"THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

The Garden Of Gethsemane (14:32-42)

INTRODUCTION
  1. Following the last supper, Jesus and His disciples went to Gethsemane... - Mk 14:32
    1. A garden outside the city, across the Kidron brook and on the Mount of Olives
    2. It's name meaning "olive press", and was possibly a remote walled garden
    3. A place where Jesus often went with His disciples - Jn 18:1-2
  2. Note the contrast between the Garden of Eden and the Garden of Gethsemane...
    1. In Eden, the first man (Adam) fell by yielding to temptation and disobeyed God
    2. In Gethsemane, the second man (cf. 1Co 15:47) conquered by yielding to the will of God

[Yes, "The Garden Of Gethsemane" was a place of victory for Jesus (and consequently for us as well). But the victory did not come easy, as we consider first that...]

  1. THE GARDEN WAS A PLACE OF SUFFERING
    1. WHERE JESUS EXPERIENCED GREAT DISTRESS...
      1. He went to pray, accompanied only by Peter, James, and John - Mk 14:32-33
      2. Before He began praying, He was "troubled and deeply distressed" - Mk 14:33
      3. Later, Luke records that He was "in agony", and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground - Lk 22:44
      4. He was likely troubled for He knew that His hour had come - cf. Jn 12:27
      5. He knew what was imminent, for He had told His disciples earlier - Mk 10:32-34
    2. WHERE JESUS ENDURED INTENSE SORROW...
      1. He described Himself as "exceedingly sorrowful, even to death" - Mk 14:34
      2. The writer of Hebrews refers to His "vehement cries and tears" - He 5:7
      3. His grief and sorrow was partly due to the fact that He was taking upon Himself our own grief and sorrow! - cf. Isa 53:4-5
    3. WHERE JESUS ENCOUNTERED SOLEMN LONELINESS...
      1. He wanted His closest disciples to watch with Him - Mk 14:33
        1. Those who had been with Him from the beginning - Mk 1:16-20
        2. Those who were privy to one of His greatest miracles - Mk 5:37-43
        3. Those who saw Him transfigured on the mountain - Mt 9:1-2
        4. Including the disciple "whom He loved" - Jn 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7,20,24
      2. Yet after each episode of praying, He found them sleeping - Mk 14:37,40,41
        1. When He desired fellowship for comfort, there was none to be found
        2. The Psalmist foretold this would happen - cf. Ps 69:20

        [Alone in His distress and sorrow, our Lord found "The Garden Of Gethsemane" to be a place of great suffering for Him. Then something happened. Before He left to face the mob led by Judas to arrest Him, Jesus found that...]

  2. THE GARDEN WAS A PLACE OF STRENGTH
    1. WHEN JESUS EXPRESSED AGONIZING PRAYER...
      1. The agony in His prayer is:
        1. Seen by His posture: "He...fell on the ground" - Mk 14:35
        2. Heard in His words: "Abba, Father, take this cup away from Me" - Mk 14:36
      2. It was "godly fear" Jesus expressed, and for such His prayer was heard - He 5:7
        1. Not that the cup (of suffering) was removed
        2. But that He would be able to drink it
    2. WHEN JESUS EXTENDED ENTIRE RESIGNATION...
      1. As evidenced by His words:
        1. "Not what I will, but what You will." - Mk 14:36
        2. "if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done." - Mt 26:42
      2. When man first said "My will, not Thine be done..."
        1. It opened the flood gate of sin
        2. It turned man out of the Paradise of God
      3. But when Jesus said "Not as I will, but as You will..."
        1. Victory over sin and access to the Tree of Life became possible
        2. For it prepared Jesus to go to the cross to make it possible
    3. WHEN JESUS ENJOYED SPECIAL COMFORT...
      1. Jesus received an answer to His prayer - cf. Lk 22:43
        1. Not the answer He requested (let this cup pass from Me)
        2. But strength from an angel!
      2. Like the apostle Paul would pray later - cf. 2Co 12:7-10
        1. Asking the Lord to remove his thorn in the flesh
        2. Receiving an answer different than requested, but sufficient to meet the need!
    4. WHEN JESUS EVINCED RENEWED RESOLVE...
      1. Strengthened, Jesus was ready to face the hour at hand - Mk 14:41
      2. He was ready to meet His betrayer and those with him - Mk 14:42
CONCLUSION
  1. So "The Garden Of Gethsemane" was a place of both suffering and strength...
    1. Jesus entered the garden suffering
    2. He left the garden strengthened
  2. Notice what turned the place of suffering into a place of strength...
    1. Prayer that was fervent and persistent
    2. Prayer that submitted to the will of God
    3. Prayer in which one was strengthened
    4. Prayer that enabled one to face the cup of life given Him

There will be times when we must enter our "Garden Of Gethsemane": times of distress, sorrow, loneliness. But such times can also be a time of comfort and strength, provided we spend them in prayer, willing to accept the Father's will in our lives... - cf. Php 4:6-7