Special

Matthew 26 36 to 46.

This is God's word to us this morning. Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called gethsemane, and he said to them, sit here while I go over there and pray. He took Peter and the 2 sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, my soul is overwhelmed. With sorrow to the point of death.

Stay here and keep watch with me. Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed. My father. If it is possible, may this cut be taken from me? Yet not as I will, but as you will.

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. Couldn't you men? Keep watch with me for 1 hour. He asked Peter. Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.

The spirit is willing. But the flesh is weak. He went away a second time and prayed. My father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it. May your will be done.

When he came back, he again found them sleeping because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, are you still sleeping and resting? Look. The hour has come, and the son of man is delivered into the hands of sinners.

Rise, let us go. Here comes my betrayer. But Hey, I forgot to say I also worked here for 3 years. So if you, if you don't know me, I was, 1 of the pastors here for for 3 and a half years before I went away. And brother, what are you preaching tonight, Matthew?

This passage, I was just gonna say. If you want to hear the correct commentary on this passage, please go to the evening service tonight. Let's pray once more just because as we'll see, prayer is absolutely essential. So let's pray. Father, we just ask now that you would show us the glories of the lord Jesus Christ.

Show us how far we fool, but how wonderfully Jesus saves us. And lift us up in our failures in his name. Our men. Our men. Well, pre praying is hard, isn't it?

Let's be honest. Can we be honest? Praying is hard, isn't it? It's hard. Just chatting to Tom earlier, and 1 of the things with with Pete sort of taking a little bit of a break, is just having slightly less of, a mental around or or another voice around or, just a kind of partner around, though there are lots of elders here, and great that Tom Smith is a new elder.

It's brilliant. Prayer individually by yourself is hard work, isn't it? I think it's why we love the prayer sections at home groups. I have always loved prayer sections at home groups. I've always loved that and hearing other people pray, and I can easily sit down for half an hour and pray and listen to people pray and say amen at a home group.

Or a prayer meeting, you know, you just meet for an hour and a half and you pray. What else in life do you pray for an hour and a half? You just don't really do you. Normally anyway, prayer is hard, isn't it? And it's it can be boring, prayer.

I used to find prayer boring. I used to really not know what to pray about. You know, someone says to you, how can I pray for you? So I'd I'd I don't know. That's an extraordinary thing to say really if you think about it.

Prayer can be lonely. You sort of you're sat in your room or on your on the train to work or in your car or or walking. It can feel a little bit lonely. And sometimes praying can just be a bit silent. Can't it?

Sort of speaking to god and on your knees clasping your hands. You've got a burden on your heart and you're pouring your heart out. And there's just kind of a bit silent sometimes, isn't it? Prairie is is hard work, isn't it? But here is something that has has really helped me, recently.

Perhaps you already knew this, but it took me a while to get it. And it I don't know if transformative is too strong a word, but it really has changed my perception of prayer. And it's this that when we pray, we never bow down before the the throne of grace. By ourselves in an empty courtroom before god. We never do that.

When we pray, we always come alongside Jesus kneel down on the floor next to him and join him in prayer. That's what we're doing when we pray. You know, Hebrew says that Jesus is our great high priest and, he always lives to intercede. That's what Hebrew says. Always lives to intercede.

Just think about those words. Always. Yeah. Jesus is always at all times day and night Are you like me, you you're you're awake in the night and you're stressing about a situation? Why is it at night that we wrestle with things?

And we doubt Jesus is still praying interceding at night. Day and night always in the in the middle of the week, not just on a Sunday. You know, on a Monday morning when you go to work, on a Wednesday afternoon when you're tired, on a Thursday evening when you've had an argument, Jesus is still always interceding. He always lives to intercede is what Hebrew says. This is what he lives for.

This is what he's alive for. This is what he he wants to do. He's he's living to intercede. This is what he's about now. This is what his job is in a sense.

He's our priestly mediator forever. He's always living to intercede. Intercession is a a fancy word for when you come on behalf of someone. So here is Jesus speaking to his father in glory with your name on his lips. And on his heart.

