Your Grief Will Be Turned to Joy
First B Jackson
2024-03-17

Automatically transcribed. Where this and the recording disagree, the recording is the record.

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Yeah. Exactly.

Someone got some fresh kicks. Hey. Good morning, everybody. Hey. Would you stand with me?

And what do you say we we worship together in song? Here's an encouraging word from Psalm 63 to lead us into worship. It's because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. Would you join us in singing Multiply, God of mercy, sweet love, I've surrendered your desire.

God of mercy, sweet love. Let's sing this together. Let's sing that again. God of mercy, sweet love.

This is a super exciting happy happy good times budgeting workshop. Alright. There's a guy back there pumping his arm. He's one of the guys leading this. It is a free, free, free, super exciting, happy, happy, good times budgeting workshop.

Free right here, April sixteenth, twenty third, and thirtieth right here at First Be. If you would like help with making a budget, if you'd like help with figuring out financial stuff, bring your receipts, your bills, your laptop, Not necessary. Spouse, snacks, comfy slippers, whatever it takes. Nick Stern has enlisted the help of Richard Jewell and Jeremy Leiper. Jeremy Leiper to help out with this.

If this is something that you said, I need to get a handle on it, I need to get it. They have offered to help out with it. April sixteenth, twenty third, and thirtieth. That's great. There is an Easter egg decorating, eggstravaganza at Shepherd of Mountain Lutheran Church, and that is happening.

Y'all know where that is? Tuesday, March 26 at 10:30AM. This is something that Easter egg decorating Tuesday, March 26 at 10:30AM. That will be not this Tuesday, but next. And kids club, Awana.

Yep. We are on tomorrow. Guess what? It's beach night. So kids get to dress up in beach wear.

Beach night.

What is that?

That's the last Iwana before spring break too. Right? So okay. Makes sense.

But come tomorrow, 05:45.

Beach night tomorrow night at Iwana. Volunteers for connect hour, we always are looking for those. There are sign up sheets down in the fellowship hall if you'd like to do that. There is still a men's study going on. We're closing in on the end of James, but we will keep on moving forward in another book after that.

11:55 on Thursday in the fellowship hall. Lunch study means it's happening at lunchtime, bring your own lunch, but it's a good one. Come and go as you need and I think that's the last announcement. Am I seeing any hands out there? Any additions, deletions, suggestions?

No? Alright. Would you stand with us and we'll carry on praising the Lord together. Glad you're here this morning.

The If you're trying to build the same old hole inside, there's a better life. There's a better life. If you got paid, he's a pain taker. If you feel lost, he's a way maker. If you need freedom, save him.

He's a prison shaking savior and you got chains. He's a chain breaker. We've all searched for the night of day and dead of night. We've all found ourselves worn out from the same old fight. And we've all gone to things we know that just ain't right.

Well, there's a better life. There's a better life. He got pain. He's a pain taker. If you feel lost, he's a way maker.

If you need freedom, a saving. He's a prison shaking savior. If you got chains, he's a chain breaker. You believe it. You receive it.

Receive it. If you feel somebody testify again. If you believe it, if you receive it, if you feel it, somebody testify. One more time. He's a pain taker.

If you feel lost, he's a way maker. If you need freedom, a savior. He's a prison shaking savior if you got chains. He's a chain breaker if you need. If you need freedom, a savior.

He's a prison shaking

Lord, thank you for our your promise to us. In John eight twelve, you say, you are the light of the world. And if we follow you, we won't have to walk in darkness because we'll have the light that leads to life. And you're speaking about eternal life, life abundant. Thank you, God, for the life that you offer, that you are the way, the truth, and the life, that you offer life and life to the full measure, God, that we would just hold on, that we would remain in you.

That's how this happens. It's not any effort of our own. It's that we simply remain, that we abide, that we connect ourselves to you and not let go. In Jesus' name, amen.

I count on one thing. The same God that never fails will not fail me now. He won't fail me now

I count on one hope.

I count on one thing. Yes. In God that never fails, will not fail me now or will not fail me now in waiting. For the same God who's never late is working all

You know, sometimes we don't always feel like worshiping. I mean, that's just an honest from a worship leader, I'm saying sometimes I don't always feel like worshiping. And then I do. And I pour my heart out to the Lord and go, Lord, I don't feel this today. And then like in that moment, God goes, alright.

