

look here,

it tells us

that the eight disciples,

look here in verse 32

with me,

look what Jesus tells them.

It says,

It came to a place

which was named Gethsemane

and He saith to His disciples,

Sit ye here

while I pray.

Sit ye here.

You know,

while Jesus

is preparing Himself

for the task

that was before Him,

we're going to see here,

I think He illustrates

to His disciples

really also

what's required

to face the challenges

of life.

You know,

Jesus was about

to face

the ultimate challenge

that we can't even imagine

what Jesus was faced with.

We're going to see here

the descriptors

that Mark gives us

are very heavy descriptions

of what He was facing

physically

on that night

and the things

that He was enduring.

And Jesus, though,

wanted them to see

and He says,

Sit here

and watch.

I want you to see here.

You know,

we're going to see

in just a moment here

and talk a little bit

about instruction.

You know,

oftentimes you sit

when you're being instructed.

You know?

It's a place of instruction

and we're going to see

them learning

these things

because on the way

to the garden,

I want you to keep in mind

that Jesus had prayed

for them

along the way.

You know,

we find,

turn over to John chapter 17.

John 17 · chapter mention

We talked about that

a little bit earlier

about John 17.

Notice what Jesus says.

This is happening

before they get to the garden.

On the way,

Jesus is instructing them

and encouraging them,

speaking to them,

the Bible says in Proverbs.

In other words,

He gives them

illustrations

and applications.

You know,

that's the reason

it was the vine,

that He is the vine

and ye are the branches.

It's a proverb

to help us understand

that we have to stay

connected to Him.

You know,

the reality of those things

in life is important.

But notice what Jesus says,

I pray for them.

He's praying to the Father.

He says,

I pray not for the world,

but for them

which Thou hast given Me,

for they are Thine.

You know,

think about what Jesus is saying.

He says,

Hey,

I prayed for you guys

because I know

what's going to come.

You know,

you look a little later

in John 17

in verse 13

and He says this,

And now I come to thee

and these things

I speak in the world

that they might

have My joy fulfilled

in themselves.

I have given them

Thy word

and the world

hath hated them

because they are

not of the world

even as I am

not of the world.

I pray not

that Thou shouldest

take them out of the world

but Thou shouldest

keep them

from the evil.

They are not of the world

even as I am not

of the world.

Sanctify them

through Thy truth

Thy word

is truth.

You know,

I want you to see

Jesus was preparing

His disciples

for what was to come

afterwards.

And I believe

in the garden

not only was He

doing something

very important

even for Himself

physically

but also

as an illustration

and example

to the disciples

because

I'm going to tell you

you're going to find times

you're going to feel

like the disciples

did this night.

There's going to be

some times in life

that you're going to feel

just like the disciples

and you're going to need

to be reminded

to be instructed

of what God would have

and He's instructing them

to sit

once again.

I imagine

the place they're sitting

is a place

they had sat many times.

You know

they'd sit in this place

many times

and heard many things

from Jesus.

I imagine

they probably prayed together

they had probably

rested there

they had done

all sorts of

things there

as they would travel

back and forth

this was a place

that would have been

comfortable

a place where Jesus

taught them privately

it was kind of

a secluded place

where He could get

alone with them

and instruct them

and encourage them

it was a place

like I said

where they felt

secure enough

it didn't take them

long to fall asleep.

You know

when you're in

some place strange

you ever notice

you don't sleep well

in some place strange?

You know

I don't know what it is

but no matter

what's going on

even if you're exhausted

you don't sleep well

or don't feel like

going to sleep necessarily

in some place

you're not comfortable.

But the disciples

being weary

from the day

had no problem

going to sleep.

