Now Is the Time First B Jackson 2024-03-17 Automatically transcribed. Where this and the recording disagree, the recording is the record. ---- But I'm afraid we've lost a great civil. And in this service, like I said, it's not a big deal. If it comes back up again, it's alright. I'll mix it if I can. Yeah. Yeah. If I can. Put something else in there. Yeah. That one doesn't take. A bulwark never failing. I know. Yep. I might get some different glasses before you see. Everybody. How are you? You're here. Come on. Stand with us. We're going to start off with a good old good old 500 year old hymn that's still just as true, a mighty fortress is our God. Hymn number one fifty one if you have a hymnal. Almighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing. Our helper here amid the flood of mortal hills prevailing. For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe. His craft and power are great and armed with cruel hate. On earth is not his equal. Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing. Were not the right man on our side, The man of God's own choosing. Just as could that may be. Christ Jesus in his he. Lord, salvation is his name. From age to age, the same. And he must win the battle. And though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us, we will not fear for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us. The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him. His rage we can endure. For low his doom is sure. One little word shall fail him. The body they may kill. God's truth abide us still. His kingdom is forever. Amen. Amen. Amen. I've not seen that ending before. That's great. Thank you, Judy. Take the name of Jesus with you. Take the name of Jesus with you, child of sorrow and of woe. It will joy and comfort give you. Take it thin wherever you go. Precious name. Oh, how sweet. Hope of earth and joy of heaven. Precious name. Oh, how sweet. Hope of earth and joy of him. Take the name of Jesus as a shield from every snare. If temptations round you gather, breathe that holy name in prayer. Precious name. Oh, how sweet. Hope of earth and joy of heaven. Precious name. Oh, how sweet. Hope of earth and joy of heaven. Oh, the precious name of Jesus. How it thrills our souls with joy when his loving arms receive us and his songs our tongues employ. Precious name, oh, how sweet. Hope of earth and joy of heaven. Precious name. Oh, how sweet. Hope of earth and joy of heaven. At the name of Jesus bowing, falling prostrate at his feet. King of kings in heaven will crown him when our journey is complete. Precious name, precious name, oh, how sweet, oh, how sweet, hope of earth and joy of it. Precious name, oh, how sweet. Hope of earth and joy of heaven. Amen. Y'all can have a seat. I've got a few announcements. There are a couple of interesting ones up front. First of all, we have a super exciting happy happy good times budgeting workshop. Doesn't that sound great? A budgeting workshop. Nick Stern is a specialist in this. There he is over there, waving his hands. Can't wait to get for you to get in touch with him about it. Nick Stern and Richard Yule and Jeremy Leiper are all coming together and volunteering their time to teach a budgeting workshop. It's free April sixteenth, twenty third and thirtieth right here at First B. You can bring your receipts and your bills, laptop if you want to, some sort of something to record your plans on, spouse, snacks, comfy slippers. Topics will include getting out of debt, saving for retirement, and keeping it chill. Did we hear that? That's what makes it a super exciting happy happy Good Times Budgeting Workshop. You can RSVP to that assistant at first b jackson dot org. That's Nick right over there. This is good. I'm looking forward to this. Good deal, Nick. This one is from Shepherd of the Mountain Lutheran Church is having an Easter egg decorating time, Tuesday, March 26 at 10:30 in the morning. That's at Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church. They're gonna bake and decorate cookies and egg decorating and all kinds of others and even advanced egg decorating it says. So that's happening at Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran, Tuesday, March 26 at 10:30. Awana is happening this week. This is the last one before spring break, and this is beach night. So beach night at Awana. Pay no attention to all the snow that's outside. Come in your flip flops and your shorts and get ready. Beach night at Awana, 06:00 tomorrow night, 05:45 arrival. For volunteers, there's supper ready at 05:15. If you would like to do a connect hour or maybe an Awana meal, you can sign up down in the fellowship hall. There are sign up sheets on the right as you go through the door or you can call Addy Hair if you have any more questions about it. There is still going on a men's lunch study. Let me just say, lunch is not provided at the men's lunch study. If you want lunch during the men's lunch study, you have to bring your lunch. Alright? It's a it's a brown bag special if you bring it. It's 11:55 in the Fellowship Hall. It stops stops at one. You can come and go as you need it. That's been really good. We're up to the fifth chapter of James. It's been going great and I think we have two sessions left before we move on to another book. Probably, first Peter but we're not sure and I think that's the last of announcements it is. Would you all stand with me? We're gonna sing the love of God. This is an incredibly poetic song. I just love the last verses. It's just absolutely fantastic. But we don't sing it very often but I do love it. The love of God. The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell. It goes beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest tell. The guilty pair bowed down with care. God gave his son to win his erring child. He reconciled and pardoned from his sin. Oh, love of God. Song. When years of time shall pass away and earthly thrones and kingdoms fall when men who hear refuse to pray on rocks and hills and mountains called. God's love so sure shall still endure all measureless and strong, redeeming grace to Adam's race. The saints and angels song. Oh, love of God, how rich and pure, how measureless and strong, it shall forevermore endure the saints and angels song on the last. Could we rethink the ocean fill and were the skies of parchment made? Were every stalk on earth a quill and every man a scribe by trade. To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky. Oh, all of God, how rich and pure, Amen. We've got surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. Amen. We'll probably sing this one a couple of times. It's a short chorus. