The Garden and Betrayal (4 things)

• 1^st – The olive press… vs. 39-44
  • Jesus took His disciples (not Judas) to the Garden of Gethsemane…
    • On the western slope of the Mt. of Olives – facing the Temple mount…
      • Famous for it’s Olive trees (there are still 2000 year old olive trees standing there)…
      • To a garden called Gethsemane – meaning ‘the olive press’…
      • Referring to the HUGE stones used to crush the olives to extract olive oil…
    • It was Jesus custom to go there and pray – and Judas knew it…
      • A quiet place – away from the crowds – the perfect place to capture Jesus…
      • Jesus was making it easy for his ‘friend’ to betray Him – turn Him over to the Jews!
  • Jesus went a stone throw away from His disciples and knelt down to pray…
    • Jesus knew what was only hours away – not only the cross – death…
      • But the burden of the sins of all men – throughout all time…
      • We have all felt the pain of a guilty conscience when we did something wrong…
      • Uncomfortable – convicting – the weight of our individual sins…
      • Separating us from our relationship with God in heaven…
    • Jesus would feel the pain – the weight off ALL sins – all at once…
      • Literally the full weight of the sin of the whole world resting fully on Him…
      • Like the olive press working to crush the olives under the HUGE stone…
      • Jesus came to Gethsemane – to be crushed under the sin of the world…
  • Jesus prayed – ‘Father if it is your will – take this cup from Me’…
    • Jesus did not desire to suffer – He did not want to go to the cross…
      • Any more than we would want to go to prison for another persons crime…
      • Or worse yet – be put to death to so that a murderer could live…
    • How hard was the decision – sweat drops of blood…
      • Hematidrosis – a very rare condition in which a human being sweats blood (stress)…
      • Agony – agonia – struggle for victory – extreme emotions…
      • The most difficult decision ever made – by any man – ever…
      • Jesus would have to face ridicule – mocking – scourging – then death…
      • God had to choose to lay down His life – to save sinners!
    • Never-the-less – not my will but your will be done…
      • Jesus could have walked away at any point – spared His life – avoided the cross…
      • But there was no other way – in order for us to go to heaven – Jesus had to die…
      • Hebrews 12:12 – “For the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…”
      • Jesus was willing to endure the cross – by looking forward to an eternity with us!
      • The Father sent an angel from heaven to Jesus to strengthen Him…

• 2^nd – The Sprit & the flesh… vs. 45-46
  • When Jesus came back – all of the disciples were fast asleep…
    • Somewhat understandable – it was late at night – it had been a long day (Passover)…
    • They were sleeping from sorrow – overwhelmed that one of them would betray Jesus…
  • Why do you sleep – arise and pray – lest you enter into temptation…
    • The disciples may have wanted to pray – but they gave in to their flesh…
    • Galatians 5:17 – “The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict.”
    • There is a battle within every one of us – one we fight every day…
    • Between what we know we should do (Spirit) – and what we want to do (flesh)
    • The Spirit says to get up in the morning and spend time with God in His Word…
    • The flesh says keep sleeping – you can always read your Bible – buas lang…
    • Whichever we feed – our spirit or our flesh – is stronger – and wins the war…
    • If we spend our day absorbed in the world – TV / Gossip / ungodly friends – flesh…
    • But if we spend time with Jesus – the Word / prayer/ fellowship…
    • We end up strengthening our Spirit – so that we do not give in to our flesh!

