Gethsemane Could Not Overwhelm Him

Matthew 26:26-46

We are starting a new series today which will take us through Easter.  The title is Jesus the Overcomer.  You already have the verses in your program, but it is such good news, I’ll share them again.  Jesus said this in John 16:33 …

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

And in Revelation 3:21 he also said …

He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Jesus describes Himself as an overcomer. In the next four weeks, we will explore Matthew's account of Jesus' arrest, trials, crucifixion, and resurrection.  In doing this, we look to know Him personally as our overcomer.  We’ll see the challenges He faced, how He overcame them, and how we benefit from His victory.  Good stuff!

In the New Testament, the Greek word translated as overcome is “nikao”.  It means to conquer, overcome, prevail, or be victorious.  The Nike shoe brand takes its name from the same root.  The thought is not survival, but victory.  Jesus is victorious over the world and over death.

This series is also a little different in that we will pick up the story in the middle of the action.  Usually, when we do a study like this, we are looking at a book in its entirety.  Now, we’re picking up in chapter 26 of the book of Matthew, so I feel like we should take a quick view of what has come before today’s passage.

We are going to start with the Thursday night before Jesus goes to die on the cross.  Jesus came to Jerusalem just a few days earlier for the Passover week.  He was greeted joyously by the crowds at his triumphal entry on what we think of Palm Sunday only four days earlier.  He came to the temple and cleared it of the moneychangers and those selling animals to the shock of the religious leaders.  He has been teaching daily in the temple, but no one would lay a hand on him to arrest Him.  He has been anointed with costly perfume at an evening meal in Bethany.  Then, as the time for the Passover approached, the disciples came to him and asked where they would eat the Passover meal.  After a rather miraculous sequence, the disciples have joined together with Jesus for their last supper together.  Jesus has already revealed that Judas will betray Him, and this is where we pick up the story in Matthew 26:26.

Let’s take a moment and pray before we get into our passage.

Lord Jesus, You are the great overcomer.  You are the firstborn from the dead.  You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.  Thank You for overcoming the world and overcoming death.  Thank You that You have made a way for us to join You on Your throne in Heaven.  Teach us now to be overcomers, too, we pray in Your Name.  Amen.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.  Matthew 26:26-28

Keep in mind that this is the Passover meal.  There are a number of special foods that are served.  You can read about it more in Exodus 12.  At the time of Jesus, when the bread was lifted up at Passover, the head of the meal would say something like this, “This is the bread of affliction which our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Let everyone who hungers come and eat; let everyone who is needy come and eat the Passover meal,” but Jesus says something different.

Jesus doesn't give the normal explanation of the meaning the foods like would normally happen. He re-centers the Passover in Himself.  The focus is no longer on the suffering of Israel in Egypt or the sacrifice of the lamb, but the focus is now on the sin-bearing suffering of Jesus on our behalf.

We’re so accustomed to hearing the words of Jesus, it may be a little lost on us the stunning effect which the words “this is my body” must have had on the disciples.  Such words had no place in the Passover ritual.  It likely was not truly understood until after the resurrection.

Jesus clearly says that His blood is blood poured out for many.  It is not a token for the disciples.  It is for many, and it is for forgiveness.

Jesus’ blood validates a new covenant (or agreement) between humanity and God.  Only God can do that.  And, not only does the blood make a new covenant possible, it makes the agreement sure and reliable.  This covenant will not fail.

Jesus does not ask us to commemorate anything else about His life … not his birth or the miracles or other aspects of his life … we remember his body broken and blood shed because this is the new covenant, the new life for us.

Jesus is the overcomer in laying down His life as a sacrifice.  He also gives thanks.  In the midst of all that is yet to come, Jesus thanks God.

I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.”  Matthew 26:29

Jesus even before He went to the cross is looking forward to victory.  Jesus is looking forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb which is described in Revelation 19:9.

When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.  Matthew 26:30

Here is one of my favorite examples of overcoming.  Jesus demonstrates overcoming by singing.  Do you think of Jesus singing?  I’d say not often.  Do we see Jesus as the worship leader?  And yet, He was likely the one who led them in singing.

Yesterday, we had a workday here at the church.  I ended up doing some repetitive work outside, and as you can see, I’m pretty much out of shape.  Man, my arms started to get so tired.  Then, I started to get discouraged.  And then, I started singing hymns like “How Firm a Foundation” and “God of Grace and God of Glory” and “Jesus is All the World to Me” and so on.  Suddenly, I was working without thinking of my weakness and then I was even working more quickly in spite of my weakness.

As to what they were singing, the Passover fellowship was concluded with the second half of the Hallel Psalms which would be Psalm 116-118.  You can read through those Psalms on your own.  There are multiple verses which were likely encouraging to Jesus at this time.  Here are just a couple.  This is Psalm 116:3-4 and 8-9. 

The pains of death surrounded me, and the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the LORD: "O LORD, I implore You, deliver my soul!" … For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.   Psalm 116:3-4, 8-9

Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’  But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”  Matthew 26:31-32

All of the remaining eleven disciples would fall away, but Jesus did not condemn them.  He simply told them.  The prophecy Jesus refers to by saying “it is written” can be found in Zechariah 13:7. 