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. I can feel his mighty power and his grace. I can hear the brush of angels wings. I see glory on each face. Surely, the presence of the Lord is in this place. Let's sing it again. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. I can feel his mighty power and his grace. I can hear the brush of angels' wings. I see glory on each face. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. Amen. Y'all can have a seat and I'll invite the ushers to come forward. Would you just pray with me, Lord? Thank you for a beautiful morning, to gather and to sing your praises. I think about all of the different backgrounds represented here this morning. I think about all of the different paths that we have walked, lord. Some of us stuck in one ditch and others stuck in the other for a long time but pulled up by loving and redeeming savior. Thank you lord that you are gathering your church. You're gathering your continuing body. Lord, for saving us, for drawing us up from the depths, for drawing us close to you. We are thankful. I pray lord that you'd use these lives, these hearts, these testimonies going forward that others would see you and would be drawn into fellowship with you, be drawn into in love with you, that that you would be very very active among us and through us and in our day to day lives, every moment, every moment. In Jesus name, we ask that you would do your will and your way right here among us that you would bless this offering and that you would multiply to do your work and your way through us. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Judy. There is a place of quiet rest near to the heart of God. That's good. This morning, so we got Josh Gibson here actually. He's one of our elders. He's the last one of our elders that's gonna do a testimony this morning and I'm glad he's here. Glad he's one of the elders and here he comes to share that. Before we get to this. Green light means go. Got it. As Ray said, my name is Josh Gibson. We have been a part of First Bee for probably about three years now. Been in the valley for about ten. I see a lot of very unfamiliar faces here in this service because we are normally with my wife and four girls at the 9AM service. I've got four girls, eight, six, three, and the youngest one will be one in April. Emma, Ella, Inslee, and Elaine. All e's. I know it's a tongue twister. Miss Crystal is waving back there saying she knows all of them. Thank you, miss Crystal. But I grew up the oldest of 10 kids, five girls and five boys, and grew up as what I refer to as a PK. That's a pastor's kid. So that is gave me a somewhat of a unique perspective on church itself, on walking with Christ and being a Christ follower, and testimonies, which I was asked to share a testimony today. Growing up in church, you hear tons and tons of testimonies. And I got to a point where at one point in time, was kinda like, oh, boy. Here's some more testimonies. And I realized that I came to that conclusion because I determined that I would much rather see a testimony than hear a testimony any day of the week. And some years ago, I came across a poem, and it may be shocking that I like poetry, but I do like poetry. It has to rhyme though. That's true poetry. It's not poetry if it doesn't rhyme. But I came across a poem called Sermon Sermons We See, and it's it's by a guy named Edgar Guest, and I just wanna read it to you. It says, I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day. I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way. The eyes are better pupil and more willing than the ear. Find counsel is confusing, but examples always clear. And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds, for to see good put in action is what everybody needs. I soon can learn to do it if you'll let me see it done. I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run. And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true, but I'd rather get my lessons by observing what you do. For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give, but there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live. When I see a deed of kindness, I am eager to be kind. When a weaker brother stumbles and a strong man stays behind just to see if he can help him, then the wish grows stronger in me to become as big and thoughtful as I know that friend to be. And all travelers can witness that the best of guides today is not the one who tells them, but the one who shows the way. One good man teaches many, men believe what they behold. One deed of kindness noticed is worth 40 that are told. Who stands with men of honor learns to hold his honor dear. For right living speaks a language which to everyone is clear. Though an able speaker charms me with his eloquence essay, I'd rather see a sermon than to hear one any day. That is somewhat how I feel, and that put into words much better than I could put it into words. Having said that, I was asked to give a testimony, and I can't just get up here and read a poem, although I could. And my testimony is nothing more than this. And I think it's somewhat universal. The testimony is, some two thousand years ago, for reasons I still can't comprehend, God, the creator of everything, decided to send a son. A son that was born of a virgin, lived a perfectly sinless life, which is unbelievable. But then after living a perfectly sinless life, died an unbelievably horrible death on a cross to save me from my sin and everyone else here and everywhere. Nothing more, nothing less. But after that, the Holy Spirit then brought me to the realization of my sin, which then brought me to repentance and then allowed me to have forgiveness. And that's where I stand today. Thank you. This one. Just as good in this service, Josh. I I the first service I told him, we can just go. Invite the band back here and be