There's a lovely picture in the old testament of the of the high priests who would go into the presence of god, the holy of holies, once a year, and they would wear this bizarre outfit Oh, Dave law has made 1 once and dressed up for it with souls. Brilliant. But on their chest, so over their hearts, they had precious gems, 12 of them, and on the gems were inscribed the names of the tribes of Israel. And so here's the priest going into the presence of god with the people's names over his heart, and he would intercede for them, represent them before god. Well, here is Jesus says Hebrews.

He's our great high priest. He always lives to intercede. And so let me ask you a question. Is there ever a time when you pray that Jesus is not already interceding for you? Yeah.

You get up in the night. You're stressed about something. You're praying. Is Jesus asleep? Do you have to wake Jesus up?

Jesus, I need to pray. Will you come and join me in prayer? We never have to ask Jesus to join us in prayer. It's amazing this. It's radical.

It's changed how I've prayed, actually, because now whenever I pray, I'm never praying alone, but I I come alongside the already praying Jesus. And kneel down next to the already kneeling down Jesus and pray with the already praying Jesus. And so what is prayer if not an invitation to come and pray with Jesus? Have the first slide, please. I haven't got a clicker.

So I'll just first slide. That's what we see here in this passage. So have a look with me. See the son of god praying. It's my first point.

First 36. So this, then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called gethsemane, and he said to them, sit here while I go over there and pray. This is an amazing scene if you have eyes to see it because here, this 1 that's speaking, is the sovereign son of god. He's the son of the father, the radiance of his glory, the exact representation of his being. He's the 1 who's known the father and in the closest relationship with the father, who has been with the father, eternally, and has had a sort of unrestrained, un, a constantly connected line of communication with the father forever, that's who's speaking here, the son, and yet he says here, I will go over there and pray.

Pray. You know, that thing that you and I have to do to talk to god. And he's not just pretending here. It's not like Jesus is saying I've got a constant walkie talkie communication with god in a sort of spiritual way, but I'm just gonna go and pretend to pray so that, you know, I'm teaching you. It's not that.

It's not that at all. He he he has to pray in order to speak to his father. This is what the incarnation means. This is what god becoming man looks like. He's made like us in every way.

He's hungry. He has to eat. He's thirsty. He has to drink. He's tired.

He has to sleep. He needs something. He has to pray. And so Jesus is made like us dependent on prayer. Ezekiel 36.

I know you've recently gone through ezekiel. Ezekiel 36 has, has has this just this powerful verse in in chapter 36 verse 37. And and the NIV version sort of clouds the the meaning I wanna get at slightly, but the the old King James version, puts it, I think, more clearly. It says this, thus sayeth the lord god I will yet for this being inquired of by the House of Israel to do it for them. I will increase them with men like a flock.

So this is what the lord says. I will yet for this being inquired of. I will be inquired of for this to do it for them. You see what god is saying? And it's amazing because what what what Israel are asking for is what god has promised them.

God's promise has always been I will make you fruitful and prosperous. Well, god is saying I will be I will be inquired of it to do it. This is what god is like. He says I will yet be inquired of to do it for them. James 4 puts it this way.

You do not have because you do not ask god. Now why is god like this? Why is god a god who doesn't just just abundantly pour out everything we need before we've even asked for it without us ever needing to ask for it, never really caring for us to ask for it. Why isn't he just like that? Why is it that he withholds?

And there's a god who says I will be inquired of for this. I will be a god, and my people will come and ask me for it, and I will do it for them. Why is he like that? I mean, perhaps it's to show us and teach us our utter dependence upon him. Perhaps it's to show us his utter non dependence on us.

He is he is the god in the non burning bush. The bush doesn't burn up and he's in it. He doesn't need the the the material of the twigs to exist. He just is there. He has all life in himself, and we are not like that.

And so that's what this god is like. He says I will be inquired of to do this for them. Amazing versus e q 36. There's an old Scottish, pastor theologian called Hugh Martin. He said he says this, a man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven.

