EAVESDROPPING IN GETHSEMANE
Mark 14:32-41
Sermon Objective: To show God’s people the connection between an intimate prayer life and the ability to follow God’s will.
Supporting Scripture: Psalm 91:1-16; Jeremiah 29:11; Hebrews 5:7-9
NOTE: This sermon included a vocalist who sings the hymn “Where he Leads I’ll Follow” at various placed throughout the message. Afterwards the congregation can sing the hymn in its entirety.
INTRO
Statuary Hall is a chamber in the United States Capitol devoted to sculptures of prominent Americans. The hall, also known as the Old Hall of the House, is a large, two-story, semicircular room with a second story gallery along the curved perimeter. It was the meeting place of the U.S. House of Representatives for nearly 50 years before the civil war.
It was here that President Barak Obama had his first meal after being sworn in as president last Tuesday as he lunched with congress.
The hall has a rather unique (and strategic) claim to fame. It is also known as “The whisper chamber”. The room’s architecture is such that when someone is whispering at one of the foci’s of the room (known as “whisper spots”), a person near the other foci (and completely across on the other side of the hall) can hear them. This phenomena was discovered (and used) by John Quincy Adams to eavesdrop on other members of the House.
Eavesdropping is the act of surreptitiously listening to a private conversation. This is commonly understood to be unethical and there is an old adage that eavesdroppers seldom hear anything good of themselves.
Early telephone systems shared party lines which would allow the sharing subscribers to listen to each others conversations. This was a common practice in rural America which resulted in many a feud.
The story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane reads like eavesdropping. I am not sure how the Gospel writers found out about Jesus’ prayers in the Garden unless they could hear him. The passage almost intrudes on the private agony of Jesus. It seems hard to read it.
32They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." 33He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34"My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch."
35Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36"Abba. Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
39Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
41Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
As I said, I am not sure how the Gospel writers knew about the prayer of Jesus except by overhearing it; but I am certainly glad they did. I am glad that the Holy Spirit made sure the church was given this painful insight into the life and prayer-life of our Savior.
The 17th century Frenchman Francois Fénelon gives us a description of prayer (see his work titled, “The Inner Life.”) that is as relevant today as it was then:
Tell God all what is in your heart, as one unloads one’s heart, its pleasures and pains, to a dear friend. Tell him your troubles that he may comfort you; tell him your joys, that that he may sober them; tell him your longings, that he may purify them; tell him your dislikes, that he may help you conquer them; tell him your temptations, that he may shield you from them; show him the wounds of your heart, that he may heal them; lay bare your indifference to good, your depraved tastes for evil, your instability. Tell him how self-love makes you unjust to others, how vanity tempts you to be insincere, how pride disguises you to yourself and to others.
Notice the honesty with God. And isn’t that what prayer should be anyway – honesty to God?
The account of Jesus in Gethsemane is a significant and essential element in the passion narrative. It is here that Jesus settles some significant concerns. Coming to grips with the “cup” – the imminent torture, death, abandonment, and divine judgment is a hard thing – even for Jesus. One might say the atoning suffering even began here, prior to the arrest. Mark uses words that express the strongest possible anguish for Jesus. The violence of the cross began in the garden.
Hebrews 5:7-9 says: During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
We, too, can find strength to follow God when His calling is difficult by following the pattern of Jesus.
You see, as with Jesus so with us. We, too, are called to crucify the flesh and give our lives for the redemption of others. We cannot provide atonement, only Jesus’ sacrifice could do that; but it is by obedient and selfless service that others are shown God’s love and grace.
Like Jesus, Gethsemane equips us for this.
May I give you some “Insights from the Garden”?
First, lets listen to * as they sing the first verse of “Where He Leads I’ll Follow.”
1. AT TIMES WE SELFISHLY STRUGGLE AGAINST GOD’S WILL
> Maybe it’s because we have a pre-conceived idea of the outcome
> Maybe it’s because we have a fear of the unknown
> Maybe it’s because we want our own way
> Maybe it’s because we have been misled by others (or Satan) away from God’s will
Regardless of the reason, when we struggle against God’s will we bring harm to ourselves and others. It is always a foolish recipe for disaster.
It never ends well.
Wise is the Christian that ceases to struggle against the will of God and obediently trusts Him.
Let me be clear. I do not think Jesus was struggling against God’s will in the sense that he was resisting or rebelling. I know better and you do too. But there was dread and a desire to avoid what awaited him if possible. When Jesus says, "Abba. Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." it shows surrender and unconditional faith while starting Jesus on the final legs of the road to Calvary.
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
Lets listen to * as they sing the second verse of “Where He Leads I’ll Follow.”
