To Seek And To Save

What A Friend We Have In Jesus

Luke 22.39-53

 Notice In this Passage: 

A.     The Disciples Anxiety 

1.      Their Direction (vs 39-40; 1 Thes 5.7; Col 4.2; Philip 4.6) [– And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. ⁴⁰ And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. ] 

a.       [When the battle is hot is the time for diligence and fortitude. The Bible continuously reminds Christians to:] 

[1 Thessalonians 5:17 ¹⁷ Pray without ceasing. ]

[Colossians 4:2 ² Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; ]

[Philippians 4:6 ⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.]  

b.      [Supernatural Communication - Jesus told his disciples to watch and pray.  By prayer our Lord was telling them that they need to be more in touch with heaven than ever before.  Folks prayer is not just our making our requests known to God, it is our earnest endeavor to be near the very throne of our Heavenly Father.  Prayer means communication and communication is two way.  We ought to talk to our Heavenly Father and then be careful to listen for His providential response.] 

c.       [When the battle is hot, Christians need to be diligent in prayer.] 

2.      Their Distraction (vs 45; Prov 17.17; 17.22; 18.14; 12.25) [– And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, ] 

[Proverbs 17:17 ¹⁷ A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.]

a.      [They were tired – They were both physically and spiritually tired.  Certainly, their serving with our Lord throughout His earthly ministry had been demanding and relentless.  They had traveled all over the country.  It seems that they were constantly on the go.  Jesus continuously taught them, there was much to try and remember, and yet we know that much they would not remember until after the resurrection of our Lord.  This particular day had been a full day. They prepared the Passover, which took a great deal of effort.  They celebrated the Passover.  Now they were in the garden of Gethsemane. Coming into the garden at evening they must have thought about how physically drained they were.  Perhaps they realized how emotionally and spiritually drained they were, or perhaps the thought just never entered their mind.] 

b.      [They were sorrowful - Spiritual Sorrow - Our Lord had repetitively told the Apostles what was soon coming upon them all.  It is clear that they did not understand the full ramifications concerning our Lord’s nearing passion.  As a matter of fact, in this garden, at this time the passion or suffering of our Lord was now beginning.  I doubt that the apostles were fully aware of this fact as they were told by our Lord to watch and pray.  Instead we find that the distraction of tiredness and sorrow would cause them to sleep rather than pray.]

[The sorrow here speaks of a grief of the heart.  It is the pain felt when one is emotionally distressed and fatigued.  The affect of grief or sorrow upon one emotionally is undeniable.  It drains the soul, spirit, and physical strength right out of a person.] 

[Be careful of a sorrowful spirit.  It will rob you of your purpose and passion for life.  The Bible reminds us:] 

[Proverbs 17:22 ²² A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.]

[Proverbs 18:14 ¹⁴ The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?]

[A broken spirit will suck the life right out of a person.]   

c.       [This sorrow may have caused them to be discourage and in despair – Christians need to be careful with discouragement and despair.  Discouragement and despair almost go hand in hand, and have many causes.  The most obvious cause is that things just are not going the way one expected.  Regardless of their cause Christians need to realize the effect of discouragement and despair.  The Bible says,] 

[Proverbs 12:25 ²⁵ Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. ]

[Discouragement and despair, a sorrow of the heart can lead you to believe that there just is no hope for your life.  It can cripple you spiritually and physically.]

[Spiritually Crippled Christians - Many a professing Christian are spiritually crippled. 

(1)   [They do not labor in prayer]

(2)   [They are not diligent in worship]

(3)   [They are not giving in Christian stewardship – Time, Talents, and Treasure]

(4)   [They do not proclaim their faith]

[Why?  Because they became spiritually depressed through sorrow, they are in spiritual despair, and they have fallen into a spiritual slumber that has rendered them useless by God and in His kingdom.  They have a cancer of the soul and spirit.]

3.      Their Diagnosis (vs 46, Prov 15.13,15; John 14.1) [– And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.  - Get up, wake up, get stirred up.  Don’t just sit there and wither, get up and do something about your despair.  Do something about your sorrow.] 

a.      [Get into God’s Word – Many a Christian needs the spiritual chemo therapy of the written Word of God.  Get back into the Word of God.  Read your Bible.  Read it everyday.  Read it all the way.] 

b.      [Believe and rejoice in God’s promises – Rest in the promises given through God’s written Word.  Believe what God has said.  Live by God’s Word and trust for the fulfillment of all of God’s promises.  Rejoice in the Word of God.  The Bible reminds us,] 

[Proverbs 15:13 ¹³ A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.]