done with this. I do have a forty five minute sermon plan. So, I am going to still deliver it but I asked y'all last week. So, what we're going to talk about this morning is the upper room and the aftermath on Thursday night. We've been going through Holy Week for a little while now. I took a ex curses off of our synoptic gospel study and I took a detour for some relational sermons and then it got back on it. I'm trying to hit resurrection Sunday on resurrection Sunday. Next week, my plan is to get to the crucifixion. So, we're gonna do Good Friday on Palm Sunday. Is that confusing? If it is, we're doing Maundy Thursday right now. So, that's the plan is we're gonna talk about the upper room and the aftermath on Thursday night all the way up through Jesus' arrest. Next week, we'll handle the trials and the crucifixion. That's the plan. So, you're getting a to be continued sermon and you're getting lots and lots of scripture this morning. I want to keep it going. I ask you last week before you left to take this assignment down. Read chapters 13 through 16 on the upper room discourse and chapter 17 for the high priestly prayer. We would not talk about it in this service so much but it'll help you to understand the context for everything else that's going be going on in the synoptic gospels. John writes later than the other three and he fills in a few details for us. If you've read John, it helps you to understand Matthew, Mark, and Luke. I'm a start with a little bit from John and you see all of those use that are highlighted right there. This is something that I have started paying more attention to and I think it's helpful so I'm gonna read it. Therefore, when he had left, that's Judas. When he had left, Jesus says to the rest of the guys, now is the son of man glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him immediately. This is now my time. In John, we've seen over and over Jesus say, my time is not yet. This is not my time. Come on, it's not time yet. But now he's saying, now is the time. Little children, plural, I'm still with you. Actually, it is y'all. I am still with y'all a little longer and y'all are gonna look for me. Now, we're gonna get this is the front end of a five chapter long speech. Right? I'm still with y'all for a little while. Y'all are going to be looking for me and just as I said to the Jews, now I say also to y'all, my disciples, the 11, Judas having left the room. Where I am going, y'all cannot come. But I am giving y'all a new commandment that y'all love one another in the just the same way that I have loved y'all, that y'all also be loving one another. By this, all men will know that y'all are my disciples. If y'all have love one for another. This is how the gospel goes forwards is if we love one another, people will know. Why? Because of Christ. That's helpful. The you and the y'all there but it that's kind of obvious because you, the one another kind of points to that one. There are couple of places where it's going to come up in the path in the synoptic gospels I want to point out today. A little bit more from John. Those were all collective but then Simon Peter answers him directly and says, lord, where are you going? And Jesus answered, where am I go, where I am going? You, Peter, that's individual, cannot follow me now but you are going to follow later and I looked at that. I had a note from my first semester seminary from one of my favorite professors and he said, Peter would follow Jesus later. Where I am going next is the cross and you can't follow me to that right now but you will follow me later. Now, you can read into it bigger. He's going to heaven. Peter's going to fall into heaven. That's true too but Peter said to him, lord, why can't I go right now? I'll lay down my life for you so emphatically and Jesus replies, will you, Peter? Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you that a rooster will not crow until you deny me three times. Peter was not realizing his limitations and Jesus was realizing his limitations. Luke says, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift you like wheat. If you read any version of the Bible, it's just gonna say sift you like wheat but the NASB adds this little men in italics and when I read it, this time I've been reading the NASB for years, I have been studying the Bible for years and I've always thought of this little story. I know the whole deal about the denials. I know Peter is the first one to speak up and he's always the one that's impetuous and jumping out of the boat, sticking his foot in his mouth over and over. So, whenever I've read this in the past, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift you, Peter, like wheat. But when I saw that man, I thought, that's not right. That can't be right but it is right. That's plural. It's also y'alls here. Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift y'all like wheat but I have prayed for all of y'all. I have prayed for all of y'all that your faith would not fail. And y'all, when y'all have turned back, after you have failed because you're going to, that you'd be strengthening your brothers. I've always taken that as very directly to Peter and it works for Peter but it also works for James, John, for for all of the rest of the disciples, and for each of us too because we still do fail. We don't realize our limitations a lot of times. When we do, that's great but like Peter, we often will just demand that we know what we're talking about But really, it is about faith in God. What whoever's been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory that has overcome the world. What? Our faith. Faith in Christ is what allows us to be one in his body. Faith in Christ is what allows us to overcome the world, our sin, our failures, our addictions, our problems. What allows us to get through that is our faith. It's the faith subjectively. It's our faith placed in the actual faithfulness of a faithful and loving good God who's made a way for us. But Peter says back to him, Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death. I'm gonna do it no matter what. I don't care what any of rest of these guys do. I'm with you. But he said, I tell you Peter, the rooster's not gonna crow today until you've denied me three times