Here we go. But you're doing it anyway. Like this one, Psalm 42. The psalmist goes, hey. Why am I discouraged?

He's looking at his own heart, his own life. He's going, why am I discouraged? Why is my heart sad? Has that ever happened to you? Yes, it has.

You're human. He goes, I'm gonna put my I'm gonna put my hope in God. Turns the corner right there. He goes, I'm gonna decide to do something here. I'm gonna put my hope in God, and I'll praise him again, my savior and my God.

In Christ alone, my hope is found. He's my nightmares. My son, This cornerstone, this sovereign ground, her new the fiercest dry and stone. What I told

Amen. You can have a seat here for a moment. Sometimes I just like to pause. Let me pause just for just just a just a moment of silence. Can we do that?

Yeah. Just a moment of silence. We're gonna sing a song called Always. And from Psalm 20 one twenty one, it's I lift my eyes to the mountains. And and the psalmist says, where does my help come from?

Does it come from those mountains? No. My help comes from the Lord, the maker of those mountains, the maker of heaven and earth. Before we sing that song, Ray, may I may I ask you to pray?

Sure. God, thank you for the ability to savor a moment, the ability to savor this moment. In Jesus name, Lord, I pray that we would take away from from the lament of the moment, a lesson from you about the the the shortness of this life. I also pray Lord that when we pause and we take a moment and we see the joy of this life that we know that that joy can be everlasting. That the lament will leave Lord, but the joy will be everlasting.

I pray for those of us who are spending an extended time of lament that we would be able to anticipate and spend moments in joy with no guilt, without feeling guilty for feeling joyful. Would you bring us through it Lord, as we turn to you. I pray Lord that you take these offerings that, we're giving back a portion of what you've given to us Lord. I pray that you would take them and do your kingdom's work. Direct us in the way of Jesus.

Direct us in the way that the funds should be used, but direct us in the way that our conversation should be used. Direct us in the way that our our skills, resources, even our shortfall and our difficulty. The way that you want to use that Lord is the way we want for you to use it in us. Would you show yourself as strong through these humble and obedient yet still weak vessels in Jesus name. Amen.

I'll always. I will not fear the war. I will not fear the storm. My help is on the way. Oh, my God.

You will not delay my refuge in stray always. And I will

And I lift my eyes. Let's sing this together.

Men, and it's time for children's church downstairs.

Josh.

Gibson. Are you ready to come forward? Hope. Josh Gibson is one of our elders and we'll see what he has to say. Not much of anything good.

There you go.

He said, oh, that's me. I'm Josh Gibson for those of you that might might not know. My wife, Leah, is down in the nursery this morning. We have four little girls, eight, six, three, and the youngest one will be one next month. Emma, Ella, Inslee, and Elaine.

I know that's a mouthful. All Es. I come from a family of 10 kids. We were all Js. I'm the oldest of ten, five girls, five boys.

My dads was a pastor, still is a pastor, so I grew up a PK, a pastor's kid, which is somewhat interesting. Not only did I grow up going to church, I was in church when the doors were locked and closed, just for good measure. I don't know that it turned out well. But when we were asked to share as, I guess, as elders, it was just three minutes about our testimony. Growing up in the church, we heard testimonies time and time again from tons of different people.

So when I heard that, I was kinda like, oh, boy. Here we go. Here's a testimony. And I think that that, for me, is an interesting thing, because I would much rather see a testimony than hear somebody get up and say random things about their testimony, or what has happened or occurred to them along the way. And some time ago, I came across a poem that kind of summed that up.

And it was it's in relation to sermons, not necessarily your testimony or your salvation experience, But I think it's somewhat applicable, and I wanna and I wanna read that to you. It's short. It's by a guy named Edgar Guest, and it's entitled Sermons We See. 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, a 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 understand 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 goes grows strong 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, I say, I'd rather see a sermon than to hear one any day.

You like that? I thought that was very interesting. And I guess if you want to say what is my testimony, my testimony would be something that I would want you to see in me much more than anything I would want you to hear or words that I could say up on this stage. Having said that, the one thing that I would say in relation to my testimony is this. Some two thousand years ago, for for some reason I don't quite understand yet, God sent his son.