[Proverbs 15:15 ¹⁵ All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.]

[Jesus said,]

[John 14:1 ¹ Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.]

[There is nothing in this mortal life that should be allowed to bring debilitating despair into a Christian’s life.  We have already gained the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 John 4.4).  Walk in the Victory that is already yours!]

[Jesus said, Rise and Pray.  Christian get up and get in touch with your Heavenly Father, and cause your despair to be turned into great joy.  The diagnosis for a discouraged heart is prayer.  The diagnosis for a spiritually crippled Christian is prayer.  The diagnosis for any caner of the soul is prayer.  Christian get in touch with your Heavenly Father. ]

B.     The Arrests Abusiveness 

1.      The Uncanny Kiss (vs 47-48; Luke 21.15-19) [- And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. ⁴⁸ But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? – Judas kiss speaks to us of the worst of all kinds of betrayals.  This is not just the sedition of hated enemies, which might be expected, this is the testimony of torn trust, and severed confidences.  It is the worst kind of betrayal.  The kind that all of us hope and pray we never have to tolerate or experience, but will almost certainly pierce the hearts of many if not all who live in this sinful world.]

[Jesus was betrayed by one who was considered his friend.  One Jesus thought He could trust.  One who should have been protecting Him, and standing with Him.  Instead, Judas brought this horde of wrathful people directly to our Lord Jesus Christ and then singled Jesus out with a kiss.] 

[Why is it that Christians are often caught off guard when people, even people they feel they could trust let them down, or even betray them.  The bible warns us continuously that such sedition will come into our lives.  The Bible declares,] 

[Luke 21:15-19 ¹⁵ For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. ¹⁶ And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. ¹⁷ And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. ¹⁸ But there shall not an hair of your head perish. ¹⁹ In your patience possess ye your souls.]

[The truth is, sinful people will always let you down.  By the way folks, everyone is a sinner.  The only one who was not a sinner was the Lord Jesus Christ.  This is why God commands us to forgive (Matt 6.12-15), forgive constantly (Matt 18.21-22), and to forgive from our hearts (Matt 18.35).]

 [Judas Iscariot betrayed our Lord with an uncanny kiss.]

2.      The Uncertain Apostles (vs 49-51; Prov 16.28) [– When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? ⁵⁰ And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. – Consider the Apostles reaction when this crowd comes to arrest our Lord.  At first they jump up to defend our Lord.  They lash out at the crowd and cut off a man’s ear, which our Lord immediately heals. They then begin to scatter and hide.  What could they do?  Nothing, for it was all planned and purposed by God.  To somehow rescue Jesus would have been to thwart the plan and purpose of Almighty God.] 

[Proverbs 16:28 ²⁸ A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.]  

3.      The Uncontrollable Crowd  (vs 52-53) [- Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? ⁵³ When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. – Here is a horde that truly represented the worst in crowd dynamics.  By the time this crowd reached Jesus we discover, through the various gospel accounts, that many in the crowd hardly knew why they were there or what they were doing.  None-the-less the arrest of Jesus was affected and Jesus was brought to the high priests house.] 

C.     Our Lord’s Agony (Prov 18.24) 

[Proverbs 18:24 ²⁴ A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. ]

1.      A Surrendered Plea (vs 42; 1 Pet 2.22; 1 John 3.5; 2 Cor 5.21; Heb 9.28) [- Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. -  Our Lord was fully aware of what would come upon Him over the next few hours.  Nothing would catch Him by surprise.  Our Lord is omniscient, and knows all things.  Hence, as our Lord approaches the Heavenly Father in prayer He prays for the removal of this cup of suffering, if it were possible.  But the cup cannot be removed.  The eternal sacrificial lamb, who is the Lord Jesus Christ must suffer and die.]

[Our Lord was fully human and fully God.  Jesus through His suffering would wrestle through an anguish and pain that you and I could never hope to endure.  The greatest extent of our suffering will never be more than our own sins have earned.  We will never bear up under the burden of another mans sin, but only our own.  Still we do not really understand the weighty penalty we owe for our own sins.  The penalty is truly great.  Greater than we could ever hope to reckon.] 

[The Sinless Lamb - However, our Lord suffered for no sin of His own.  The Bible reveals that Jesus never sinned when it states,] 

[1 Peter 2:22 ²² Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: ]

[1 John 3:5 ⁵ And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. ]

[As our Lord begins to suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane, He is not bearing up under the burden of His own sin, instead He is carrying the burden for my sins and yours.]

