45 – 24 Hours That Changed the World
Resurrection Sermon Series
The Garden
Luke 22:39-45
Jesus had quite a week…..
Sunday – People were cheering for him…the same who would persecute Him later…everyone seemed to love Him
Monday – Jesus goes into the temple and there were merchants and money exchangers where people should have been coming for prayer; took a bull-whip and drove them out of the temple because they were disrespecting His Father’s house
Tuesday – All the Rabbis are whispering about what they can do about Him; they are no longer in charge; they sought to kill Him after this
Jesus came here going to a cross
Wednesday – Found out one of His disciples (Judas) is going to betray Him….for MONEY
Thursday – He wanted to have a meal with his disciples; He knew they loved Him but not enough for what was about to come down the road – The Passover celebration; He prepared a symbol of love for them – Communion; He also told them that one would betray Him
That’s why He was in The Garden; He took two or three disciples with Him; asked them to pray for Him while He prayed; Jesus was wrestling with death and life
Asked Father to take this cup from Him if it was God’s will. When He went back to the disciples, they were asleep.
What Do We Learn in The Garden?
1. Acknowledge that ultimately, God is in control of your situation.
He knows what’s going on. Jesus had a right relationship with God. If you’re struggling and you don’t have a right relationship, who do you go to.
“Father, if you will…..”
2. Accept the fact that God may not answer your prayer.
He acknowledges that just because He’s listening, that doesn’t mean He will give an answer. He knows you better than you know yourself. Unanswered prayers make some people bitter…..that’s what the devil wants.
Jesus went into The Garden praying for an outcome that He didn’t get. In His weakest moment, He prayed anyway. Even when the outcome was certain not to be what He wanted.
3. Tell God exactly what you would like Him to do.
4. Humbly yourself to accept His answer.
Sometimes the purpose of a prayer is not that things change but that YOU change to accept the circumstances as they are. At the beginning, He said Father if you’re willing……at the end of the prayer, He said Not my will but your will be done.
5. Leave the result of your prayer up to God.
6. Keep on praying.
Even after He had worked it out, He continued to pray. He prayed so hard that His sweat became drops of blood.
Aren’t you glad that we don’t get a “Message Delivered” from your prayers like we do for text messages?
Tamala R. Maddox, Ph.D.
Principal
R.F. Bumpus Middle School