And he sent his son to this earth, born of a virgin, to live an absolutely perfect sinless life. Not only that, after living a perfect sinless life, he died an unbelievably horrible death on the cross to pay for my sins and everybody else's sins. And that's an unbelievable thing to me. Thank you. But it's not just that.

It's it's me coming to the realization of my sin, repentance of that sin, and acceptance of the forgiveness from Jesus Christ. And that's all I've got to say. Thank you.

I will invite the band back up and just close this thing out. Dang. If it weren't for the nursery workers, I would actually do that. Oh, boy. Thank you, Josh.

Amen. While I recover, upper room in the aftermath. We've got an example. We've got a good good example. We're gonna go and I've got a I've got a time frame on this because Easter's coming and I want to get to resurrection Sunday.

We got a lot of ground to cover scripturally speaking before we get to resurrection. There's a lot here, mainly from the synoptic gospels. Now, I I asked you all last week before you left, will you read the upper room discourse in John and the high priestly prayer that comes after that, chapters 13 through 17. So you all have already got five chapters under your belt over the week that I'm not really gonna touch on very much, but I do wanna get there from here. We're just going up through Jesus's arrest.

Next week, we'll do trials and crucifixion, that's the plan, But we're covering all of the scriptural text about this that you didn't read this week. The assignment, there it is. Read chapters 13 to 16, the gospel of John, cover that upper room discourse. We won't cover this passage, but this is a part of it we will cover. This to me was helpful this week.

There are some things that are just very individual about God's word and since we're speaking from narrative, I'm gonna point it out in a couple of ways this morning. There are other things that are collective and here it is. When he had said this, he had left, he said, now now when he had left, Jesus said, now is the son of man glorified and God is glorified in him. He's talking about himself. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him immediately.

Little children, I'm still with you a little longer. Now, this is his disciples all gathered in that upper room and Judas has left. And so, he's speaking to these guys and he says, I'm still with you a little longer. You will look for me just as I said to the Jews and now also said to you, where I'm going, you can't come. You can't come right now.

But I'm giving you a new commandment that you love one another. Wait a minute. Those are all y'alls. That's all collective. It's really helpful to see that that way.

It's not it's it's not just you are alone in this. You are you are the continuing body of Christ and y'all need to be loving one another. A new commandment I'm giving y'all, a new commandment that y'all love one another just as I have loved y'all and that y'all also love one another. By this all people know that y'all are my disciples if y'all have love for one another. That's good.

This is from John. Let's look at it from Luke. Well, let's look at it from John some more. Simon Peter said to him, Lord, where are you going? And Jesus answered, where I'm going, you cannot follow me now.

Now, is individual for Peter. This is a little weird for me because he just told this the whole group that, but when Peter speaks up to him, as he speaks up to him, he answers him individually. He says, where I'm going, you can't follow me now, but you will follow later. Oh, to know the story of Jesus and Peter. And when Jesus is going to the cross, and Peter will also.

But you will follow later and Peter said to him, why can't I just follow you right now? I'll lay my down my life for you. And Jesus replied, will you day will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny me three times. This is individual for Peter.

This is not for everybody. This little portion right here, he's saying, this is the way it really is Peter. Now, if you've read first Peter or second Peter, you see a man who's been humbled and he's been completely convinced by the resurrection. You see a change in tone and character a bit. Will you lay down your life?

He will. He will. But he's called out to him right here and told him it it's gonna happen. Let's hear it from Luke. Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift you like wheat.

Now, I've always read this and I've read, sift you like wheat. I don't know if I've read it in the New American Standard that adds that little italics men right there. This week's the first time I noticed this because I know the story of Peter and I know that individually he's gonna deny him and I know this because I've read all the gospels my whole life, know. Simon Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift you men like wheat. Wait a second.

Is that you men like all of us? Is that all of his disciples? But I have prayed for you that your faith will not fail in you when you have turned back, that you'll strengthen your brothers. I've always my whole life taken that to be Peter. Peter, he's the leader of the disciples.

He's Peter. And then I went back and I looked at the grammar of it and doggone it. The New American Standard added that men in the right place because it is collective. Oh, that's not just a story about somebody in the past. We do have an enemy when we get to first Peter and he talks about your enemy, your adversary, the devil.