It's true, isn't it? We have nothing except, what god has given us. Then he goes on and accept the lord being quiet of for it. We have nothing. A man can receive nothing except to be given him from heaven and accept the lord being quiet of for it.

And so here is Jesus in the gospels, and we find Jesus praying 25 times in the gospels. He's made like us. He needs to pray. And so he prays the night before he chooses his disciples. He prays, before he splits the bread and shares the bread up, he prays, at the entrance of tombs And before dead people come back to life, he prays so that demons would come out.

He's a man of prayer, the lord Jesus Christ, and even the, eternal plan of god to save sinners. That that plan that Jesus made with the father and the spirit in all of eternity, that plan that that before time began, they agreed and says, yes, this is what we will do. And it is certain even that plan required Jesus to ask god in order for it to happen. Psalm too is is this conversation between the father and the son. And it says this, Psalm too.

He, that's the father. He said to me, Jesus, you are my son, Today, I have become your father. Ask me. And I will make the nations your inheritance. The ends of the earth your possession.

Ask me is what the father says. I got a minute. I thought it was agreed in the eternal council of the godhead, well, it was. But here, the father says, ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance. And so what does Jesus do?

When when satan comes to to Jesus and says I want to sift Peter? Like wheat. Peter, Jesus says to Peter, I have prayed for you, Peter. That your faith will not fail. Well, hang on a minute.

I thought it was agreed in the eternal council. Yes. But Jesus prays, you see? You see the utter dependence on prayer. You see how god is a god who will be inquired of things because he wants us to come to him and ask.

And so here in this passage, Jesus says sit here while I go over there and pray. And let's just look at him, pray. Look at verse 37. He took Peter and the 2 sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful. And troubled.

So why is he troubled here? Well, this is where the shadow of the cross has begun to creep upon him. He starts to be counted among the transgressors. He he he, again, in the old versions, it said that he was so amazed at this moment that the he always knew the plan was to take the sins of his people, but here, now he's experiencing the reality of it. He's beginning to be counted among the transgressors.

And so he's sorrowful and troubled. And the next events are his arrest, his trial, and then his execution. And these earthly events, the the arrest, the trial, the execution. These events on earth, they mirror events going on in in heaven. And so he's sorrowful and troubled because at his arrest, even though, it would be it's the greatest miscarriage of ju of justice in the universe Jesus is arrested like a criminal.

But Jesus says there are 12 legions of angels that could come at a moment's notice, and yet these angels don't. Because even though on earth, he's innocent. Actually, in the courtroom of heaven, he's numbered among the transgressors. And so in heaven's eyes, The man's broken the law, and the law demands a payment. And so he's arrested.

And then there's the trial. It's a it's a sort of a sham trial. Even, those who were trialing him say we find no reason to execute this man. He's in it. He's he's he hasn't broken any law at all as far as we can see.

On on an earthly sense, but in heaven, the trial of Jesus before his father in heaven is guilty. And then there's the execution, the spotless pure lamb of god, Jesus Christ, who never sinned, who's made like us in every way without sin, perfect, pure, obedient. And yet god is not unjust in pouring out his wrath upon him. He thought about that. It would be a wicked thing of god to punish the innocent.

God doesn't punish the innocent. And so on the cross, though he's innocent. In heaven's eyes, he's been made sin. And so here's Jesus troubled, sorrowful. And he he he prays.

Verse 38, then he said to them, my soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me. Verse 39, going a little further. He fell with his face to the ground. And prayed my father, if it is possible, may this cut be taken from me yet not as I will, but as you will.

If we're not careful at this scene, we can be like little children. You know, little children who run into, like, an art gallery, and they see something that's absolutely amazing, and they look at it, and then they run off to the next thing. You know, they're more excited about the ice cream than they are, the majestic pieces of artwork. Not making any comparisons there. We can be, like, children if we're not careful.

If we start our eyes too quickly over this line, you know, Hugh Martin says that the angels dare not tread lightly towards this scene. Because here we have this lord of heaven, and he's collapsed in a heap on the floor with his face pushed into the dirt, and he's weeping tears, and he's sweating Someone pointed out to me it's a cold night. Remember Peter goes around the fire because it's cold? It's a cold night. And Jesus is sweating.

