To 160th Ave Church of Christ

S.R.: Matt. 26:30-35

Matthew 26

In Gethsemane

Context

• Judas had betrayed Christ (26:14-16)• The Lord’s Supper has been Instituted (26:20-

25)• The few final moments before his trial and

crucifixion (26:36-46)

A Distressing Moment

• An understanding of the suffering to come. • An understanding of the magnitude of the

cross.• Acknowledgement of the disciples’ denial.

(26:31-35)• “My soul is deeply grieved; to the point of

death” (26:36-38)– “fell on his face and prayed” (26:39)– Luke 22:44

“Sweat like Blood”

• “Though the word ‘like’ may indicate that this is to be understood metaphorically, there are both ancient and modern accounts on record of people sweating blood—a condition known as hematidrosis, where extreme anguish or physical strain causes one’s capillary blood vessels to dilate and burst, mixing sweat and blood. In either case, Luke’s main purpose is to highlight the intensity of Jesus’ emotional and physical trauma.”

Jesus’ Prayers

• Preparing for the cross:– Singing (26:30)– Prayer (26:39-46)

• Persistent Prayer– Prayed three times. – Follows his teaching on this (Luke 18:1-8; Luke 11:5-13)

• “Let this cup pass from me”– The “cup” in scripture is symbolic of one’s divinely

determined destiny, whether blessing (Ps. 16:5) or disaster (Jer. 25:15), salvation (Ps. 116:13) or wrath (Isa. 51:17).

Jesus’ Prayers

• A demonstration that Jesus HAD to die for our Sins.– “Why didn’t God do it another way?”– “The wages of sin is death”– “without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness of

sin” (Heb. 9:22)”• An answer to “Unanswered prayer”

– The answer to our prayers may be “No.” – Paul’s thorn in the flesh (2 Cor. 12:8-9)– we must be willing to submit to God’s will!

• Submission to the will of God– “Not my will but thine be done”– Slight change noticed between 1st and 2nd prayer – God’s answer is able to actually be Yes b/c of the way Jesus prays.

Jesus’ Teaching/Reproof of the Disciples

• Initial instruction: “remain here and keep watch” (26:38)

• “found them sleeping” (26:40)– Sleeping on the job– They clearly do not understand what is about to

take place. • “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”– A phrase often used as an excuse– The point: We must be spiritual not fleshly

Spirit vs. Flesh

• Luke 9:57-62 “Allow the dead to bury the dead”• Gal. 5:16-24• Rom. 8:9-17• “Can we keep watch but one hour?”

Jesus’ Compassion (26:47-56)

• Jesus is arrested in the garden. – Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss.– “Friend, do what you came to do.”

• A disciple strikes a servant of the high priest (26:51-52)– Peter cuts off Malchus’ ear (John 18:10)– A lack of understanding on the disciples’ part– Jesus will restore the man’s flesh (Luke 22:51)

Jesus’ Compassion

• Continued submission to the will of God:– I could appeal to the father for “twelve legions of

angels” (26:53)– “This has taken place that the scriptures of the

prophets might be fulfilled” (26:56)• Compassion continued on the cross:– Heals the ear of someone who came to arrest him– “forgive them for they know not what they do”– Prepares for his mother (John 19:26-27)– “today you will be with me in paradise”