He's roaring like a roaring lion. Right? Simon, Simon, behold. I'm telling you Peter cause you spoke up, that Satan has demanded to sift all of y'all like wheat. But I've prayed for all of y'all, that y'all's faith would not fail and that y'all, when y'all have turned back, when you've realized that you've fallen, that you would turn back from that.

You'd repent just like Josh just mentioned, and you'd strengthen your brothers. You'd let them know, hey, I know you've fallen, but Jesus offers forgiveness and he wants you back. Now, we know that he restored Peter that's in John. It's after the crucifixion, it's after the resurrection, all that. We we know that that happens too, but just looking at this, I was like, man, that's really helpful to me right now this week.

First John five four says this, whoever has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith. It's the faith, but it's our collective faith together. God is strengthening us together. The faith, the faithfulness of God, but placing our subjective faith in that is important.

That's what gets us through. But he said to him, now Peter says to him, Lord, I'm ready to go with you both to prison and to death. I stand apart from this crowd. I don't care what anybody else does, I'm with you. He said to you, I tell you Peter, this is going be hard to hear, man.

But the rooster won't crow today until you've denied me three times that you even know me. Boy, that's hard. This is the first prediction of Peter's denial. And he said to them, so this is from Jesus to all of those disciples. When I sent y'all out without money belt and without bag and sandals, y'all didn't lack for anything, did you?

Did you? And they're like, well, no. Nothing. We've been fine. We've been following you for three years.

No. And he said to them, but now, I'm telling you, whoever has a money belt, take it with you. Likewise also a bag, whoever has no sword, sell the cloak and buy one. For I tell you all that this which is written must be fulfilled in me, and he was counted with the wrongdoers. People don't understand who I am.

You do, but because you understand who I am, you're going to be at enmity with the rest of the world. And I'm going to be counted as a wrongdoer and so will you. For that which refers to me has its fulfillment. It's going to happen. And they said to him, look Lord, here are two swords.

And he says, that's enough. Oh, my. Okay. So we've got two swords. Here we are.

This is where we are. Now, the upper room discourse is already underway. Judas is already out of the room. He's already washed all of their feet including Judas who left the room. And this, you'll see is not our normal standard practice where it's Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and John.

It's Matthew, Mark, Luke, and first Corinthians because this is the institution of the Lord's Supper. This is the place where that happens. The gravity of the moment, what was just said right there by Luke, it seems odd that this is next. Now, while they were eating, Jesus took some bread and after a blessing, he broke it and he gave it to the disciples. He says, take, eat.

This is my body. Now, the divide of the last five hundred and something years has been over. Is this Jesus's body sacramental grace offered by the Catholic church or is this representative? We tend to go with it's a representative sample. I'm not gonna arm wrestle you over.

I'm not gonna throw you under the bus. I don't If you if you take it as sacramental, you keep on taking it as sacramental. I think it's a metaphor. I think it is, but I'm not gonna break fellowship with the whole of the Catholic church because of that. He broke it, he gave it to his disciples, take eat, this is my body.

When he had taken the cup and he had given thanks, he gave it to them saying, drink from it, all of you, all of y'all. For this is the my blood of the covenant which is being poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. But I say to you, will not drink of this fruit of this vine from now on until that day when I drink it with you new in my father's kingdom. That phrase, my blood of the covenant. Mark, that goes this too exactly.

While they were eating, he took some bread and after a blessing, after a blessing, he broke it and he gave to them and 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, will not drink of the fruit of the vine again until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

Now, this is the Passover feast celebration. They knew what was gonna be said. It's a standard practice to be saying something. This is not standard practice. This is not just going along with everything just as it is.

Now, when he says the blood of the covenant, there are some precedences there. Exodus 24. So Moses took the blood just as God commanded and he sprinkled it on the people and said, behold, the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words. This is pointing towards what Christ is talking about. But it's also, this is the way that God has made.

It is setting up substitutionary atonement. Zechariah nine eleven, great chapter. Zechariah nine. Zechariah, we go to it in Christmas time and we come to it right now. It's a prophecy of the mess the Messiah.

As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I've set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. In both Matthew and Mark, it looks like this is what Jesus is referring to. It's foreshadowed in John six. John six says that as the disciples were all gathered there, he talked about unless you eat of my flesh and drink of my blood and if this was a hard teaching in John six. And it's one of the saddest verses in the Bible.

