Jesus’ Prayer in the midst of Struggle

Luke 22: 39-46

I. INTRODUCTION
WHAT: Jesus’ prayer in the midst of struggle
WHY: We see how Jesus was able to face sufferings

-Sometime in the mid-90s, a chancellor in UP Diliman wanted to ban all religious organizations (including Christians)
in UP facilities, reasoning that UP is a secular university
-How did the Christians respond? Within a few hours, they gathered together infront of the Film Center—for the first
time—regardless of churches, affiliations, denominations, organizations in order to pray
-Pray that God will grant them wisdom to respond, that God will reverse the rule
-Praise God! Though the rule was not formally revoked, religious orgs are again allowed to use UP facilities gave
birth to the UP Christian Community
Transition: When struggles, trials, challenges, sufferings, persecution arise, how do you respond? I admire the UPCC’s
immediate response of prayer and dependence on God.
-Can you remember a time when you also did the same? When you experienced a great struggle and you ran to
God in prayer?
Passage Connection: Today’s passage brings us nearer to the culmination of the Passion Week where our Lord is
about to face the cross.
-but before the physical sufferings, the beatings, scourging, mocking, crucifixion and death, everything started
with His private struggle in a garden in Jerusalem.
-And here, Jesus also responded in prayer in the midst of His struggles
-Let us learn about the powerful narrative of Jesus’ struggles in Gethsemane as we learn truths about prayer
-Let us learn from the narrative how Jesus was able to face the cross with peace in His heart
Outline: Look at four scenes that will teach us three truths about prayer:
[begin] The Summons (vv. 39-40)
The Struggle and Surrender (vv. 41-42)
The Strengthening amid Suffering (vv. 43-44)
[end] The Scolding of the Apostles (vv. 45-46)

Prayer: Move us to praise God for Jesus’ sacrificial death even more
-be inspired once again to fall on our knees and pray as Jesus prayed

II. BODY
A. The Summons (vv. 39-40) (Command of Jesus)
Reading/Narrating: vv. 39-40
Clarifying: v. 39 Jesus and the 11 (Judas on his way to betray Jesus) “came out” from the Last Supper, Feast
of the Passover (vv. 7-23) |very late Thursday or very early Friday (hating-gabi)
on their way to the Mount of Olives (Olivet, cf Acts 1:12): east side of Jerusalem| valley, Kidron brook, wall
more specifically in the garden of Gethsemane (olive press) at the foot of Mt. Olives (Mk 14:32;Mt. 26:36; Jn 18:1)
v. 39 not the first timeas was his custom, He frequented the place (pray, teach His disciples | Judas knew)
v. 40 Jesus commanded His disciples"Pray"; Why? "that you may not enter into temptation"
TRUTH 1: Prayer as a weapon against temptation
What Temptation?
-cf. vv. 31-32 Satan’s temptation of Peter, all the discipleswrong response to Jesus’ suffering and
death: fail in their faith, fall away
-to fight this temptation, they needed to pray (as Jesus prayed for Peter v. 32) for strength to endure
-God never tempts us (James 1:13), He tests but does not tempt Difference? Tempt fall and fail;
Test to grow and strengthen
-The enemy is crafty and knows and exploits our weaknesses through Temptation (1 Pet 5:8, James 1:14-15)
APPLICATION: I’m no stranger to temptation Jesus was tempted in every way, but did not sin (Heb 4:15)
-(Lk. 4:1-14, Lust of the flesh, Lust of the eyes, Pride of Life)
 -something I’ve always known (fight temptation with prayer) was emphasized by Jesus Himself
-How is prayer effective against temptation?
-in prayer, you are essentially transported in God’s presence
-as You commune with Him, He changes you to conform to His will Your sanctification (1 Thess 4:3)
-as you bask in His presence, your mind & heart are gripped by His holiness, love, grace exposed to
something more infinitely beautiful than temporary pleasures of this world, God Himself
PICTURE: John Piper’s ANTHEM, No; Turn the mind forcefully to Christ as superior Satisfaction; Hold the
promise and pleasure of Christ firmly in your mind until it pushes the temptation away Prayer
Restate: Next time temptation strikes, without delay pray, that is Jesus’ summons/command to us that we’ll not fall
Transition: So they are in Gethsemane and Jesus commanded them to pray to resist temptation. What’s next?

