YET NOT WHAT I WILL, BUT WHAT YOU WILL

Mark 14: 27-52

Key Verse 14:36

#Mark 14: 36 "Abba, Father," he said, "Everything is possible for you. Take this cup
from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

Opening Prayer Dear Heavenly Father, In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ, we thank you
once again for another day to sit at your feet and learn from you, thank you for the gift
of life and this new day. Father today we are to look at your prayer in Gethsemane,
through this message teach us the importance of prayer especially as we walk on this
pilgrim journey of salvation. Use me as your vessel to speak your Word to your children
this morning. In Jesus Mighty Name I pray. Amen.

Good Morning brothers and sisters. Praise the Lord Jesus Christ. We bless the Lord for
this wonderful morning. Last Sunday shp. Gerald, delivered a message taken from #
Mark 14:24 "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to
them. We saw that just like the first born Israelites were saved from the angle of death
through the blood of the Passover lamb, we are saved from our sins by the blood of
Jesus Christ.

Today we see Jesus final prayer meeting in the garden of Gethsemane before shedding
his blood on the cross. Prayer helps us to overcome temptations and trials. Through this
message we must all be stirred up to a life of prayer continuously. Amen

Part one: JESUS FORETELLS PETERS DENIAL (27-31).

Look at verses #27-28 27 "You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written: "'I
will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' 28 But after I have risen, I will
go ahead of you into Galilee." From the previous event, Jesus had broken bread with the
disciples and shared communion with them, #Vs26 says, When they had sung a hymn,
they went out to the Mount of Olives. So what was Jesus prophecy about the disciples?
Look at verse 27 again #27 "You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written: I
will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' It must have come as shocking
and saddening news to Jesus disciples who had just shared a wonderful supper and
communion together, we will all fall away? They must have wondered in their hearts,
some must have thought Jesus is using hard speech towards us. However, Jesus Christ
spoke in the prophecy of Zechariah in #Zech 13:7 7 "Awake, O sword, against my
shepherd, against the man who is close to me!" declares the Lord Almighty. "Strike the
shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
Simply speaking Jesus Christ was telling the disciples what was to happen to them that
night, most of them were to fall away, there falling away wasnt deserting the faith or
rejecting Christ. However they were to be scattered because of the fear and terror that
was to befall them through the suffering of Christ at the hands of the religious leaders.

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Lets take off time and put ourselves in the disciples shoes, how would you feel if
someone you think trusts you told you that you were actually about to betray them and
turn your back on them? Devastating right? Thats exactly how the disciples felt.
However, Jesus Christ gives them His Word of promise, Lets read Vs 28 together lets go
#28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." Up to this time Jesus
Christ kept on teaching his disciples about His death and resurrection though it seemed
to be a lesson they never welcomed with open hands. He gave them His Word, after I
have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee Amen.

At this point Peter, couldnt hold his peace, his mind must have been troubled with the
thought, You will all fall away he must have debated within himself, even me Peter will
fall away? The climax of his inner debate lead to his outburst with this affirmation of his
commitment to Christ, Lets read Vs 29 together lets go #29 Peter declared, "Even if all
fall away, I will not." These words reveal Peters inner desire, he loved Jesus and couldnt
imagine falling away from Him, hence the phrase Even if all fall away, I will not.
Naturally speaking Peters desire was and is a good and honorable desire, we all
shouldnt betray our fellow humans, we ought to treat one another well. However Peter
had one problem, his desire was driven by the natural man, he thought in his own
strength he wouldnt fall away, simply put Peter spoke in the flesh hence he was carnal.
Lets read Jeremiah 17:5 together, lets go # Jer 17:5 5 This is what the Lord says:
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose
heart turns away from the Lord. Peter depended on his flesh not to fall away from Christ
up to this particular moment.

How did Jesus respond to Peters exclamation? Look at #Vs 30 "I tell you the truth,"
Jesus answered, "today yes, tonight before the rooster crows twice you yourself will
disown me three times." These words must have reaped apart Peters heart, how would
the rest of the disciples look at him? A betrayer? Jesus surely must have sounded harsh
to Peter. In retaliation Peters inner conflict was now boiling to the maximum, look at his
response in vs 31, lets read it together lets go #31 But Peter insisted emphatically,
"Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the
same. All this time Peters response were from his carnal nature, he managed to
encourage the rest of the team to take his stand and they all with one voice rejected
ever falling away from Christ. Lets think for a minute, why was Jesus telling His own
disciples whom He choose by Himself that they would fall away? Read #Luke 22:31-32
31 "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you,
Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your
brothers." All this time Jesus was trying to teach His disciples that they needed strength
to stand against the Schemes and temptations of the evil one. However much they
desired to do good and right, this they couldnt accomplish in their own strength, they
must be built up and strengthened in their inner man. We too are not any different from
these disciples, without Spiritual stamina, we cannot but deny the Lord Jesus Christ in
the flesh.

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How did Jesus Christ help his disciples to gain Spiritual Strength? Look at verses #32-34
32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here
while I pray." 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be
deeply distressed and troubled. 34 "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of
death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch." Jesus decided to take his disciples
for a prayer retreat on the Mount of Olives, when they reached Gethsemane, Jesus asked
His disciples to wait with Him in Prayer. #Gethsemane is a garden at the foot of the
Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, its name is derived from the Aramaic language which
means "oil press". It is to this part of the mountain that Jesus Christ took his disciples
for personal Prayer. What did Jesus do when he got to the garden? Look at verses 33-34
again #33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply
distressed and troubled. 34 "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,"
he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch." Being human, Jesus Christ was distressed
by the agony and pain he was about to suffer at the hands of the religious leaders and
the Roman soldiers, in preparation of this event Jesus Christ #choose three of his
disciples to come with him to prayer, his caution stay here and keep watch was for
them to offer and render prayer support throughout the night.

