The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.
The Passion of
Our Lord Jesus Christ Drawn from the Four Gospels (LSB/ESV)
II. GETHSEMANE
Wednesday of Lent II, 27 February
2013
Immanuel Lutheran Church,
Sheridan, Wyoming
In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
The Passion of
Our Lord Jesus Christ Drawn from the Four Gospels
II. GETHSEMANE
When they had sung a
hymn, he went out, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples
followed him. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all be offended because of me
this night; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of
the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am risen again, I will go before you
into Galilee.”
Peter answered and
said to him, “Even if all the others deny you, I will never deny you.” Jesus
said to him, “Truly, I say to you that this night, before the cock crows twice,
you will deny me three times.” But Peter said more vehemently, “If I have to
die with you, I will never deny you.” And all the others said likewise.
They went over the
brook Kidron and came to a place which was called Gethsemane. There was a
garden there, and he went into it with his disciples. Judas, who betrayed him,
knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. And when he was
at the place, he said to them, “Sit down here, while I go on ahead and pray.
Pray that you do not enter into temptation.”
He took with him
Peter and James and John and began to be full of sorrow and turmoil. Then he
said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Wait here, and
watch with me.” He went on a little from them, about a stone’s throw. He fell
on his face and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup from me;
nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.”
An angel appeared to
him from heaven, strengthening him; and he prayed, saying, “O my Father, if it
is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you
will.” In agony, he prayed more earnestly, “Father, if you are willing, remove
this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.” His sweat fell
on the ground like great drops of blood.
When he got up from
prayer, he came to his disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter,
“Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray,
lest you enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is
weak.”
He went away again
the second time and prayed, saying, “O my Father, if this cup may not pass away
from me, except I drink it, your will be done.” When he returned, he found them
asleep again; for their eyes were heavy, and they did not know what to answer
him. He left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the
same words.
Then he came to his
disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is
enough; the hour is come; behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of
sinners. Rise, let us be going. Look, the one who betrays me is here.”
Even while he was
saying this, Judas, one of the Twelve, came with a detachment and officers from
the chief priests and Pharisees. They came to the place with lanterns and
torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon
him, went out to them and said, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus
of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.”
Judas, who betrayed
him, had taken his stand with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they
drew back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, “Whom do you seek?” They
said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus replied, “I told you that I am he. If I am the
one you seek, then let these others go.” This was to fulfill the word he had
spoken, “Of those you gave me I have lost none.”
Now he that was
betraying Jesus had given them a sign, saying, “The one whom I shall kiss, that
is he; seize him and be sure to take him away securely.” He went straight up to
Jesus and said, “Hail, Master,” and kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, why
have you come? Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
They came then and
laid their hands on Jesus and took him. When those who were about him saw what
would happen, they said to him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” Then
Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and
cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
Jesus answered, “No
more of that.” And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to Peter,
“Put your sword into its sheath. All they that take the sword shall perish with
the sword. Do you imagine that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he will send
me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the Scriptures be
fulfilled that it must be so? The cup which my Father has given me, shall I not
drink of it?”
Then Jesus said to
the chief priests, and the captains of the temple, and the elders who had come
out against him, “Have you come out as against a thief, with swords and clubs
to take me? When I was with you day after day teaching in the temple, you did
not lay your hands on me; but this is your hour and the hour of the power of
darkness. All this has happened that the Scriptures of the prophets might be
fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.
There was a certain
young man who followed along. He had only a linen cloth about his naked body.
They laid hold on him, but he slipped out of the linen cloth and fled away
naked.
Then the detachment
and its captain and the officers of the Jews seized Jesus, and bound him, and
led him away to Annas first; for he was the father in-law of Caiaphas, who was
the high priest that year. Now Caiaphas was the one who gave counsel to the
Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.
Here ends the
Reading.
The purpose of Jesus’
passion, crucifixion, and death is clear: “He was delivered over to death for
our sins.” A Lamb had to be delivered over for our trespasses, or we would
still be dead in our trespasses and sins. Who delivered Him over? Tonight’s
Passion reading answers that question well.
Even with all of
their bold words, Peter, James, and John allowed Him to suffer in silent prayer
alone. They were asleep.
Jesus prayed to the
Father in agony: “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me;
nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.” Jesus delivered Himself
according to the Father’s will. The Father, who so loved the world, gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him
should not perish but have eternal life.
Judas betrayed Him
for thirty pieces of silver. Judas delivered Jesus with a kiss to those who
wanted him dead.
All the disciples
forsook Him and fled.
Caiaphas was the one
who gave counsel to the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die
for the people.
We too, delivered Him
over to death. If we had no sins, we would not have had to die. We are not
allowed to just blame the Romans, the Jews, or the Jewish leaders of Jesus’
day. All of humanity is responsible, from Adam and Eve, to us, to all of
humanity living and dead when the Lord returns in glory on the last day.
“O my Father, if it
is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you
will.” It is not an easy thing to pray “Thy will be done.” Such a prayer takes
our present and future out of our hands—out of our control. But were either
really in your control in the first place?
“Thy will be done” is
a prayer that can only be prayed in faith—complete trust that the Lord is
gracious and merciful, and that He knows what is best for you in the long term,
no matter what happens to you in the short term.
Bad things often
happen to good people. Look at what happened to the only perfect man who ever
lived! Jesus was killed for claiming to be who He really was.
Your Lord does allow
things to happen to you. He does it to strengthen your faith and trust in Him.
As James says, Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various
kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And
let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete,
lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4. All things are possible, but not all things
are beneficial. Your Father in heaven knows best. He cares for you!
“Abba, Father, all
things are possible to you. Take this cup from me; nevertheless, not what I
will, but what you will.” Jesus actively obeyed the Ten Commandments. He kept
the Law where we could not. We see also His passive obedience. He did not run
away from Jerusalem. He set His face toward Jerusalem. He did not resist those
who came to arrest them. He did not call for legions of angels. He did not put
the Sanhedrin, high priest, Herod, or Pilate in their place at His feet. He did
not come down from the cross. As a sheep before the shearers is silent, so was
He. There had to be a death to atone for our sins. And there was! Even in Lent,
you can rejoice in the forgiveness of sins.
Next week, we follow our Lord to THE PALACE OF THE HIGH PRIEST. Amen.
In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