• 3^rd – The Betrayal… vs. 47-51
  • Judas – one of the twelve – Matthew / Mark / and Luke all still give him this title…
    • The Jewish leaders – brought a small army to come arrest Jesus…
      • There were Roman troop from the Antonio fortress – John 18:3
      • There were Jewish temple police – Luke 22:52
      • A great multitude all armed with swords – clubs – and lanterns…
      • All this for 1 carpenter and 11 simple fishermen…
    • This was not the first time they had tried to grab Jesus – John 7:30, 8:20
      • Jesus had the uncanny ability to slip right through the crowds…
      • Luke 4:29–30 – “They led Jesus to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.  Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.”
      • They were determined this time Jesus would not get away!
    • Judas led the group – and gave them a sign…
      • Interesting the group needed a sign to know who Jesus was…
      • Often we have the idea Jesus glowed – halo maybe – instantly recognizable by all…
      • As though if you were within a mile of Him you would know Jesus was close by…
      • Apparently not – he had no outstanding features – nothing to make Him stick out…
      • Isaiah 53:2 – “There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.”
      • Jesus answered, ‘Do you betray me with a kiss?’
  • At that the disciples realized what was happening…
    • They asked Jesus – ‘should we attack with the swords’…
      • One of the disciples took his sword – John 18:10 – tells us it’s Peter…
      • 1 of the 2 swords that they brought with them from the Passover– Luke 22:38…
      • Peter – likely trying to kill the man – cut off the right ear of the Priest’s servant…
      • Peter was a fisherman not a soldier – and apparently not very good with a sword…
    • Do not resist – it was not the time to fight…
      • Those who live by the sword – die by the sword – Matthew 26:52
      • 11 fishermen with 2 swords did not stand much of a chance against an army…
      • Peter reacted in emotion – anger – rather than in wisdom…
      • If we react with our emotions when others hurt us – we only do more damage
      • We escalate the problem rather than solving it – anger causes more anger
      • Proverbs 15:1–“A soft answer turns away wrath, a harsh word stirs up anger.”
    • If Jesus had come to conquer – then His servants (Peter) would have fought…
      • * John 18:36 – “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.’”
      • Jesus had not come to conquer nations – He came to conquer sin…
      • The only way sin could be defeated – was through the cross!
      • The ultimate weapon Jesus wielded was Love – John 3:16
      • The most powerful tool we have against others – is the Love of Jesus…
      • A love that all men need to hear – especially those who hurt us…
      • Remembering they are lost us are just sinners – who are hurting themselves…
    • The Word of God often referred to as a sword – Ephesians 6:17 / Hebrews 4:12
      • When we take God’s word – and try to use it against others – we cut off ears!
      • Too often I have seen people use the Bible to attack others…
      • Using God’s Word to condemn – beat up others with their sinfulness…
      • Rather than giving them the Good News – the message of hope and salvation…
      • In doing so people learn not to listen to the Bible – they cut off their ears
    • The good news – Jesus is in the business of reattaching ears!
      • Jesus put the ear back on Malchus – the man who came to crucify him!
      • To the very end – Jesus loved even those who hated and wanted to kill Him…
      • The next time – or perhaps this time – someone betrays or hurts you…
      • Give them the Love of Jesus – the Gospel/Good News – the hope of forgiveness…
      • You might just find your enemy is transformed by the Word – into a friend…
        
• 4^th – God is our defense… vs. 52-53
  • Have you come out against a robber…
    • It was as if Jesus was a dangerous armed robber – with a whole gang at His side…
    • Except they were not robbers hiding out – they had committed no crimes…
    • They were right out in the open – Jesus had even sat daily teaching in the Temple…
    • This was not an act of justice against a criminal – this was THE crime!
    • They came at night when no one was watching – to do what they knew was wrong…
    • They came to take an innocent man to His death!
  • Jesus went with them – because He choose to…
    • When Judas the multitude first arrived Jesus asked, ‘Whom are you seeking?’…
      • When they answered – Jesus of Nazareth – He answered, ‘I AM’ – John 18:5-8
      • This was not just an answer – it was a title – Exodus 3:14  – the name of God!
      • These men came out to arrest God – with knives & sticks…
      • In this we see just how foolish this plot against Jesus really was…
      • Every army in world today – with all their tanks, planes, and boats…
      • Would still be no match for the creator of all heaven and earth!
    • At Jesus Word immediately they all fell down backwards…
      • At His Word – they could not stand – at His Word – they trembled…
      • What Peter could not do with a sword – Jesus did with just one Word…
      • It is easy to forget sometimes whom we have on our side…
      • When the world comes against us – we can think we are at a disadvantage…
      • But the reality with Jesus – no matter who is against us – we have the majority!
      • When we stand for the Lord – we have absolutely nothing to fear from anyone!
  • When Peter took our his sword – 12 legions of angels – Matthew 26:53…
    • We might miss just how impressive a statement this is by Jesus…
      • A Roman legion was comprised of 6,000 troops – so 12 legions was 72,000 troops
      • Jesus is saying at any moment – He could call down 72,000 angels!
      • One Angel in one night killed 185,000 troops – II Kings 19:35
      • So 72,000 angels could kill – 13.2 billion people!
    • The point – no matter how many men came to arrest Jesus…
      • He did not go because He had to – He went because He chose to!
      • John 10:18– “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”
      • It was not men who put Jesus on the cross there – it was not nails that held Him
      • It was our sin that put Jesus on the cross…

It was His GREAT love for you and me that held Him there!