B. The Struggle and Surrender (vv. 41-42)

Reading/Narrating: vv. 41-42
Clarifying: v. 41they were already secluded in the Garden but Jesus still “withdrew from them”
v. 41How far? “a stone’s throw” away a short distance away from the apostles
SYNOPTICS: (Mk 14:32-35; Mat. 26:36-39) withdrawal was intentional, two-step | all in Gethsemane
Jesus took Peter, James and John further Jesus withdrew from the three
Why?
-Jesus is applying His teaching in Mat. 6:5-6  go to your room, close the door, pray in secret
-Jesus really wanted an intimate, private moment with the Father speaks of the importance of the
conversation His very mission, God’s plan for salvation (glory of God hangs in the balance)
v. 41 How did Jesus pray? “knelt down and prayed”: during this time, standing up with open arms was the
custom for prayers
SYNOPTICS: (Mk 14:35; Mt. 26:39) “fell on the ground, on his face and prayed”  Jesus was lying prostrate
What does this mean?
-great agony, struggle and distress
-this is a powerful image of submission, surrender, dependence and humility
-Jesus, the King of the Universe, prostrates Himself before His loving Father as He speaks to Him in prayer
TRUTH 2-Prayer as a sign of humility and submission
Why? -because when we pray, particularly when we ask for supplication, we admit our inadequacy and
seek God’s grace to provide what we don’t have| BUT…
v. 42 the most genuine surrenders come after the greatest struggles
 "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me…"
What is this prayer about?
-Jesus is struggling, He was asking, “Father, if it is Your will, please spare me from the cup of suffering…”
What is this cup of suffering?  vv. 19-20 “cup of the new covenant in His blood,”
- the fulfillment of God’s plan of salvation through Jesus’ sacrifice, suffering, death
-Jesus wants to be spared more than the physical suffering (ie. Passion of the Christ), but cup of suffering
which is sin that is to be poured on Him
-Jesus who is perfectly sinless from eternity to eternity (Heb 4:15), will take upon Himself the sin of the
world (2Cor 5:21) to grant salvation to all who believe  He who knew no sin will be sin for us…
-being filled with sin is unimaginable for this would mean God's wrath will be poured on Him (Is 53:10)
v. 42 this is a great struggle, we witness Jesus’ surrender "Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."
-these words are a powerful statement of submission
-though Jesus requested that he be spared from the agony of sin on the cross, He still submitted to
the will and desire of the Father
TRUTH 2-Prayer as a sign of humility and submission
PICTURE: Billy Graham and Charles Templeton
(40s evangelistsCharles’ questions atheism; Billy’s surrender used mightily by God)
APPLICATION: Do we have this same attitude in prayer? Do we pray so that God’s will be done? Or so that
our will be done? (PICTURE: Lord, grant me patience right now)
-let us remember 1 John 5:14-15 “If we ask according to His will—He hears us…”
-as we pray and surrender to God, we are the ones changed not Him, our wills are bent to His
 -there are surely many things we struggle about and find difficulty surrendering to God (death, sickness, wars, hurts)
Restate: Instead of these struggles leading us away from prayer, may they be catalysts for prayer, allowing God
to grow in us surrender and submission as we journey with Him in our prayers
Transition: So our Lord is lying there alone in Gethsemane, praying, struggling attitude of surrender. But then we see…

C. The Strengthening amid Suffering (vv. 43-44)

Reading/Narrating: vv. 43-44
Clarifying: v. 43"There appeared to him an angel from heaven…"
-The angel is the Father’s provision to help the Son
Take Note-God's response was not to remove the trial but to enable Jesus to withstand the trial
-similar to what happened to Peter in vv. 31-32 where Satan's temptation was allowed but Jesus
prayed for Peter's faith not to waver
v. 43Why did the angel appear? “to strengthen Jesus”
-strengthen Him to continue in prayer? Strengthen Him to face the cup of suffering?
-again, the angel is a picture of Jesus' utter dependence, humility, submission to the Father
TRUTH 3: Prayer brings comfort in suffering
-for Jesus, this came in the form of an angel who strengthened Him
-also (as we’ll see later), this came in the form of inner peace and a renewed willingness to drink the cup
of suffering to glorify God. BUT…
v. 44- The interaction of prayer, comfort and suffering is not always simple. It’s not like a vending machine
where in goes the prayer, out comes comfort (Prosperity Gospel)
- Look at Jesus: He’s been praying strengthened the agony did not immediately disappear (v.44)
-it even seems to have intensified “sweat like drops of blood” Hematidrosis
capillary blood vessels that feed the sweat glands rupture, causing them to exude blood,
occurring under conditions of extreme physical or emotional stress.
How did He respond?
-“He prayed more earnestly” (with eagerness, with more strength/force)
-Why? : Jesus wanted God's presence all the more, even as he experienced agony
-BECAUSE God's presence, not the removal of the agony/trial gave Him peace
-sometimes, God allows suffering that we may seek Him in prayer and being in His presence, we
experience true peace (PICTURE: eye of the storm)
APPLICATION: How do you respond to suffering? Do you immediately run to God in prayer? Do you seek
the removal of suffering or do you seek God’s presence in the midst of your suffering?
-Prayer is Jesus’ first response not just to temptation but even to sufferings
-when sufferings overpower us, may we respond in prayer, and seek God’s presence more than the
removal of suffering
Restate: We experience God’s presence when we pray, and in His presence there is comfort and peace even in
the midst of sufferings
Transition: As He lay there, He requested that He be spared from the cup of suffering/sinyet He submitted to
God’s will God did not forget Jesus He looked after Him through an angel strengthened Jesus as He
struggled in earnest prayer sweating with drops of blood His struggle was agonizing and painful
- But it wasn’t just Jesus who struggled, His apostles as well for them, it was a totally different story that’s
why they receive…