It tells me

they had a level

of comfort

where they were

that was not

just exhaustion

but also

they were comfortable

about what was

going on

because

I want you to

understand

often times

you see

all sorts of

pictures

of the Garden

of Gethsemane

and you got

all sorts of

ideas

but simply

I want you to

understand

it's not a garden

like we think

of today

you know

it wasn't a

place where

they would have

flowers

or plants

of that nature

it wasn't

something that

we would look

at in that nature

it was in the

middle

of the amount

of olives

and all the

olive trees

around

the word

Gethsemane

literally means

olive press

in other words

it tells us

what was here

where Jesus

was

it was the

place that

the olives

were brought

in from the

surrounding trees

and pressed

to get the

oil out of

them

in other words

it wasn't

used all the

time

but it was

available

and so I

think that's

one reason

Jesus used

it because

it was a

convenient

place

that they

could gather

as a small

group together

to be able

for him to

encourage them

and to instruct

them just as

he did

this night

and we're

going to see

here as a

picture of

as the

olives would

be pressed

out that

Jesus was

going to be

under some

great pressure

here this

evening

as we look

at this

evening in

the garden

and Jesus

here he

tells his

disciples to

sit

and to

watch

but it also

tells us he

took three

others

he took

Peter

James

and John

a little

farther

into the

garden

you'll notice

the next

verse there

what he

says

and it

says in

verse 33

and he

taketh with

him

Peter

and James

and John

and began

to be sore

amazed

and was

very heavy

and he

saith unto

them

my soul

is exceedingly

sorrowful

unto death

tarry ye

here

and watch

tarry ye

here and

watch

he brings

these three

a little

farther

into the

garden

in a place

where they

could see

and they

were singled

out

you know

often times

we might

ask why

did Jesus

leave the

eight in

one place

and brought

three on

in and we

see this

even playing

out today

because it

seems they

were leaders

among the

group they

would see

and hear

things that

that would

serve them

as they

led the

other

disciples

in the

future

I want

you to

see here

that Jesus

gave these

three a

special

ministry

so they

could help

be used

to help

others to

grow

by the way

I want you

to understand

God does

the same

thing today

God brings

people through

different things

to equip

them for

the service

and the

place that

God has

them

he brings

them through

those things

and and

sometimes

they're not

easy but

sometimes

they're joyful

remember it

wasn't long

before this

that these

three were up

on the

Mount of

Transfiguration

you know

and witnessing

Christ

transfigured

before their

eyes with

Elijah and

Moses

standing there

I mean

these three

were the

ones that

went in

when Jesus

resurrected

the young

lady

that they

said was

dead

these are

the three

that went

in and

they saw

those things

and this

evening

Jesus

takes them

and draws

them with

him for

that very

special

ministry

that God

gives

because he

wants to

put them

in a

situation

where they

can see

and hear

and understand

some things

that they

might be

able to

teach

others

about

I believe

his grace

and the

sufficiency

that God

has

look over to

Luke for a

moment

because Luke

gives us a

little picture

into this

Luke 22

we find here

this morning

that as

Jesus earlier

is talking

to Peter

Jesus gives

us a little

insight into

this

because notice

the insight

that he tells

Peter

it says

and the

Lord said

unto him

Simon

Simon

behold

Satan

hath desired

to have

you

that he

may

sift

you

as

wheat

but I

have

prayed

for thee

that thy

faith

fail not

and when

thou art

converted

look at

that last

phrase

strengthen

who

thy

brethren

in other

words

Jesus

said hey

what you're

going

through

has a

purpose

what you're

going

through

is going

to be

something

that's

going to

help

not only

you

but be

able to

help

others

also

to be

able to

walk

through

those

things

and this

night

Jesus

would

teach

his

disciple

what it

means

to rely

upon the

father

in fulfilling

his will

and not

our own

will

you know

the pressure

that Jesus

felt here

is very

immense

I mean

I don't

think we

realize

when we

look at

what was

going on

here

the weight

of these

things

look at

the description

that we

find here

in the

scripture

it tells

us in

verse 33

that he

taketh

Peter

James

and John

and he

began

to be

sore

amazed

and to

be

very

heavy

in other

words

I want

you to

see here

what was

about

to happen

was weighing

upon

Jesus

it had

a weight

that bore

upon him

physically

you know

when we're

faced with

challenges

of life

the weight

of life

seems to

grab a hold

of us

doesn't

it

Jesus

was all

man

and all

God

I want

you to

understand

when he

says he

knows

how we

feel

we

know

what we

face

I want

you to

know

that Jesus

knows

where you

are

Jesus

knows how

to walk

through those

things

because he's

felt it

you see it

here in this

passage

as Jesus

says he's

feeling

the weight

and the

burden

of what

is to

come

physically

upon him

I mean

it was

very

difficult

to walk

through

verse 34

says

and he

looks at

his disciples

and says

that's

exceedingly

sorrowful

unto death

in other words

he says

the weight

that's

physically

upon me

because of

the emotion

and everything

else

weighing

into this

he's

exhausted

he's

done

physically

it's

wearing

out

I mean

Jesus

understood

what it

is to

be tired

but when

you think

about what

he was

carrying

it puts

a lot

into

perspective

of our

life

when you

consider

he wasn't

just

carrying

the trials

and troubles

that we

might face

but he

was carrying

we're going

to see

here a little

