Introduction:
Today is the Palm Sunday; the day Jesus rode a colt triumphantly into Jerusalem. It also marks the week of His crucifixion. One of the incidences that happened during this week is his travail or struggle in Gethsemane. This Gethsemane experience like every other events of His ministry is important to us as Christians, in the sense that through it the Lord wants us to learn some lessons.
What and where is Gethsemane?
Gethsemane is described as a garden on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. In Aramaic it is called Gathshemani Oil press. It is said to be a small farm situated across the brook Kedron at the foot of Mount Olive about one and half to one and three quarters of a mile to the walls of Jerusalem. It is here that Jesus went to have his prayers before He faces crucifixion.
To us Christians, what and where is our Gethsemane?
It is a place of travail; It is only you and you alone that knows the extent and gravity of what you are going through in life. People around you may only perceive it.
It is a place of distress and trouble, Mark 14:33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
It is a place of aloneness with God, Mark 14:35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 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.
It is Peniel near Ford Jabbok for Jacob,
It is a place of encounter with your creator,
It is a place of struggle with death, Mark 14:34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.
It is a place of earnest prayer, Lk 22: 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
It is a place of surrender to the will of the Father, Mark 14: 36 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.
It is a place of receipt of strength to face death, Lk 22: 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
It is a place of receipt of boldness and victory over the enemy, Mark 14: 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
It could be a place of receipt of disappointment from loved ones and that is why you don’t go there with anyone, Mark 14: 37 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?
There is always a Gethsemane in the life of every man and woman.
As believers at one time or the other we are going to come to our Gethsemane.
How then do you face your Gethsemane?
You face your Gethsemane with boldness
You face your Gethsemane with courage; Ester said if I perish, I perish. Ester 4: 16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
You face your Gethsemane with expectation of blessing. Be of good cheer, He has overcome for you, John 16: 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
When do you go to your Gethsemane and how long do you remain there?
Whether you like it or not your Gethsemane will come
It may come at hour you do not expect, 1Pet 5: 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
You need to be prepared for it,
You remain there until you get answer to your problem; Gen 32: 24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
Jacob remained there till day break; Jesus remained there until re received boldness
You remain there until you have peace within you.
You remain there for as long as He is ready to remain with you.
You remain there until you are strengthened from heaven, LK 22:43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
What do you do in your Gethsemane?
What you do there, you don’t allow others (crowd) know about it, Mark 14: 32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.
You don’t allow your loved ones (inner caucus) know what you do there,
Mark 14: 33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; 34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.
There, you commune with Him and Him alone,
Mark 14: 35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
You ask Him to take away the unpleasant situations and circumstances you are facing.
Mark 14: 36 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.
You ask Him to save you, Rom 10: 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
You ask Him to come into your life, Rev 3: 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
You give account of yourself and your activities to Him, 2 Cor.5: 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
You don’t go there to blame anybody; Jesus did not blame the disciples for not praying along with him. Neither did go there to report Judas to Him.
You go there to present your problems and your problems alone to Him.
You go there with determination to receive solution to your problem; Jacob will not let him go unless he blesses him,
Gen. 32: 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
Blessings of Gethsemane
There is no one that goes there and is turned back. Whosoever comes unto me, I will nowise cast away
Job 8:20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:
John 6: 37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
There is no one that goes there and come back empty handed, or with disappointment.
Everyone that goes there come back with answer, Jabez came back with his requested granted,
1Chr 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
Jacob came back with his name changed,
Gen 32:27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
Jesus came back with new strength to face death.
Lk 22: 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
And for his reverend obedient to the will of the Father (to the point of death), He was exalted and given a name that is above every other name.
Phil 2: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Paul came back with new grace:
2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Conclusion:
As we celebrate Easter, let us remember that part of the activities of the season is the Gethsemane experience and that there is always a Gethsemane to face by every man and woman. Let us remember to face ours the way He faced His so that we too we would overcome just as He did. The victory of the season abides with us all.