that you even know me. And he said to all of them, when I sent y'all out without money belt and bag and sandals, y'all didn't lack for anything, did you? No. Nothing, they said. And he said to them, but now, I'm telling you, things are going to change a bit. The four chapters of John talks about how it's going be without him physically present here. He said, now, whoever has a money belt, better take it with him. Likewise, also a bag. Y'all do have limitations. You've been trusting me for a long time. Whoever has no sword is to sell his cloak and buy one, for I tell y'all that this which is written must be fulfilled in me and he was counted with wrongdoers. He was counted with the trespassers. He was counted in the number of the transgressors. It's an old testament quote. For that which refers to me has its fulfillment. I though just like Josh said, who have a perfect record will be crucified. I will be numbered with the transgressors literally hanging between two thieves. And they said, look look, here are two swords. They were listening to that part. Look look, here are two swords and he says, alright, that's enough. That's enough. So this next portion, it seems odd, but I like it that this is where this is instituted. You see up here, we have Matthew, Mark, and Luke, but instead of having John, we have first Corinthians. Wait a second. This is a study of the gospels. No. It's it's echoing this. This is the institution of the Lord's Supper, communion. You might call it the Eucharist. Now, while they were eating, Jesus took some bread and after a blessing, he broke it. He gave it to the disciples and said, take, eat. This is my body and when he had taken a cup and given thanks, he gave it to them saying, drink from it all of you for this is my blood of the covenant which is being poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins but I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of this vine from now on until that day when I drink it with you anew in my father's kingdom. The blood of the covenant there, Mark, what does Mark have to say? Now, while they're eating, he took some bread and after blessing, he broke it, he gave it to them and he said, take it. This is my body and when he had taken a cup and given thanks, he gave it to them and they all drank from it and he said to them, this is my blood of the covenant which is being poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine again until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God. My father and Matthew of God and Mark. The blood of the covenant. This points back. There are two places in the Old Testament where blood of the covenant is together and these are they. Exodus 24. Now, this is speaking of the old covenant. So, Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people and said, behold, the blood of the covenant. This is a substitute. This animal and the blood from it, he sprinkles it on the people and says, behold, the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words. He introduces an idea that would find its complete wholeness in Jesus but this is all covenant, blood of the covenant, substitution, atonement. Zechariah nine eleven. Great. Zechariah, we always go to Zechariah at Christmas because he forecasts where and when, how the Messiah would be born, and he also forecast this. As for you also because of the blood of my covenant with you, I have set your prisoners free from the waterless pit, from the abyss, from torment. Those two in Matthew and Mark, blood of the covenant is what it says. He says, my blood of the covenant. So that's why I pointed to those. Now, this teaching is not the first time we've heard about it in the gospels. In in John six, while he's teaching, after he fed 5,000 men plus women and children and then they followed him across the lake when he's talking to him. He says, I'm the bread of life. Y'all aren't coming to me because of that though. Y'all are coming to me just to be fed. He says, what you really need is you need to feast upon me. He was talking about the sacrifice that he would make, the perfect life laid down, voluntarily giving innocent blood and what they said to that is this is a hard teaching and one of the saddest verses in the whole New Testament is John six verse 66. It says, and many of them walked away because this was a hard teaching. Couldn't take it. What does Luke say? Luke about the institution of institution of the Lord's supper says, and when he had taken a cup and given thanks, he said, take this and share it among yourselves. It was a common cup. For I say to you, I'll not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes. And when he had taken some bread and given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them saying, this is my body which is being given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. Now, I've said this is my body in each of these places. This is my body in Matthew, Mark, and Luke and there are differences of opinion throughout the ages over exactly what it means. There are the Catholic church has always taken this is my body to mean this is sacramental grace. This is Christ. Once this blood this bread is blessed, it becomes the body and blood of Christ and so transubstantiation is the theological thing behind that. Consubstantiation, the Luther Luther's view of it was that it accompanies it, it comes with it, and then what we typically practice here is a representative sample or memorial. It depends on where you focus in the gospels as to which one of those you believe. I'm not going to arm wrestle with you over that. I believe it's a memorial sample. I believe it is something that is special. I personally, my own personal belief, I'm say I think that Jesus was saying every time you eat, every single time you eat, do it in remembrance of me. I am in a very small minority. Okay. The Eucharist means thanksgiving. We are to be thankful for the blood of the covenant. Now, he goes on to say and in the same way, took the cup after they had eaten and said, this cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. So, he adds one word. Luke adds one word, the new covenant in my blood which points us back to Jeremiah. Oftentimes, how we're doing the Lord's supper, I'll say, those disciples had