2. AT TIMES WE ARE AFRAID TO DO GOD’S WILL
When I was a teen I used to go to Six Flags very regularly with my family and my church’s youth group. There was a lot of peer pressure to ride some rides that, quite frankly, terrified me. I have a strong phobia regarding heights and many of the rides played on that phobia to give you the thrill and excitement.
Sometimes (not always) I was able to overcome the fear and get on the ride. It was still terrible but I was able to do it none-the-less. I had to talk myself into it. I would say, “Ken, thousands of people ride this ride without incident. Your fear of dying while being on the ride is unrealistic. Ride the ride and you will see.”
The self-talk I used on myself was correct.
Maybe God is calling you to something that appears terrifying and unnerving. May I give you some positive self-talk today?
“When God calls you to a task that is hard and sacrificial it is NOT with sinister motives. What he calls you to may be terrifying, difficult, or even painful; but it is also liberating and life-giving! You will never regret walking with God where ever he leads you.”
Rejecting the fear and following God:
> Will stretch you
> Will make you uncomfortable
> Will lead you into new territory
> Will help you expect more than you dreamed possible
> Will equip you to do more than you expected
Lets listen to * as they sing the final verse of “Where He Leads I’ll Follow.”
WRAP-UP
3. “GETHSEMANE-STYLE” PRAYING BRINGS US TO THE PLACE OF SURRENDER AND INTIMACY
Listen to a bit more of Francois Fénelon’s description of prayer:
If you thus pour out all your weaknesses, needs, troubles, there will be no lack of what to say. You will never exhaust the subject. It is continually being renewed. People who have no secrets from each other never want for subjects of conversation. They do not weigh their words, for there is nothing to be held back; neither do they seek for something to say. They talk out of the abundance of their heart, without consideration they just say what they think. Blessed are they who attain to such familiar, unreserved intercourse with God.
One of the deepest quests of the human heart is intimacy. We seek it in all sorts of relationships. Ironically, one of the things we run from is also intimacy. Go figure.
Obeying God and doing the hard things he is calling us to is tempered and made worth while when two things have happened:
1. We have surrendered to his will knowing He loves us and has a plan for us that will significantly touch other people’s lives.
2. We know God will be there with us.
GETHSEMANE IS SIGNIFICANT FOR MANY REASONS; THE LEAST OF WHICH IS NOT THAT IT WAS HERE THAT JESUS BEGAN TO FIRST FEEL ALONE. IT WAS HERE THAT THE WEIGHT OF SIN BEGAN TO AFFECT HIM; IT WAS HERE THAT HE FULLY REALIZED THAT EVEN GOD WOULD HAVE TO DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM HIM.
Jesus experienced the abandonment of God so that we would never have to. Through Christ’s work at Gethsemane and onward we are assured of God’s presence and favor.
GETHSEMANE IS SIGNIFICANT FOR ANOTHER RELATED REASON TOO. IT IS HERE THAT WE SEE THE POWER OF PRAYER TO EQUIP US AND FORTIFY US TO DO GOD’S WORK.
EITHER PRAYER WILL DELIVER YOU FROM YOURSELF OR YOUR SELF WILL KEEP YOU FROM PRAYER.
If God calls you to it you can do it with confidence that he will “lead you all the way.”
Let’s close this morning by singing the hymn, “Where He Leads I’ll Follow.”
Children’s Sermon
On Your Own*
Mark 14:36
Theme: Prayer: Asking God to help us.
Object: A coin Scripture:
One time when my wife and I were in Canada we brought back this one dollar coin. Let’s pretend, this morning, that you needed this dollar and I told you you could have it if you picked it up.
Oh, one thing I forgot to tell you is that you have to pick it up using only one finger! That makes it pretty difficult, doesn’t it? To pick something up, your finger really needs the help of the thumb. With the help of the thumb, it is pretty easy.
There is one other way you could get it. You could ask me, and I would give it to you.
A lot of people go through life trying to do everything on their own. They refuse to accept help from anyone and they certainly would never ask for help from anyone.
Do you ever act that way?
Do you ever refuse to ask for help even when you need it?
We all need help at times. We need help from other people and we need help from God. We can always count on God to help us if we will just ask.
The Bible tells us that when Jesus was in big trouble that he asked God for help and, just as you would expect, God helped him. In Mark 14:36 Jesus says: "Abba. Father … everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
If Jesus needed God’s help and quickly asked for it then that is a good example for us. We can do that too.
Never hesitate to ask God to help you.
* Special thanks to http://www.sermons4kids.com for the sermon idea.
This Children’s Sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