[2 Corinthians 5:21 ²¹ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.]

[Hebrews 9:28 ²⁸ So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.]

[Our Lord pleads about this heavy burden He must bear, but surrenders to the will of God and the need of mankind that you and I might be justified by the sinless blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Praise God, He paid the penalty that you and I could not hope to pay, so that we might receive the gift of everlasting life through Him.]

2.      A Supernatural Provision (vs 43; Psalm 34.7; 2 Cor 12.9; Heb 4.16) [-  And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. – Grace equal to your need.  It is important for Christians to notice this heavenly messenger sent to supernaturally strengthen our Lord at this critical hour.  Think about this deeply for a moment or two.] 

[Here is the omnipotent Lord of all creation, the one who created and sustains all of creation (Col 1.16-17).  The one who is called the eternally existent Word of God (John 1.1-4,14).  The one who has healed lepers, caused the blind to see, commanded the legions of hell, calmed the winds and the seas.  He is Almighty God in human form.  Here is an angel, a mere created being, strengthening Jesus.] 

[Circumstances greater than our strength – there are those events in our lives that will be far greater than your ability or strength to endure.  If our Lord needed to be strengthened then why do you think that you are man enough or woman enough or strong enough to do it all on your own?  You are not!  If we could do everything on our own then why would God say,] 

[Psalms 34:7 ⁷ The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.]

[Help in your time of need – God gives us grace and help sufficient for our need.  God will not give you the endowment you need until you need it.  You will receive the grace (gifting of God) and strength you need to help you with a situation when the circumstance arises.]

[The Apostle Paul had a need.  He had an affliction in his flesh.  God did not give Paul the provision and strength to continue in the midst of his affliction until he had the affliction.  Then God told Paul,] 

[2 Corinthians 12:9 ⁹ And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. . . .]

[The Apostle Paul Asked for God’s help with His need, just as our Lord was seeking God in the time of His greatest need.  My Christian friend, you must seek and ask God for His provision if you will receive his grace to help you in your time of need.  The Bible states,]

[Hebrews 4:16 ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. ]

[Why do we have to ask?  God certainly knows what you are going through.  God knows what your struggles are.  God never misses anything.  But your Heavenly Father will never force Himself upon you.  God will let you do it all by yourself if you want to.  God loves you too much to take your will away from you.  However, if you ask for your Heavenly Fathers help then He will gladly give it.] 

[Notice what else Jesus said.  Jesus said, “not my will but thine.”  One of the ways we say God, I don’t need or want your help, is when we say God help me, but do it my way.  If you really want the help of your Heavenly Father, then you are going to have to accept that His way is the best way, even if it’s not really what you had in mind.] 

[The Heavenly Father sent a supernatural provision to strengthen and help our Lord Jesus Christ in the garden.]  

3.      A Sublime Proclamation (vs 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. – The incredible weight of our sins is revealed in the bloody sweat of our Lord.  To sweat blood is of the rarest of phenomena.  Some deny that this could happen at all.  It has however been recorded on extremely rare occasions.]  

a.      [Medical Explanation - The phenomenon of “bloody sweat” under extreme emotional stress is recognized by medicine and is called diapedesis, or the seeping of the blood through the vessels without rupture. —New Unger's Bible Dictionary.] 

[What we can understand from this record given by Luke is just how emotionally and physically burdensome the sins of the world were upon our Lord.  This record ought to cause us to consider the extreme gravity of sin in our lives.  Our tendency is the look lightly upon our transgressions.  We smirk at our little white lies.  We brush off much of our iniquity, merely excusing it away.  Our sins are a serious matter with God, and the bloody sweat of our Lord ought to awaken us to the serious nature of our sin.]  

The Unconditional Love (Matt 26.51-54) [– And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. ⁵² Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. ⁵³ Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? – Everything in this gospel account speaks of the incredible, unspeakable love of our Heavenly Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus was willing to take upon himself all of our sins and become our sacrificial lamb.   

[Jesus was willing to take upon Himself the punishment you owed for your sins so that you would not have to pay the price yourself.] 

[We see those who betrayed Jesus.  We see those who failed Jesus.  We understand how we, through our sins, wounded Jesus.  And yet Jesus was faithful toward you and I.  Jesus truly is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother (Prov 18.24).] 

[There are many in your life that will let you down, fail you, and even betray you.  But the Lord Jesus Christ is a friend you can always count on.] 

[What an incredible friend we have in Jesus] 

CrossRoads Baptist Church, Feb 24, 2008