been longing for that and they knew Jeremiah thirty one thirty one. Behold, days are coming, declares the Lord. When I will make a new covenant. The old covenant really was on you. The new covenant is coming with the house of Israel and the house of Judah not like the covenant which I made with their fathers on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. My covenant which they broke. It's on them and they broke it. He was still good and gracious. Although I was a husband of them, they broke it, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant which I will make the new covenant with the house of Israel after those days declares the Lord. I will put my law within them. It will no longer be external. It'll be internal. I will write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they shall be my people and they will not teach again each one his neighbor and each his brother saying, know the Lord for they will all know me. All of the children of God will know him directly. From the least of them to the greatest of them declares the Lord for I will forgive their wrongdoing and their sin I will no longer remember. That's the new covenant that Jesus is speaking about and in the last line down here, for I will forgive their wrongdoing and their sin. Matthew mentions, drink it all of you for this is my covenant, blood of the covenant which is being poured out for you. For the forgiveness of sins. So, he's speaking of the new covenant that he's instituting there. While he's doing that, John says, John says, that you love one another. Along with this, there's this new commandment, to be loving one another just as I've loved you. Now, in first Corinthians, Paul, Paul says, for I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you that the Lord Jesus on the night that he was betrayed. Paul is telling the story that I'm telling here. He took bread and when he had given thanks, he broke it and he said, this is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me. Our little table right here, it says, do this in remembrance of me. In the same way, he also took the cup after supper saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this as often as you drink of it and remembrance of me and as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes again. That perfect life given sacrificially makes an end to the power of sin. John 14, very quickly. Jesus answers questions about his destination. They speak up and say, we don't know where you're going. Thomas says, we don't know where you're going. Tell us where you're going. I am the way, I'm the truth, I'm the life. That's in that portion. Jesus answers questions about his destination, about the father. If you've seen me, you've seen the father because I'm the father of one and the Holy Spirit. He's a comforter. He's a helper. John 15, the vine and the branches. Oh, how beautiful. I am the vine, you are the branches. If you abide in me, if you remain in me, you will bear fruit. Remain in me, abide in me. John fifteen eighteen through sixteen four is about opposition from the world. Yes, there will be opposition from the world. Now, this is upper room. They're about to see the opposition coming at him. He finishes out talking about the arrival in ministry of the Holy Spirit. This part cracks me up just a little bit because I'm up here teaching and preaching and trying to just proclaim what it says reading out loud to you. Jesus is telling all this stuff and at this point, right here, Jesus looks at him and he can see their eyes glazing over and he goes, I have so much more I want to tell you. But you can't handle it right now. He then goes on. The rival in ministry, the Holy Spirit, the comforter, It's good for me that it's good for you that I go away because if I didn't go away, the comforter wouldn't come and I can only be in one place at a time in this body but the Holy Spirit can be with all of y'all all the time writing on your heart what the law is and what your instructions are. John sixteen sixteen through 22 is a prediction about the joy that they will experience over his resurrection. Now, this is interesting. He's trying to prepare them for them for him going away and he knows that he's got a garden of Gethsemane experience in between now and then. He knows he's got a cross in between now and then and he knows that they love him. This little section, truly I say to you disciples here in the room that you will weep and mourn but the world will rejoice. He's about to go into his high priestly prayer. We praise not just for them but for the people who would accept him because of their testimony. He's saying, you're gonna weep and mourn. You're gonna go through some of the hardest things you've ever been through but I'm gonna use it. The world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will also be turned into joy. He knows about crucifixion. He also is pointing them towards the joy after the resurrection. John sixteen twenty three thirty three is about a promise of answered prayer and about the peace that he gives and then he goes into the high priestly prayer which is a prayer for his disciples and for all who will believe because of their testimony. So, that includes us. Jesus was interceding for us on the night that he was betrayed. That's pretty amazing. He is acting as the high priest there. Going through these sections. Matthew gives us the most. We'll start with him. And after singing a hymn, you ever wonder what the hymn was? Was it just as I am? No. Probably not. Psalm one fourteen through one eighteen, probably. Look that up sometime. Psalm one fourteen to one eighteen, maybe even as far as one nineteen. They would stood stood up. All of them know it and they would sing that hymn and it's talking about the very action, what's happening. After singing a hymn which was normal for Passover, that last little part that was not normal for Passover. The blood of the covenant, the old blood, the old covenant. Yeah, they talk about that but when he says, this is my blood of the new covenant, that's a new twist. After singing to him, they went out to the Mount Of Olives and Jesus says to them, you, y'all, will all fall away because of me this night for it is written, I'll strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. Now, Jesus