It says, and many walked away from him because it was a hard teaching. He was going to be the sacrifice. He knew it all along. We're coming to the place where it is the hardest, most agonizing point for Jesus' earthly life, and he knows it. He's got the betrayer out of the room and he's packing everything he can into this one conversation.

I know I'm saying a lot this morning in my thirty five minutes. But Jesus packed all of that that y'all read this week plus all of this into one thing. So what does Luke say? Luke says, when he had taken the cup and given thanks, he said, take this and share it among yourselves common cup. And for I say to you, I'll not drink of the fruit of the vine and from now on until the kingdom of God comes.

And when he had taken some bread and given thanks, he broke it, gave it to them saying, this is my body which is being given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. This is almost exactly what I say when we do communion. Right? And in the same way, took the cup after they had eaten saying, this cup which is poured out for you, this is the new covenant in my blood.

He adds one word, the new covenant in my blood in Luke. Which brings us back to Jeremiah. This is something they understood the old covenant. People look back to Moses and they look back to Exodus and they look back to the prophets, many of them did, and they saw that God had made a covenant and God was the savior. He was the one that was doing the save saving by the old covenant.

It was a covenant of works and this new covenant is a covenant of grace and here, Jeremiah 31 says, behold days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, with 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. Just mentioning that. They broke it over and over and over and over and over again.

My covenant which they broke. Although I was a husband unto them, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put my law within them. I will write it on their heart.

I will be their God and they shall be my people. They will not teach again. Each one is his neighbor and each one is brother saying, know the Lord for they will all know me. The children of God will have his commandments written on their heart. For I will forgive them their wrongdoing and their sin I will remember no longer.

Amen. This is what Jesus just said in Luke. Matthew says specifically, for the forgiveness of sins, that goes back to that new covenant too. It is for the forgiveness of sins. The little clicky clicker is not clicking, Blake.

There we go. Oh, goodness. There you go. First Corinthians. This echoes Luke almost exactly.

I received from the Lord, Paul says to people there at Corinth, and to us which I also delivered to you. That the Lord Jesus on the night that he was betrayed, he took bread and when he had given thanks, he broke it and he said, this is my body which is given for you or which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me. And 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 in remembrance of me.

For as often as you drink of it. For as often as you eat this bread and this cup, proclaim the Lord's death until he comes again. This is where I'll go to what you all read this week. We've covered John 13. John 14, Jesus answers questions about his destination, the father and the Holy Spirit.

If you didn't read it, it's so good because you might have the same questions. I don't understand why you're going, what you're doing, where you headed. That don't make any sense. I'm the way, I'm the truth, I'm the life. Nobody comes to the father except by me.

The vine and the branches which Carl mentioned this morning, fresh on his mind because he read this this week. Jesus says, I'm the vine, you're the branches apart from me, can do nothing. Connected to me, just be abiding in me and you'll bear fruit. You are gonna have opposition from the world, Jesus said. That'll happen.

Expect it. It's coming. You still need to be loving. You still need to be caring. Sixteen five, the arrival and the ministry of the comforter, the paraclete, the helper.

If I didn't go away, he would never come. It's good for you because I can only be in one place at one time, but the Holy Spirit can be in all of your heart. It's gonna be good for you. I know you don't understand it. There's so many things I'd rather be telling you right now, but you just can't take it right now.

That's right there. You will be joyful. I know that it's sad. I know it's upsetting to think about me going away. I love you all too, but you all are going to be joyful.

Look at this, sixteen twenty. Truly, truly I say to you that you will weep and mourn and I know that, but the world will rejoice. The world will rejoice because the gospel is right here. You will grieve but your grief will be turned to joy. Promise of answered prayer and peace.

Oh, so good. And then Jesus' prayer not only for his disciples, he's praying for those guys in the room, but he specifically says out loud and says he specifically saying it out loud so they can hear it, so they understand it, that he's praying for everybody who will ever come to know Jesus because of their testimony. That's good. Jesus' high priestly prayer. He said, I'm praying for these that you've given me.