D. The Scolding of the Apostles (vv. 45-46)

Reading/Narrating: vv. 45-46
Clarifying: v. 45 “When He arose in prayer…” VERY IMPORTANTJesus struggled but He overcame. God granted
Him peace and strength to face the hour of darkness (PICTURE: He did not resist, Pilate was surprised, Is. 53:7)
Where did He first go?  He went to check on His disciples (commanded to pray) sleeping!
Why were they sleeping because of their sorrow
-though they seem to be in denial base knowledge of the coming sufferings of Jesus (cf. v. 15)
SYNOPTICS: (Mt. 26:38, 40-41; Mk 14:33-34, 37-38)- they saw Jesus’ distress and agony (left them to pray,
went back from praying): these brought sorrow to them
 -SADLY they responded by submitting to the flesh (slept) escape mechanism (PICTURE: tutulugan ang
problem, but just temporary, not a solution to their sorrows
v. 46  Jesus rebukes them, “Why are you sleeping?”
-first the three, then the other apostles
- Jesus was like saying: “You are going to be tempted! (Peter) I told you that prayer is your weapon!” (v. 40)
-So why are you sleeping?! Wake up! Rise! (You can almost hear the scolding tone)
Jesus repeats Himself, (emphasis, reminder), “Pray that you may not fall into temptation!”
TRUTH 1: Prayer as a weapon against temptation
-The apostles provided a negative example. In their prayerlessness, they fell to temptation:
-Peter: denied Jesus three times
-Other apostles fled (except John) only women at the cross
-they were afraid and hid (forgetting that Jesus also spoke about His resurrection; Lk 18:33)
-they did not believe His resurrection doubt
-the “scolding” that they received was only proper
Picture: But Jesus applies his command. He prayed through the struggle in Gethsemane. And God delivered Him!
-He welcomed His traitor and the soldiers in peace (healing of ear) He stood in trial quiet with calmness
of heart (amazed even Pilate)There was meekness in the midst of His scourging and crucifixion
-The only time we hear him in agony is when He experienced the alienation from the Father because of
sin, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46)
-But we know that this was not a cry of defeat, or of denial because a few moments later He also said, “It
is finished! (John 19:30)” (Lit. it is paid in full penalty for sin; I have accomplished my mission)
-Lastly, He said, “Father, into Your hands I commend my Spirit” (Luke 23:46)

III. CONCLUSION
-Four scenes of struggle showed us three truths about prayer
-Through Jesus’ summons, struggle and surrender, strengthening in suffering and scolding of the Apostles, we learned:
-a. Prayer weapon against temptation b. Prayer is a sign of humility and submission c) Prayer brings comfort in suffering

Application: Are you tempted? Pray. Are you struggling? Pray. As much as prayer brings to us deliverance from
temptation, comfort from suffering, humility and submission; it allows us to experience the greatest relationship
of all—a close communion with God.

PICTURE: Real prayer is communion with God, so that there will be common thoughts between His mind and ours. 
What is needed is for Him to fill our hearts with His thoughts, and then His desires will become our desires flowing
back to Him. (Arthur Pink)

PICTURE: William Walford, Sweet Hour of Prayer

Sweet hour of prayer 
Sweet hour of prayer 
That calls me from a world of care
And bids me at my Father's throne 
Make all my wants and wishes known 
In seasons of distress and grief 
My soul has often found relief 
And oft escaped the tempter's snare 
By Thy return, sweet hour of prayer

-Frederick Paulo Tomacder

19April14