bit

we're going

to talk

about

the fact

he carried

the weight

of the sin

of the whole

world

and all

that that

means

and all

that it

implies

upon him

it was

something

only he

himself

could carry

only God

himself

could put

that weight

upon himself

I want you

to understand

there wasn't

a problem

with him

being God

the problem

was he

was wrapped

in flesh

and his

flesh was

struggling

and he

knew

and he

could show

his disciples

at moments

like this

what you

need to

do

how to

overcome

these things

not only

for himself

but I

believe

that he's

given us

an illustration

for today

to understand

we need

his sufficiency

you know

Christ was

about to

face the

weight

of sin

but you

know

often times

we forget

not only

did he

put sin

upon himself

he took

the wrath

of the

father

because of

that sin

also

look over

in 2nd

Corinthians

with me

go to

2nd

Corinthians

chapter 5

2nd

Corinthians

chapter 5

verse 21

the Bible

says this

he hath

made

him

to be

sin

for us

who knew

no sin

that we

might be

made the

righteousness

of God

in him

in other

words

what Jesus

was experiencing

here was

the weight

of sin

of the

whole world

beginning to

bear down

because in

just a few

short hours

he was

going to

face the

reality

of being

the lamb

that was

slain

the weight

that was

upon him

you know

can you

imagine

the way

to the

reality

you know

we have

trouble

struggling

with our

own

sin

our own

life

problems

you imagine

everybody

who ever

lived

because I

want you

to tell

you that

what Jesus

did was

sufficient

for

everybody

it was

sufficient

for

anybody

he took

that weight

of sin

and put

upon himself

you say

why was

Jesus

flesh

struggling

the

humanity

the

emotion

the

weight

of what

was about

to

transpire

was

becoming

heavy

upon

him

he

was

sore

pained

unto

death

the

flesh

the

humanity

of

Jesus

was

struggling

with

that

emotional

and

spiritual

dynamic

that

was

ahead

you know

it began

to impact

him

even

physically

look

over to

Luke chapter

Luke 22 · chapter mention

22

Luke chapter

Luke 22 · chapter mention

22

you'll find

here this

morning

it gives

a description

Luke does

about what

was going

on as

he was

praying

he goes

this

and in

verse

44

of Luke

22

the Bible

reveals

he says

being in

agony

he prayed

more

earnestly

!

and his

sweat

was as

it were

great

drops

of blood

falling

down

to the

ground

the agony

as Jesus

went

each

time

here

three

times

it tells

us

he went

and

prayed

faced

with

the

reality

of

what

was

to

come

it

not

only

was

a

burden

emotionally

but

it was

a

physical

burden

that

was

upon

him

and

the

disciples

were

watching

while

they

waited

what

was

taking

place

they

saw

Jesus

the

one

that

they

saw

could

do

anything

I

mean

you

imagine

what

the

disciples

had

seen

Jesus

do

they

seen

him

heal

people

I

mean

he

even

came

strolling

across

the

water

you

know

it's

like

all

the

things

they

had

seen

him

do

to

raise

the

dead

the

blind

saw

the

deaf

heard

but

this

night

was

different

this

night

the

weight

of

sin

not

his

sin

but

my

sin

and

your

sin

was

upon

him

the

weight

of

sin

was

there

it

was

a

place

though

I

want

you

to

understand

that

Jesus

would

now

go

a

little

further

it

was

a

place

he

intended

to

go

not

only

for

his

need

but

for

in

the

hour

but

for

ours

also

notice

what

tells

us

in

verse

35

and

he

went

a

little

forward

a

little

and

fell

on

the

ground

and

prayed

!

If

it

were

possible

the

hour

might

pass

from

him

and

he

said

Abba

father

all

things

are

possible

unto

thee

take

away

this

cup

from

me

nevertheless

not

what

I

will

but

what

thou

will

I

want

you

to

see

here

this

was

a

place

of

intention

Jesus

wasn't

here

by

accident

Jesus

didn't

come

to

this

place

randomly

this

night

when

he

went

out

and

he

brought

the

disciples

into

the

garden

it

was

a

place

of

intention

it

was

a

place

that

he

had

set

forth

Jesus

intentionally

it

tells us

went a little

farther into

the garden

to pray

his intention

was he

knew

yes

being with

the

disciples

letting

them

learn

letting

them

understand

what's

happening

and

Peter

James

and

John

were

definitely

there

where they

could

hear

everything

that

Jesus

was

crying

out

it

tells us

in

scripture

he

cried

!

I

want

you

to

know

whispering

in

prayer

the

Bible

says

he

was

on

his

face

and

he

cried

out

the

word

used

there

is

an

audible

reality

of

hearing

something

you could

hear the

agony

in his

voice

as

Jesus

would

cry

out

in

this

for

his

father

to

strengthen

him

to

help

carry

the

load

to

be

willing

to

walk

what

needed

to

be

because

the

place

that

Jesus

is

it

would

be

a

place

that

would

require

complete

and

perfect

submission

to

the

will

of

the

father

I

want

you

to

know

that

the

intention

of

his

prayer

was

not

to

avoid

what

was

to

come

but

to

fulfill

the

purpose

for

which

he

came

look

over

into

Luke

Luke 19 · chapter mention

chapter

19

Luke

Luke 19 · chapter mention

chapter

19

and

verse

10

tells

us

this

the

Bible

says

for

the

son

of

man

has

come

to

seek

and

to

save

that

which

are

in

the

garden

by

accident

he

was

here

that

night

with

intention

many

dynamics

of

that

intention

one

was

to

teach

to

let

the

disciples

know

that

if

they're

going

to

be

able

to

serve

God

to

do

what

God

would

have

for

them

in

the

future

they

needed

to

rely

upon

the

father

they

need

to

rely

upon

God

in

those

moments

because

it

was

going

to

go

beyond

what

their

flesh

was

able

to

handle

when

we

understand

what

he

came

for