I'm not lost a single one of them. I'm holding on to these guys and I'm praying right now for them that they'd be unified and that everybody that ever comes to me through their testimony that they would be unified, that they would be one just like we are one. All that happens right there. And after singing a hymn, was probably four chapters or maybe five of Psalms, Psalm one fourteen to one eighteen or one nineteen, that's the hymn. They went out to the Mount Of Olives.

Oh, that's where that discourse was from a couple weeks ago. That's right. Or last week maybe. Yep. It was a common place for them to go overlooking the Temple Mount just on the other side of the Kidron Valley.

Then Jesus said to them, y'all are all gonna fall away because of me this night. We just had the best time we've ever had at the upper room discourse. You just told us how you love us. You just told us how you're going to answer our prayers. You just told us all that stuff and he says, listen, you all are all going to fall away tonight because of me this night.

It's written, I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. Mark, after singing a hymn, they went out from the Mount Of Ovals and Jesus said to them, you'll all fall away because it is written. He trusted scripture and he understood it. I'll strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered. That's from Zechariah 13.

Strike the shepherd, capital s and the sheep will be scattered. But after I have been raised, I'm going ahead of you to Galilee. He's speaking resurrection again. He's mentioned it multiple times. Hard to say how many times, but a lot.

After I've been raised, I'm going ahead of you to Galilee. After I'm raised, I'm going ahead of you to Galilee. But Peter replied to him, even if they all fall away, now he's setting himself apart from the crowd again. Even if every one of them falls away because of you, I will never fail, doggone it pound pulpit when you've got a weak point. Jesus said to him, truly I say to you this very night before a rooster crows, you're gonna deny me three times.

And Peter said, even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you. And all the disciples said the same thing as well. So Satan's asked to sift them like wheat and it's gonna happen. Peter said, even if they all fall away, this is Mark, truly I say to you this very night before a rooster crows twice, You yourself will deny me three times, but Peter repeatedly said insistently, even if I have to die with you, will not deny you. And they all were saying the same thing, yeah, me too.

And he came out and he went as it was his habit up 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. When Jesus had spoken all these words, he went away with his disciples across the Ravine Of The Kidron. There was a garden. Oh, a garden.

I love John. We failed in the garden. They were not in our federal head, Adam and Eve, both of them, federal head Adam and Eve failed in the garden. And this is just kinda cool that it's a nod back where there was a garden and he entered that with his disciples. This is what we have for the next little bit.

Jesus said, then Jesus comes with them to a place called Gethsemane. It means the olive press, where all the oil is squeezed out of the olives. And he told his disciples, sit here while I go over there and pray. And he took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, James and John, and began to be grieved and distressed. And then he says to them, my soul is deeply grieved.

It's grieved unto the point of death. This is not a suicidal ideation on Jesus's part. Some have claimed that it is, it's not. He's saying, I am so grieved that it is about to kill me. I feel like I'm going to die from the grief.

My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death. Y'all remain here with me. Keep watch with me. And he just did the upper room discourse, abide, remain, abide, remain, abide, remain. Now, these three remain here and keep watch with me.

Mark says, they come to this place, the name is Gethsemane, it means olive press. And he said 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 said to them, my soul is deeply grieved to the point of death. I feel like I'm gonna die. Remain here, keep watch. He went with a little beyond them and he fell on his face prostrate before his father and prayed saying, my father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me.

If there's another way, I see it. I've declared what is gonna happen. I see the cup that is coming at me. I I understand it. And if there is another way, perhaps he was thinking about Abraham right here.

Right? Abraham had to believe that he was gonna sacrifice Isaac. He did. He went up there. He had everything necessary to make that and perhaps Jesus is thinking back to Abraham and going, maybe there's a ram in the thicket.

Maybe there's another way. My father, if it's possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet, not as I will but as you will. I'm not taking my path or the easy path. I'm taking the path but if there is another way, there is no other way.

He came to the disciples and he found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, so y'all, you men, y'all couldn't keep watching me with me for an hour. Keep watching and praying so that you don't come into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. I'm just telling you, I know because I feel like I'm gonna die because here I am in the flesh with you.

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went a little beyond and fell to the ground, began praying. This is basically saying, Abba, father, daddy, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me, yet not what I will, but what you will. And he came and he found them sleeping and said to Peter, Simon, are you asleep?