When Jesus says, “after I have risen,” He is looking beyond the cross.  This is another glimpse of His overcoming.  Recently, I saw this quote from John Ortberg, “In the end, joy wins. So if joy has not yet won, it is not yet the end.”  Isn’t that the best?  That has been a comfort to me in trials ever since I heard it.  We can face so much just knowing that it isn’t the end.

And, Jesus did meet with the disciples in Galilee after the resurrection.  The most familiar account is found in John 21 where Jesus restores Peter asking him, “Do you love me?”  But that still lies ahead.  Peter doesn’t think he will need restoration …

Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.  Matthew 26:33-35

Peter wasn’t lying.  He likely felt genuinely that he would not fall away, but he could not see what was to come.  Peter would fall short in the midst of what was probably his biggest strength, courage and boldness.  Do not trust in your own strength!  Trust in God!

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”  Matthew 26:36-38

Gethsemane is Hebrew for the place of the oil press which is a logical thing to find on the Mount of Olives.  Gethsemane also becomes the place where the Lord was crushed in spirit.

It was a place that Judas must have known.  And so, while Jesus did not give Himself up, He didn’t hide from the cross.  The words overwhelmed with sorrow describe violent emotion and even shock.  Jesus was under incredible strain at this moment.

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”  Matthew 26:39

The cup is a symbol of deep sorrow and suffering.  (Psalm 75:8, Isaiah 51:17, Jeremiah 25:15)  But the image of a cup can also be used to describe a blessing, like the cup of salvation (Psalm 116:13).  In our case, Jesus’ cup of sorrow and suffering becomes for us the cup of salvation.

When Jesus goes to the cross, the Father’s face will turn away from Him.  Jesus will be separated from His Father.  II Corinthians 5:21 explains it this way “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”  It was not the torture or physical death which fueled Jesus sorrow, it was the judgment.

And yet, Jesus was fully submitted to His Father.  He was willing to obey with the consequences of His obedience in full view.  If there were any other way for us to be made right before God than Jesus dying on the cross, then Jesus’ death would have been unnecessary.  It would have been morally wrong for God to ask Jesus to die unnecessarily.  Therefore, salvation by Jesus is the only possible way to be made right with God.

In preparing the message, I was reading in one commentary which brought out the following idea:

The decision of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden was, “Not Your will but mine.” That decision turned Paradise into a desert.  It brought humanity from Eden to Gethsemane.

Jesus’ decision in the Garden of Gethsemane was, “Not My will but Yours.” That decision turned the desert into the Kingdom of God and brought humanity from Gethsemane to glory.

This is the overcoming of Jesus in the garden.  When we look at our circumstances and we feel dried out and overwhelmed, can we too look and say “not my will but Yours?”  When life seems like more than we can take, can we be like Jesus and simply fall with our faces to the ground and pray like Him?

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”  Matthew 26:40-41

Psalm 51:12 includes this prayer “… grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.”  We should pray to be filled with that willing spirit because we cannot do anything on our own.  We need God’s strength continually.  We can’t even watch and pray without help. 

There is a contrast here between Jesus and Peter.  Despite the injury of the disciples not abiding with Him in his hour of need, Jesus persevered in prayer.  He perseveres in prayer and wins.  Peter fails to pray and he will stumble.  The spiritual battle is often fought before the crisis.

He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”  When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.  Matthew 26:42-44

Mark 14:40 says that when Jesus came back to them, “They did not know what to say to him.”  Luke 22:43-44 explains that “An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.  And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling on the ground.”

Did you ever feel like it was bad or wrong to ask God for the same thing repeatedly?  If you need an example that it’s okay, here is one from our Lord Himself.  Jesus prayed the same thing three times even when He knew that God’s not answering that prayer was the right thing for the Father to do.  Take heart!  Repeated prayer can be compatible with steadfast faith.

Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”  Matthew 26:45-46

Jesus does not run away.  When He says, “Rise, let us go,” He does not mean to make an escape but rather to meet that which is coming.  And that is the last overcoming moment from today’s passage.  Jesus does that which is next to be done.

And now, we will take communion together.  This is how we remember what Jesus has done for us. As we eat the bread we should remember how Jesus was broken, pierced, and beaten for our redemption. As we drink the cup we should remember that His blood, His life was poured out on Calvary for us.

I really like Charles Spurgeon, a 19^th century preacher.  He has a way of expressing the truths of God that make them uncomplicated and accessible.  So I read something He had said about coming to take communion.  He said simply this … if you couldn’t remember whether you had had something to drink, you could always drink again.  If you couldn’t remember whether you had eaten, you could always eat again.  If you come to a place of struggle, wondering if you have believed in Jesus.  You can simply believe again.

And that is what communion is for.  It is for those who have believed in Jesus.  Anyone who believing in His sacrifice can come and take the bread and the cup.  Carl will play some music for us, and when you are ready, please feel free to come to the table and take the bread and the cup returning to your seat.  When you are ready, you may eat the bread and drink the cup.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank you for the abundant life we see in You.  You were truly filled with rivers of living water even on the way to the cross.  Your overcoming is evident in Your words and actions through those agonizing hours.  Thank You for persevering for us.  Thank You for sacrificing Yourself for us.  We love You.  In Your Name Jesus, we pray.  Amen.