He's sweating with his face in the dirt, the lord of glory, with his face in the dirt. Tears, sweating, and yet the father will yet of this being quiet of. That's why he's there. The father will yet be inquired of for this to give strength to Jesus for his will to be done. First 40 42, my father If it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.

And then in Luke's gospel, we're told an angel from heaven appears to strengthen him. And then in verse 45, at the end of this passage that we read, actually Jesus' prayer is answered. He's prayed that the lord's will would be done, and here he is delivered into the hands of sinners. And so here's Jesus in this scene. He feels the the temptation not to do god's will.

He he prays and inquires of the father to do this that his will is done, and that's Jesus's prayer. Would your will be done, father? And Jesus in turn has been strengthened to do the father's will, and now god's will has been done. You see? The need, the prayer, and the delivery of the prayer, the answer to the prayer.

And so do you see the son of god praying here? Actually, this is the same Jesus who was seated in heaven today and in interceding. And so when we pray, we are invited to come next to this Jesus and kneel down on the floor next to him. And to pray to his father and our father alongside him. Next point, see the sons of men sleeping.

See the sons of men sleeping. Have a look at verse 36. Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called gethsemane. So Jesus knows this is coming, and he he leaves the towns and the cities and the crowds behind. He just takes his disciples.

He wants them to be with him for this moment. And then he once he's taken his disciples with them, he then takes, Peter and the 2 sons of Zebedee a little further, just those 3, and he confides in them. Look at verse 38. Then he said to them, This is to the 3. Then he said to them, my soul is overwhelmed with sorrow, to the point of death.

This is an amazing scene for those 3 disciples. These were the same 3 who saw Jesus transfigured in glory on the mountain. You know, who in the history of the world has seen the glory of the lord on a mountain? Well, Moses, okay, Elijah, and these 3 men and they it was such an amazing, glorious event. They have no idea what to do.

They're talking nonsense. They start saying, well, let's build some shelters. Let's build some tabernacles because the glory we can't be in the presence of it. They they didn't even know what they were saying. It was so glorious.

That this is the Jesus, the same Jesus they saw shining on the mountain is now a crumpled heap on the floor in front of them. This is Jesus' darkest hour, and what's lovely about Jesus here is he doesn't just go to his father, but he turns to his closest friends on earth, and he shares a personal plea with those 3 men. In verse 38, he says to these 3 men, he says stay here and keep watch with me. I looked surely you would do that out of duty, wouldn't you? I don't know if you have have you ever sort of seen someone take a turn for the worse on a bus or a tube or in town?

I was in I was at waterloo station once and a man started having an epileptic fit next to me. And what you do in that situation is you're compelled first to help and you're compelled to stay until help comes on you until there's some kind of relief. Just sort of sense of duty. You know, surely you would stay with Jesus and pray with him, just out of a sense of duty. Here's this man, a crumpled heap on the floor, praying in anguish.

You would just you would say, okay, we'll do it. Even if he was a stranger, you would do it. Well, how much more if he was the lord? And you know, the 1 you loved and your savior. But have a look at verse 40.

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleepy. Couldn't you men keep watch with me for 1 hour? He asked Peter. I found that question, devastating, humbling, transforming. Just take take this question.

Just walk through this question with me for a minute. He says to these 3 men, couldn't you men? You men? The ones who I chose. Ones who I said follow me.

Once you have walked with me and seen me heal, once you've heard my words of eternal life, that's what you told me. The ones who, you know, Peter, your mother-in-law, I I healed her. And and you brothers, you know, the blessings that you've had that you've experienced spending time with me. You've seen dead people come back to life. You've seen demons flee into a herd of pigs.

You've seen all these amazing things. Couldn't you men? And I think, you know, he says, couldn't you, Ben? Called you when you were 14. I walked with you through all these things.