Couldn't you keep watch with me for an hour? Keep watching and praying so that you'll not come into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. He went away again a second time and he prayed saying, my father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink from it, your will be done. Again, he came and he found them 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 came to the disciples and said to them, are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, the son of man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up. Let's go. Behold, the one who is betraying me is near.

Mark tells the same story almost exactly. Luke, now when he arrived at the place, he said to them, pray that you don't come into temptation. He withdrew from him about a stone's throw. He knelt down and began to say, father, if you're willing, remove this cup from me. You know, Jesus, the Lord's prayer that he taught us is wonderful.

This prayer is wonderful. If you have something hard that you are facing and you think there's gotta be another way around this. Father, if you're willing, remove this cup from me, Yet not my will, but yours be done. If not, Lord, be glorified in the way that I go through this. There are brackets right here.

The brackets up there mean this is a questioned as to whether it's part of the original text. I'm gonna read it anyway. Now, an angel from heaven appeared to him strengthening him and being in agony, he was praying very fervently and his sweat became like drops of blood falling down upon the ground. Now, when he rose from prayer, out of the brackets, he came to the disciples, he found them sleeping from sorrow, so they cried themselves to sleep. Thank you, Luke.

They were as distressed seeing their master and they their flesh was weak and they fell asleep from crying themselves to sleep. And he said to him, why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you don't come into temptation. While he was still speaking, behold Judas, of the 12 came accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs. Oh, that makes sense that Jesus mentioned the swords because when people come with a sword and a club, they're planning on using it.

Right? He came accompanied by a large cloud with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now, he who was betraying him gave them a sign previously saying, whomever I kiss, he is the one. Arrest him. I'm gonna skip all those other guys and go straight to the one.

Think about this for a minute now. We know what people look like because we've seen pictures of people. These guys might have heard of Jesus for the last three years and never actually laid eyes on him. So this is the symbol. I'm gonna kiss the guy that it is.

He's about this tall. No. I don't know. I'm I'm just gonna kiss the one that is. I know him.

I'll point him out to you. Whomever I kiss, he's the one who rest him and immediately Judas went up to Judas and said, greetings, rabbi. Teacher, and he kissed him, but Jesus said to him, friend, do what you've come for. And the sign was the kiss. He'd already done what he came for, but Jesus said, do what you've come for.

Then they came and laid hands on him, Jesus, and arrested him. Now while they're still speaking, Luke says, behold, a crowd came. The one called Judas, one of the 12 was leading the way for them, and when he approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, Judas, are you betraying the son of man with a kiss? That's the way it's gonna go. While he was still speaking, one of the 12 came up accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs who were from the chief priests, scribes, the elders.

Now, he who was betraying him had given them a signal, whomever I kiss, he's the one. Arrest him. Lead him away under guard. And after coming, Judas immediately went to him said, Rabbi, and kissed him. And they laid hands on him and arrested him.

I told you I was getting up through their arrest. Now Judas who was betraying him also knew the place because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. Now, didn't know the place of the upper room until he was in the upper room. Right? We know that.

I imagine that Judas took those guys, that for that crowd, they probably stormed the upper room, found it empty. No. No. I really do know where they are. I know what they do because in the mornings, he goes to the temple, but at night, goes to the Mount Of Olives goes to the Mount Of Olives, knows the place.

Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas having obtained the Roman cohort, the officers, and the chief priests, and the Pharisees, he came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, all the things that were coming upon him, came out into the open and said, whom are you seeking? And they answered Jesus the Nazarene and he said to them, I am he. And Judas also who was betraying him was standing with him now.

Then when he said to them, I am he, they drew back and they fell to the ground just at the power of his word. He then asked them again, whom are you seeking? They said Jesus, the Nazarene. Jesus answered, I told you that I am he, So if you're seeking me, let these men go on their way. He's he's looking out for them.

This took place so that the word which he spoke would be fulfilled. Of those whom you have given me, I lost not one. And you might say, you might say, but Judas was one, he lost him. Apparently from the text, Judas was never his. Behold, one of those who are with Jesus reached and drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear.

That's Matthew's version. Behold, one of those who are with Jesus reached and drew his sword, struck the slave, the high priest and cut off his ear. Mark's version, but one of those who stood by drew his sword, struck the slave of his the high priest and cut off his ear. That's Mark's version. Luke's version is a little longer then.

