WEEK 13 (THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE) DEALING WITH THE HIGH PRESSURE SITUATIONS IN LIFE Matthew 26:36

Read Matthew 26:36-45

The word 'Gethsemane' in the Greek means 'oil press'. It is when raw materials are put under high pressure to bring out the oil!!

How do we deal with the high pressure situations in our life?

It is right here in the garden of Gethsemane that Jesus had to deal with the high pressure situation of making the decision to go to the cross!! The choice He makes right here, would determine our salvation!! This passage shows us that Jesus' death for us was not automatic but a deliberate, willing choice He made for our sakes!!

Thank you Jesus!! Praise you Jesus!! JESUS DID THIS FOR US!

SO HOW DID OUR SAVIOUR JESUS DEAL WITH THIS HIGH PRESSURE SITUATION?

a)The first thing our saviour does in this high pressure situation, when He has this difficult choice to make, is pray about it!! (vs 36). James 5:13 tells us “Is any of you in trouble? He should pray.” DO WE COME TO JESUS IN PRAYER WHEN WE ARE IN THE TRIALS OF LIFE?

John 17 fills us in on what our wonderful Jesus prayed for both Himself and us while in that garden!! In His own trial, Jesus was more worried about His disciples and us!! What a wonderful example!! DO WE PRAY FOR OTHERS WHILE IN OUR OWN TRIALS? (See Job 42:10 and how the Lord got Job to minister and intercede for his friends while still in the midst of his own suffering!)

b) Then Jesus, when in the garden of Gethsemane:

1.Had around him the disciples- the gathering of believers with Him (vs 36)!! Do we gather together regularly as believers in Jesus to encourage one another daily in our trials and to run this race with perseverance? (Hebrews 10:25- Do not forsake the gathering of believers but encourage one another daily (Hebrews 3:13)- and all the more as you see The Day approaching..)

DO NOT FORGET THE IMPORTANCE OF GATHERING TOGETHER AS BELIEVERS AND ATTENDING CHURCH REGULARLY IN YOUR TRIALS.

2.Then Jesus went a step further and left the crowd of disciples and took with Him the 3 disciples He was closest to- James, Peter and John!! These were the ones He kept accountable with and shared how He was truly, honestly feeling!! (These were the 3 who were with Jesus when He raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead in Mark 5:37 and were the 3 who saw Him transfigured in His glory on the mountain in Matthew 17:1). It was with these 3 that Jesus shared how His soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death!! (vs 37-38)

DO WE HAVE CLOSE BROTHERS OR SISTERS IN CHRIST WE KEEP ACCOUNTABLE WITH WHOM WE CAN SHARE OUR DEEPEST STRUGGLES AND SINS TO?

Notice also that in vs 38, Jesus didn’t ask these 3 to preach to Him or give Him a motivational speech, but just to STAY with Him and PRAY with Him!!

Sometimes when someone is in anguish, the best thing you can do is say NOTHING AT ALL. Instead just be there with them and pray with them!! In Job 2:12-13 when Job’s friends saw the anguish and pain he was in, they did the right thing to start off with! They just sat there in silence with him and mourned with him.

WILL WE “STAY AND PRAY” WITH THOSE IN ANGUISH?

vs 38 also shows us that it is OKAY TO SAY YOU’RE NOT OKAY! If our saviour Jesus had no problems being honest with Peter, James and John, that He was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, then we too should be able to open up to our brothers and sisters in Christ when we are not okay.

3.Jesus finally came directly in intimacy to our Heavenly Father in prayer (vs 39)!! It is great having regular fellowship in the word of God and accountability with brothers and sisters in Christ, but ultimately there has to come a time each day where we get ONE ON ONE with our Heavenly Father in intimacy with Him and bring our struggles to Him!! This is what we were created to do!!

Jesus often did this throughout His ministry and encouraged His disciples to do the same (Eg. Mark 6:31,46). DO WE HAVE THAT QUIET INTIMATE TIME WITH OUR HEAVENLY FATHER THROUGH JESUS EACH DAY IN THE WORD AND IN PRAYER?

vs 38- once again I wanted to remind you in this passage (in case you forgot) that Jesus shows us that it is OKAY TO SAY YOU ARE NOT OKAY! Did you notice that Jesus was honest with Peter, James and John, saying that He was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death?

So often, especially as men we think that it is weak to say that we are not okay. We feel as though we have to present this plastic image that everything is okay! But our saviour Jesus reminds us to be honest and truthful about how we feel!! LEARN TO BE HONEST WITH ONE ANOTHER ABOUT OUR STRUGGLES.

vs 39- the cup Jesus could be referring to could be from Matthew 26:27- the communion cup (the cup of sacrifice) which represented Jesus' sacrifice of blood for the forgiveness of my sins!! This cup would also mean Jesus being cut off from The Father- which Jesus had never been through since He has been with you Father from eternity to eternity!! This could be why Jesus did not want to take this cup!!

This cup according to Isaiah 51:17,22 could also refer to the cup of God’s wrath meant for the wicked and disobedient! Jesus took that for us!! Praise you Jesus!!

vs 39- what Jesus went through here in the garden is described in Hebrews 5:7-9.

vs 39- “If it is possible, May this cup be taken from me... yet...” this statement shows us that there was no other way for us to be saved but BY THE CROSS!!

vs 40-41- to keep watch is linked in with praying (Luke 21:36). Do we keep watch in prayer? This will help us not fall into temptation!!

vs 42- Jesus was all about doing the Father's will!! He taught us to do the same (Matthew 6:10)

Are we all about doing The Father’s will?

Summary: Jesus therefore from this passage shows us the importance of not only gathering together and fellowshipping with the wider group of believers at church each week, but also the importance of having accountability partners whom you can share your struggles with and ultimately having that one-on-one time with Our Heavenly Father each day to help us get through the high pressure situations in life!!

SO THE QUESTION IS:

1.Do we commit to attending church each week and gathering with the wider group of believers in Christ even in the tough times?

2.Who are your ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS in church whom you share your deepest struggles with and give permission to correct you and encourage you in your walk?

3.Do you spend INTIMATE TIME WITH JESUS each day in prayer and reading His word?