reading and knowing the whole Old Testament recognizes an Old Testament truth. Mark, and after singing to him, they went out to the Mount Of Olives. That's a normal place for them to gather and Jesus says to them, you're all gonna fall away because it is written. I'll strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered. That's Zechariah 13. Strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered. None of this is taking God the father by surprise. None of this. But after I have been raised, Jesus says, he recognizes that resurrection is coming. He knows crucifixion is coming. He knows resurrection is coming. After I've been raised, I'll go ahead of you to Galilee. I'm going back home. Y'all's home. Mark says, but after I'm raised, resurrection, I will go ahead of you to Galilee. But Peter replied to him, even if they all fall away because of you, I will never. I never will fall away and Jesus said to him, truly I say to you, Peter, that this very night before rooster crows, you're gonna deny me three times and Peter says to him, even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you and all the disciples said the same thing as well. Oh, wait a second. All of the disciples said that. Peter's the one, he's the voice, right? What does Mark say? Even if they all fall away yet, I will not. I'm with you. Truly, I say to you this very night, Jesus says, before the rooster crows twice, you'll design me three times but Peter repeatedly said, insistently, even if you, I have to die with you, I will not deny you. Never, never. And they all were saying the same thing as well. And he came out and he went as was his habit to the Mount Of Olives and the disciples also followed him. Now, when he arrived at the place, he said to them, let's wait on that. John says, and when he had spoken these words, he went away with his disciples across the Ravine Of Kidron where there was a garden which he entered with his disciples. I like that there was a garden there. John's so poetic. He doesn't beat this drum hard but there was a place in the garden where Adam failed, right? And Jesus is walking towards the garden. Instead of Adam being cast out of it, Jesus is walking towards it and he is going to succeed. When Jesus had spoken these words, he went away with his disciples across the Ravine Of Kidron where there was a garden which he entered with his disciples. Then Jesus comes with them to a place called Gethsemane. It means olive press, place of pressure that squeezes the oil out of the olives. And he tells his disciples, sit here while I go over there and pray and he took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, that's James and John with him and began to be grieved in distress and then he says to them, my soul is deeply grieved unto the point of death. He was saying, I am so grieved that I feel like I'm gonna die. It was not a suicidal ideation as some have suggested, but he's saying, I feel like it's gonna kill me, the oppressive grief. Stay here, remain here with me, keep watch with me. He just told them to abide, abide, abide with me, remain in me. They come to a place named Gethsemane Olive Press and says to his disciples, sit here until I've prayed and he took with him Peter, James, and John and began to be very distressed and troubled. And he says to them, my soul is deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and keep watch. He went a little beyond, fell on his face and prayed, my father, if it is possible, let this cup pass for me. I know what it is that is right here in front of me but lord, if it's possible, if there is another way, let's do that. Yet, not as I will but as you will. I wonder right here thinking about this if he was thinking of Abraham and Isaac. Do you remember Abraham and Isaac's story? It's one that hangs up a lot of us and we hold on to it and we can actually hold on to it against God but God had another way for Abraham. Abraham didn't know it. He was exercising his faith. He believed God. It was counted to him as righteousness. He got all the way up there and got ready and God provided a ram. Do you think Jesus might have been thinking of that? Knowing he had to walk his path all that way. That's just me musing. I don't it doesn't indicate that that's the case. But when he says, if it is possible that there be another way that this cup passed from me, yet not as I will but as you will. I'll trust you. And he comes to the disciples and found him sleeping. And he says to Peter, so you men couldn't keep watch for an hour. Well, we just had a four hour teaching in the upper room. Keep watching and praying. He says, so that you don't come into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. He says that because he's feeling it. He feels it. Mark, he went a little beyond them, same same same. Abba, father, daddy, papa, all things are possible for you. I know that nothing is impossible with you. Remove this cup from me yet, not what I will but what you will. He's saying, if there be any other way, but you know better than I do and I trust you and he comes and he finds him sleeping. He says, Peter, Simon. Simon, not Peter. Simon, are you asleep? Couldn't you keep watch for an hour? Keep watching and praying so that you'll not come into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Matthew went again way again a second time and he prayed saying, father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink from it, your will be done. It's resolute. Again, he came, he found him sleeping for their eyes were heavy and he left them again and went away and prayed a third time saying the same thing once more. Then, he comes to the disciples and says to him, are you sleeping and resting? Behold, now is the time. The hour is at hand of the son of man is going to be handed over and betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up. Let's go. Behold, the one who is betraying me is near. He's saying, well, you slept through the first one, you slept through the second, you slept through the third. Now, it's time to get up. Come on. What's Mark say? He went away, prayed again, said the same words. Yep. Their eyes were heavy. Yep. Are you still sleeping and resting? That's enough. Come on. The hours come. Behold, it's