When those who were around him saw what was going to happen, they said, Lord, shall we strike with the sword? Like they asked permission first. And one of them didn't wait for the answer. Struck the slave of the high priest and cut off is right here. That's Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

One of them. One of them. One of them. John, then Simon Peter. I outran him to the grave and doggone it.

That's the guy who I know you're wondering, John, by tradition wrote later, and so we have some gaps that are filled in by John. Simon Peter, since he had the sword, he drew it, he struck the high priest slave, he cut off his right ear. Thank you, John. And the slave's name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, put the sword into the sheaf, the cup which the father has given me, am I not to drink it?

He had prayed that God would provide another way but when God's answer was, there is no other way. He's ready. Jesus said to him, put your sword back into its place for all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my father and he will at once put at my disposal more than 12 legions of angels, 6,000 times twelve, seventy two thousand angels. If one of them has to say fear not, imagine how terrifying 72,000 of them would be. He could have called them, but he didn't because this is his cup.

How then would the scriptures be fulfilled which say that it must happen this way? But Jesus responded and said, stop. Stop. No more of this. And he touched Malchus' ear and he healed him.

And Jesus said to the chief priests and the officers and temples and the elders who had come against him, have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a man inciting a revolt? Have you really? At that time, Jesus said to the crowds, have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as you would a man who was inciting a revolt? Every day, I used to sit within the temple grounds teaching and you didn't arrest me. They were chicken.

When they were looking for a place, they said, not during the festival, not in the temple, not where we can start a riot because we don't want to mess with Rome. We just want to get rid of him. Every day I used to sit within the temple grounds teaching, you didn't arrest me. While I was with you in the daily in the temple, you didn't lay hands on me, but at this hour in and under the power of darkness, this hour and the power of darkness are yours. All of this has taken place so that the scriptures of the prophets will be fulfilled.

Then all of his disciples left him and fled. So now he's under arrest and the disciples are scattering like the sheep from Zechariah. Jesus said them, have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as you would a man inciting revolt? Every day I was with you. All his disciples all left him and fled.

Mark adds one thing. I'm gonna say, Mark traditionally is Peter's story. Okay. Peter the fisherman tells his story, John Mark writes it down, and I think this is funny, and it's near the end of the sermon. A young man was following Jesus wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body, and they seized him, but he pulled free a linen sheet and escaped naked.

And if you're trying to take off, if you're trying to not take off the naked, like no. If you're trying to take something off of your story and you're going, he told me I was gonna deny him. He told me I was gonna deny him. He told me

I was gonna deny him. And then you have to

tell that I'm gonna deny him. At least add a detail. They will draw the attention away from you for a moment. Naked guy fleeing. Anyway, John 18.

So the Roman cohort, the commander, and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and they bound him. Now from here, we're gonna go to the trials and the crucifixion. Spoiler alert, trial doesn't go well. That's what we're gonna talk about next week. But it gets us to the crucifixion and then resurrection Sunday.

Would you all pray with me? I know that that's been more information. It's been more about information that has been formation. What I took away from the this study this week was the individual and the collective. And at the very beginning of this sermon where I was pointing out the you's and the y'alls, anytime that we stand up and say, I am different from all the rest.

In this way, I'm with you Jesus. Be careful with that. We are the plan that God has. We, the way we love one another is the plan. The way that we love one another will let everybody know that we're actually his disciples.

Would you all stand with me? I'm gonna invite the band back up. They'll know that we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes, they'll know that we're Christians by our love. May it be that we are so unified within the love of Christ that as we as we are drawn closer and closer to him, we'll draw closer and closer to one another.

And the way that we treat one another will bring people into harmony with God. They'll bring people under the love of God. In Jesus name, amen.

Walk with each other. We will work side by side. We will work with each other. We will work side by side. And we'll guard each one's dignity and save each of your stride.

And they'll know we are Christians by God love. How y'all love? Yes. They'll know we are Christians by our end. All praise to the father from when all things come, And all praise to Christ Jesus, his only son.

And all praise to the spirit who makes us one. And they'll know we

Amen. In Philippians four six and seven says this, don't be anxious about anything but in every situation by prayer and by petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Lord, would you bring that peace to us and would you allow us the grace to be able to effectively articulate it to anyone and everyone that needs you in Jesus name. Amen.