Couldn't you men keep watch? And that keeping watch there is this idea of, like, a century, like a guard, keeping watch over the night because there are dangers out there, and you gotta keep watch. You know, right this very moment, Judith is leading a band of soldiers up a hill. So there's literally physically something to look out for. Actually, Jesus also says, what embracing you will not fall into temptation?

So there are spiritual enemies coming up the mountain as well. Jesus is saying you couldn't you didn't couldn't you just have a far sighted spiritual eye? Can't you keep watch? Couldn't you men just keep watch? And couldn't you keep watch and pray?

That's the implication. Couldn't you keep watch and pray? You know, pray about what you've seen. If you saw Judith and the soldiers, you'd pray, wouldn't you? Well, why is it you're not praying about the spiritual dangers that are all around us?

Cun why couldn't you pray about what you'd seen? And why couldn't you pray that you would see more things so that you would pray more? Pray about what you've seen and what you see should drive you to prayer. Couldn't you men keep watch and pray with me? Who is it that Jesus has asked him to pray with?

He hasn't said, right, you guys get together and just Have a little prayer meeting. I'm gonna go over there. He said to the 3 closest people in the world to him, will you pray with me? Couldn't you men? Keep watch with me.

For 1 hour. He hasn't even said Be a century all night. He hasn't said have some supernatural ability to stay awake for 48 hours. Couldn't you men keep watch with me for 1 hour? 10 words.

Deversating. They can't they can't they're silent. They have nothing to say, which is by the way how everyone will be before Jesus 1 day. But Jesus in his kindness, he offers the excuse for them. You noticed that in verse 41?

It says the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. That's how kind Jesus is. He knows. He knows. And that's just actually the start of the grace that we see here for these men who are asleep.

And so my last point is this. See the son of god praying for the sons of men. See the son of god praying for sons of men. Have a look at verse 42. He went away a second time and prayed.

My father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done. When he came back, He again found them sleeping because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time saying the same thing. Saying the same thing. Doesn't go back and say, father.

I've told them to stay awake and they haven't. There's they've done it again. Can we just scrap this plan? I'm done with it. I don't wanna go through with it.

You know? He goes away and prays the same thing. Father would you will be done. Father this plan that we made in heaven. Father this plan to save those sleeping men which you will be done.

And it's amazing, isn't it? Just look at the 3 sleeping men for a second. First of all, the state of turmoil Jesus was in wasn't enough to keep them awake and pray. And then his personal plea wasn't enough to keep them awake and pray. Prying.

And then his piercing question, those 10 words, that wasn't enough to keep them awake, and praying. And his command even wasn't enough to keep them awake and praying. Because after the piercing question, he says watch him pray so you will not fall into temptation as a command. These 3 sleeping men on the floor are a picture of the desperate state of mankind. We are utterly unable to obey.

We are utterly unable. To do what god says. We are utterly unable to be the images that we were made to be. Now what is Jesus' response to them? What is his response to us?

He prays. Verse 44. Again, look at it. So he left them asleep. He left them asleep.

And went away once more and prayed the third time saying the same thing. So let me ask you Cornerstone Church What is the sin that Christ finds you sleeping in? Has he woken you up out of this sin before? Has he rebuked you? Has he pierced you with 10 words, 10 words in a question?

Have you then fallen asleep again? Well, if so, you need a savior who goes to the cross to pay for your sins while you're sleeping. You need a savior who prays for you when you are not praying for yourself. You need a savior who sees you unveiled in your sin naked and ashamed before him, and then goes and gets closed to clothe you. You need a savior who doesn't abandon you.

And that is what you have in Jesus. You know, this whole scene here, this just this little picture is actually the gospel in a single frame. Yeah. Man kinders sleep on the floor. Not doing what god has said, even though he's been kind and generous, woken them up and giving them a command, fallen asleep on the on the floor, and the son of god praying on his face that god's salvation would come to them.

Have you trusted in this savior? Have you put your trust in this Jesus Christ? Or are you trusting in your own little prayers when you manage them? Or your own works to maybe try and please god? Are you trusting in your prayers and works over his prayers and his works?