happening now. Son of man is being betrayed in the hands of sinners. Get up. Let's go. Behold, the one who's betraying me is near. And then Luke, I like this. I like the nuance of seeing the different perspectives. Now, when he arrived at the place, he said to him, pray that you don't come into temptation. He withdrew about a stone's throw and he knelt down and he began to pray saying, father, if you're willing, remove this cup from me. Yet, not my will but yours be done. I realize that you know more than I do. I'm limited. I've emptied myself. I'm understanding things in a human way right now. My spirit is willing and trusting but my flesh is weak. If there be another way, let's do that. There's a bracket right here. The brackets have some textual reason why they say this might not have been in the original. I'm a read it as if it were anyway, but that's what the brackets mean whenever you hit those in the new American standard. Now, an angel from heaven appeared to him strengthening him and being in agony, he was praying very fervently. His sweat became like drops of blood falling down upon the ground and when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found him sleeping from sorrow. Thank you, Luke. That helps me. I used to get so ticked off at Peter, James, and John. They can't even stay awake for an hour. You ever tried praying for an hour? They were found sleeping from sorrow. They cried themselves to sleep watching Jesus' agony. Oh. And he said to them, why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you don't come into temptation. While he was still speaking, behold, he just told him, he just said, alright, it's happening. Now is the time. Go ahead. Rise up. And when he's still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the 12, came accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs who came from the chief priest and the elders of the people. Now, he who was betraying him gave him a sign previously saying, whomever I kiss, he's the one. Arrest him. Think about this too. We know what people look like because we've seen pictures of them. Those guys, some of it seen Jesus in the temple, some of them might not have seen Jesus in the temple. It's nighttime. They're looking around. Were they all about the same size, dark hair, beards? Whomever it is that I kiss, he's the one arrest him and immediately Judas went up to Jesus and said, greetings, rabbi, and he kissed him. But Jesus said to him, friend, do what you've come for. And then they came, they laid hands on Jesus, and they arrested him. What does Luke say? Luke says, while he's still speaking, behold, a crowd came and the one called Judas, one of the 12 was leading the way for them and he approached Jesus to kiss him but Jesus said to him, Judas, are you betraying the son of man with a kiss? Is that the way this is gonna go? Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas one of the 12 came up accompanied by crowds, swords, and clubs who were from the chief priests, scribes, and elders. He was who was betraying him, gave them a signal, whomever I kiss, this is the one, arrest him, lead him away under guard, and after coming Judas immediately went to him and said, Rabbi, and kissed him. And they laid hands on him and they arrested him. Now Judas, John says in 18, who was betraying also knew the place. Think about this. We saw the setup last week for how cloak and dagger it was to get the place, the upper room that two of the disciples, Peter and John went up there and they arranged all that. Judas didn't know where that was going to be. I imagine Judas probably took those guys to the upper room first, saw it empty and went, well, this makes me look bad. They're not here but I do know where they are. It says right here, he also knew the place. Olivet discourse was just not long before this, right? Tuesday. He also knew the place because Jesus had often met there with the disciples. In fact, it says, in the mornings, he was at the temple, in the evenings, he was on the Mount Of Olives. So, Judas having obtained the Roman court and officers of the chief priest and the Pharisees came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all these things were coming upon him, came out into the open and said to them, well, whom are you seeking? They answered him, Jesus the Nazarene. And he said, I am he. Judas also who was betraying him was standing with them and now when he said to them, I am he, they drew back and they fell to the ground just at his word. He still had all of the power at his disposal but he was voluntarily surrendering. Sacrificially. He then asked them, whom are you seeking? They said, Jesus Nazarene and Jesus answered, I told you that I am he. So, if you're seeking me, let these men go on their way. Everybody else is here with me, let them go. He's all looking out for them and this took place so that the word which he spoke would be fulfilled of those whom you have given me, I've lost not one and behold, one of those, I love this. One of those who are with Jesus reached and drew his sword, struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. He's probably aiming to lop off his head. One of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. That's Mark. Luke, and when those who were around him saw what was going to happen, they said, Lord, shall we strike them with a sword? They asked the question, shall we? And one of them didn't wait for an answer, struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. I love that it's one of them, one of them, one of them and then we get to John and John says, then Simon Peter, right? That guy that's not quite as fast as me. Simon Peter, since he had a sword, he drew it and he struck the high priest slave, cut off his right ear, and the slave's name was Malchus. And so Jesus said to Peter, put the sword in its sheath, the cup which the father has given me, am I not to drink it? This is the way that this is going to go. Then Jesus said to him, put your sword back in its place for all of those who take up the sword will perish by the sword or do you think that I can't appeal to my father and he will at once put at my disposal more than 12 legions of angels. 