As believers we may suffer great distresses in our life time however from todays
message, Jesus Christ gives us a secret of prayer, not only personal prayer but prayer
with brethren, every house church should pray together, students in their hostels should
pray together, families back home in the villages should also prayer together because
Jesus promised that whenever we agree in prayer He will always answer as witnessed by
Mathew in #Matthew 18:19"Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about
anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. Amen

What was Jesus prayer request? Lets Read Vs 35-36 together, lets go #35 Going a little
farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.
36 "Abba, Father," he said, "Everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet
not what I will, but what you will." Jesus pressed through in prayer, His prayer request
was that if it were possible, the cup would pass by him, however not as he desired, but
as the Lord saw it fit let that be done to him. Not as I will but as you will. Was Jesus
prayer request.

What do we learn from this prayer? first Jesus Christ addressed his father as Abba,
which means Daddy, Jesus Christ called and addressed his heavenly father as Daddy.
God is our Father. Jesus had a special relationship with his Father, God. Whenever we
come to God in prayer, we must know that we are coming to our Heavenly Father.
Secondly Jesus prayed that Gods will be done. Many times we go before God in prayer
and wonder if God ever answers us. I say He surely always answers. The difference is
Gods answer may not be our desired or requested will but He surely answers every
prayer offered in faith. In humility just like Jesus accepted Gods will to be done on the
cross, we too must receive Gods desired will in prayer with thanks giving. Amen.

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Read verses 37-41#37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping.
"Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body
is weak." 39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came
back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know
what to say to him. 41 Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping
and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the
hands of sinners. Despite Jesus caution to the disciple watch and pray, they still #slept
off in the place of prayer. Why was this so? Read #Prov 24:10 If you falter in times of
trouble, how small is your strength! The disciples were spiritually weak, their strength
was small, they couldnt watch with Jesus Christ in prayer even for an hour!

Personally I have always been troubled with how our bodies are active and awake to do
non Spiritual things but weak when we turn to Spiritual things. Often times people share
of sleeping off when they read the bible, or doze-off when listening to a message like
this. But surprisingly they are always active and awake when watching a movie or a soap
on TV late in the night. This all points to the lack of Spiritual stamina or strength. When
we dont pray then we are weak and vulnerable to satans attack. Brethren lets arise
from the slumber, the night is far spent and our salvation is nearer than we first believed,
lets all wake up and pray. Amen.

Part Two: JESUS ARRESTED (42-52).

Look at Vs 42-43 #42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!" 43 Just as he was
speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords
and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. As Jesus
was still speaking with his disciples, a band of armed soldiers came to arrest Jesus, how
did they find out where Jesus was at that time? Look at verse 43 again #43 Just as he
was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with
swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.
Judas Iscariot who was one of the twelve was leading them, he knew from Jesus
previous life that Jesus must be on the mountain praying hence his correct leading of
Jesus arresters to the garden.

Judas was used by satan to betray our Lord and Savior into the hands of the religious
leaders. As reported in the gospel by John #John 13:27 As soon as Judas took the bread,
Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Satan took advantage of
Judas love for money and used him to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

What did Judas do when he saw Jesus? Look at vs 44-45# 44 Now the betrayer had
arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away
under guard." 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. The
regiment of soldiers that was sent to arrest Jesus didnt know who he really was, in order
to identify Jesus Judas asked them to arrest the one he greets with #a kiss, his heart

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was completely snared and taken over by satan that he refused to repent and finally
betrayed the Lord. Brethren lets guard our hearts and lives against the schemes of the
enemy least we too become like Judas Iscariot. Amen

Look at vs 46-49 #46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those
standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his
ear. 48 "Am I leading a rebellion," said Jesus, "that you have come out with swords and
clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and
you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled."
After Judas betrayal kiss, the regiment of soldiers arrested Jesus, one of the disciples,
who actually was Peter, #drew his sword and cut off the ear of one of the men that tried
to arrest Jesus. However, Jesus disapproved of his action and taught him that he wasnt
a leader of a physical rebellion rather a Saviour of human souls. Lets read Ephesians
6:11-12 together lets go #Eph 6:11-12 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can
take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and
blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark
world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Peter had resorted to
a physical battle, however Paul teaches us that our fight is a Spiritual fight, we wrestle
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Dear brethren if we do not pray and seek
the Lord in prayer, then we automatically shall fight physical battles, among ourselves
and the community around us.

In conclusion, we have learnt that we need to be spiritually strong to overcome our

human weaknesses and temptations. We should pray fervently, like Jesus prayed, until
the will of God is fulfilled in our lives. Amen.

Lets remind ourselves of todays key verse again, #Mark 14: 36 "Abba, Father," he said,
"Everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you
will."

Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father thank You so much for your love and mercy towards us,
thank you for giving us your word and teaching us the need and secret of prayer in a
Christians life, Heavenly Father, give us the courage and strength to pray, forgive us
where we have denied and betrayed You in front of the world, fill us with your Holy Spirit
and cause us to obey your Word. In Jesus mighty Name I pray. Amen