I'll tell you whose prayers and works. I I'm trusting it. Have a look at verse 45. Then he returned to his disciples and said to them, are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the son of man is delivered into the hands of sinners.

So men, this plan to save you was devised before the creation of the world. You had nothing to do with it. It was achieved on the cross 2000 years ago. Between the father and the son, you had nothing to do with it. It was applied to you by the Holy Spirit who worked the the effectual salvation in you that you would believe.

You had nothing to do with it. And it happened all while you were asleep on the floor. That is the salvation of the gospel. That is the good news of the gospel. That is what God has done in Jesus Christ.

He has come into this world. He has prayed for and saved sleeping sinners. So what do we think we can add to our salvation if we're awake? All we're called to do is repent, believe, and be baptized. That's what we're called to do.

And so let me ask you, as I finish, is that you? Have you done that? Have you put your trust and your faith in this praying saviour? Because if you haven't, you're still asleep. You're still on the floor.

And you are in danger of being asleep forever. Never waking up. Never coming to know the love of the savior. But isn't Jesus wonderful that he comes to sleeping people? You're all asleep.

He comes to sleeping people, Jesus. And he says, are you still sleeping? And so this morning, if you're asleep in sin, you know what Jesus Christ says to you? It's amazing that you're here if you're asleep in sin, because Jesus says to you, are you still sleeping? Wake up.

Because the hour has come. Salvation is here. Don't sleep forever. Here the call of the gospel. Here the voice of Jesus.

He has a voice that wakes sleeping sinners. And if you've heard the voice of Jesus in this church, not just today, but throughout the weeks and months that you might have been coming years, maybe. If you've heard the voice of Jesus, he's woken you up. How will you now put your trust in him and your faith in him? What's stopping you?

Why would you rather be asleep over there on the floor? Why would you not come and join the savior in prayer like he's asked? You know, he's he he he extends that plea to all of us, you know? Jesus extends this plea to us. He says, will you stay here and pray with me?

That's the call of the church, isn't it? Come now and be part of this salvation mission. Come and pray for sleeping sinners to be woken up and to come and put their trust in the lord Jesus Christ. That is what Jesus is doing right this very moment. And he says, stay here and keep watch with me.

Just to finish with, what what myriad of things would god will god do in our lives that he has ordained will happen through prayer? So many things in my life have only come about because I've gone to the lord inquired him of them. Just think of 1 thing you want for this church. What 1 thing would you love for this church? Think of 1 thing you'd love for your home group.

Think of 1 thing you'd love for your family. Think of 1 thing you'd love for yourselves. Will you pray for that thing? Because god says I will yet be for this inquired of. I so ask for it.

You know, the next prayer meeting that this church has is on the second of July. First Wednesday of the month. I think that's right. Jesus will be there at that prayer meeting. He will be on his knees, praying in heaven.

Will you come and join with him in prayer? As the church gathers together with the lord Jesus and praise. If you've never been to the prayer meeting and you can make it I know some people can't make it. I have a 4 month old baby. I know sometimes you can't make it.

But if you can make it, Jesus says, will you come and join me? Will you come and pray with me? The church is his body. When the church prays, he's praying. Will you come and join the church on the second of July at that prayer meeting?

It's a wonderful thing to be awake and praying with Jesus. And so let me invite you to do that if you've never done that before. Or if you used to go and you stopped, come back, come and pray with Jesus. Let's pray. Father, we thank you so much for this amazing, scene that's recorded for us by the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures.

Thank you that we see your son on his face, praying for us that your will would be done, that he would drink the cup of our sin, that he would, be sore amazed, that he would be, arrested, trialed, and then executed in order that we are not arrested, trialed, and executed. Father, thank you so much for the gospel, which is that Jesus prays and saves sleeping sinners and then wakes them up to the glorious reality of salvation. Father, would you wake up sleeping sinners here this morning? Father, would you strengthen sinners who are slumbering, and, the faithful who are slumbering? And lord, would this be a church that joins you in prayer regularly, often passionately, zealously?

And we ask all of this in Jesus' name, amen.