6,000 per legion, 12 legions, 72,000 angels. If one angel has to say, fear not. Can you imagine how terrifying 72,000 angels would be? How then though would the scriptures be fulfilled which say it must happen this way. Jesus responded and said, stop. No more of this and he touched Malchus' ear and he healed him and Jesus said to the chief priest and officers in the temple and elders who had come against him, have you all come out really with swords and clubs as you would against a man who is inciting a revolt? Think about all of this that they had made a deal with Judas for a time when they could take him without starting a riot. At this time, Jesus said to the crowds, have all of y'all come out here really with swords and clubs to arrest me? I was in the temple this morning. I was in the temple yesterday morning. I'm in the temple every morning. You came to arrest me as you would a man inciting a revolt. That's disingenuous. That's hypocritical. That's not true, and you know it. Every day, I used to sit within the temple grounds teaching, and you didn't arrest me. While I was with you daily in the temple, you didn't lay hands on me, but at this hour, this hour and the power of darkness are yours. The crowds are all asleep now and you know it. That's why you came now. All this has taken place though so that the scriptures of the prophets will be fulfilled then all the disciples left him and fled. That's Matthew's version. Mark says, have you come out swords and same thing? Every day I was with you in the temple, same thing. Last and his disciples all left him and fled. Mark adds one more little detail though. There was a young man following him who was wearing nothing. Think about this. Mark traditionally is Peter's story written down by John Mark, okay? And so Mark gets to this and Matthew's already finished. The disciples left him and fled. Luke is gonna say, disciples left him and fled. Mark says, and there was a young man who's following him who's wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body and they seized him but he pulled free of the linen sheet and he escaped naked. Can you imagine Jesus being arrested and one of these disciples has to flee naked and it's Peter, Mark's telling this story. Well, Peter's got the denials. He's got all these things. He's looking really bad. Wouldn't you just want to throw another detail out there that somebody could chase after? John says, so the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, they all arrested Jesus and they bound him. That's not the end of that sentence. We'll get into that next week into the trials. We'll just give you a dot dot dot till next time when we talk about the trials and crucifixion. Until then, I want you to think about this, that there are some things that are collective, that all of us know we are supposed to be doing. They will know. By this, all men will know that you are my disciples if you are loving one another, drawn into unity in the body of Christ. Don't arm wrestle over everything all the time. Love one another. Love one another. Love one another. It comes across really really easy to understand and hard to do. He's saying do that. Then there are individual things where we stomp our foot and we say, I would never go with those people. They might fall away, but I'm not going to. And that's where Jesus says, you don't know your limitations the way that I do. And I'm telling you what you need to do. Can you pray with me? We're gonna sing have thine own way. Judy, I think that's the last slide there. And would you all pray with me and then I'll ask you to stand. God, I I am overtaken by this collective versus individual thing. We are to be one in the spirit. We're to be one in the Lord. We are to strive for communion with one another really and lord, the problem is we still fight over communion. We still fight over the details. We still fight over what we think we know. Lord, would you lead us into by your comforter, by the Holy Spirit, would you lead us into your truth? Would you give us an opportunity this week to act individually as a part of a collective, the continuing body of Christ. Would you allow us to know that what we are supposed to do? I think of Jesus, I think of you telling Peter that he would deny, deny, deny, and then him trying to prove to you that he wouldn't by swinging his sword. When you didn't ask him to swing the sword. Lord, may we just humbly submit to you and with that, receive the next step. I I take from your example, lord. I take this. If there be another way, when we're walking through something difficult, may we pray just like you prayed, not just the Lord's prayer but this prayer. Lord, if it be your will, your will not mine, be done. We can pray to be out of a difficult situation but I pray lord that you would bring us through the difficult situation, that you would have your redemptive purpose at heart in us, through us, for others. In Jesus name, I pray lord that you would strengthen us, to strengthen our brothers and sisters. And that by our unity, you would draw others into fellowship and communion with you. In Jesus name, amen. Would you stand with me? Have thine own way. Have thine own way, lord, Have thine own way. Thou art the potter. I am the clay. Mold me and make me after thy will while I am waiting, yielded and still. Have thine own way, Lord. Have thine own way. Wound me and try me. Master today, whiter than snow, Lord. Wash me just now. As in thy presence, humbly I bow. Have thine own way, Lord. Have thine own way. Wounded and weary, help me, I pray. Power, all power, surely is thine. Touch me and heal me. Save your divine on the last. Have thine own way, Lord. Have thine own way. Hold o'er my being, absolute sway. Fill with thy spirit till all shall see Christ only always living in me. Amen. For the benediction today, I'm gonna go back to Philippians four six and seven. It says, don't be anxious about anything but in every situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your request to God and the peace of God and then you do you see that transition in Jesus' anguished prayer and then when he step and says, should should I not drink what he's has for me? As soon as God answered that, he had complete peace going forward. The peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Lord, would you make it so? Amen. Amen.