Sunday, July 19, 2009

The Agony of Gethsemane - Luke 22:39-46

Title: The agony of Gethsemane
Date: July 19, 2009
Text: Luke22:39-46, Matt 26:36, Mark 14:32
Introduction
- We do not often hear sermons about Gethsemane
- The story about Gethsemane is dark and foreboding
- There is something that is often overlooked, when it is talked about
- That is, why was Jesus in such intensity that evening, just before his arrest
- There is a lesson for us to learn
- We often focus on the intensity of Jesus’ prayer, and his agony
- But we can miss the reason for the agony
- Today we will be looking at why it was, that Jesus agonized so, about his impending crucifixion
The Last Supper
- The story starts in Luke 22:7
- Jesus sends out Peter and John to get ready to observe Passover with the disciples
- That evening they get together for the celebration of the coming out of Egypt
- Before the meal starts, Jesus washes the disciples feet, teaching them about humility and service – John 13
- Verse 14 – Jesus would be leaving them but he treasures this time of solemnity as they commemorate the exodus from slavery to the Egyptians
- At the end of the meal, he introduces what we call the Last Supper, or Communion
- Verse 19 – as we take the bread, it represents his body that was broken for us, was voluntarily given for us
- We are told to do this in remembrance of Him, to remember this selfless act of love
- Verse 20 – as we take the cup and share in this communion, we are remembering Jesus’ blood that was poured out for us
- Pictures of Jesus show a few drops of blood – they are not accurate
- Jesus poured out his blood, just like the Passover lamb they had eaten that evening, had had its throat slit and its blood soaked the ground beneath it
- PRAYER
The teaching – John 14-17
- Jesus then teaches the disciples, these are his last words to them
- The disciples are fighting amongst themselves about who is going to be greatest
- Jesus promises them that he will send the Holy Spirit to live in everyone who believes in him
- He tells about the intimate relationship that Christians will have with God
- He calls the disciples friends, not servants as they had been as students of the rabbi
- He talks about the cost of discipleship, that the disciples will be persecuted, just as he was
- He tells Peter that he has been praying for him not to fall, but that he will deny Jesus 3 times, that night.
- Jesus prays for the disciples and prays for the unity of al, believers
- Then they sing a hymn and go out to the garden of Gethsemane
Gethsemane – Luke 22:40
- the word Gethsemane means “oil-press”
- on the west slopes of the mount of Olives, is an orchard of olive trees
- in the middle of the orchard, was an olive press. The press consisted of two parts –
- the first part was a stone table, with a gutter running around it, leading to a container underneath
- the second part was a huge square stone pillar, five feet high
- when they used the oil press, they would place the olives into netting so they would not fall out. They would place them on the table. Then they would lift up the huge stone pillar and place it on top of the olives.
- The enormous pressure caused the olives to be squeezed, and the olive oil would run across the table, down into the gutter, and then into the container underneath
What Jesus experienced
- Matt 26:37-38 – began to be sorrowful and troubled – overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death
- Mark 14:33-34 – deeply distressed and troubled – overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death
- Luke 22:43 – and angel comes to strengthen him
- Now he is in anguish – prays even more intensely
- His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground
- I have never sweated blood
- None of us
- Jesus was not a wimp that he was so scared of what was coming, as to sweat blood
- Plenty of people have had courage, while facing death – Jesus was not a coward
- Jesus now started carrying the sins of the world
- Gal 1:3-4 – Gave himself for our sins
- 1 John 2:2 – atoning sacrifice for our sins – also for the sins of the whole world
- during his time in Gethsemane, Jesus was not being tested by God, or tempted by the devil
- he was not being tempted by his flesh
- In Gethsemane, Jesus started the journey of carrying the sins of the whole world
- In Gethsemane he was in an emotional and mental oil press, squeezing the life out of him
- The stress he was under must have been incredible
- Luke was a doctor, he describes the great drops of blood he is sweating
Baptism
- some of you will be baptized this afternoon
- baptism is not something to take lightly
- making that commitment before God and before witnesses is something we are instructed to do
- this sermon is intended so that you may know the enormity of the load Jesus carried, and the love he had for you personally
- we say I can’t forgive myself for what I have done
- but Jesus HAS forgiven you
- accept the gift he gives you so you can have a fresh start in life
- Isa 1:18 – Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool
- Wherever you have been, whatever you have done – Jesus carried it all for you, so that you can have a fresh beginning

Thursday, July 2, 2009

The Names of God - Pt 2 - Exodus 3:143-15

Title: The Names of God – Part 2
Date: July 2, 2009
Text: Exodus 3:13-15

Introduction
- Last Sunday we examined four of God’s names
- Each of these names had something to do with God’s greatness
- 1. God is Yahweh – the existing One
- 2. God is Elohim – a God who is bigger than we are, able to change things
- 3. God is Adonai – a God who is our Lord and Master – someone to whom we surrender
- 4. God is El-Shaddai – the Almighty – the most powerful being in the universe
- Today we will look at other names of God in the Old Testament which tell some of the ways in which he relates to us as people.

5. Jehovah-jireh
- "The Lord will Provide."
- From "jireh" ("to see" or "to provide," or to "foresee" as a prophet.) God always provides, adequate when the times come.
- Gen. 22:14.
- IMPLICATION
- When we go through trials, God is able to provide a way
- Abraham had no idea where the lamb would come from
- But God provided
- 1 Cor 10:13 – God provides a way to get through the trial we are facing

6. Jehovah-rapha
- The Lord Who Heals"
- From "rophe" ("to heal"); implies spiritual, emotional as well as physical healing.
- Ex. 15:22-26.
- God offers us healing, in our spirit, when we turn to God, in our thinking and emotions, when we have been hurt, and in our body, when our body is damaged or ill
- (Jer. 30:17, 3:22; Isa. 61:1)
- God heals body, soul and spirit; all levels of man's being.
- IMPLICATION
- God desires to take care of us, not only in providing the things we need, or in changing circumstances, but also in our individual needs, in our emotions, body and in giving us life through Jesus
- James 5:14 – if sick, ask for prayer.

7. Jehovah-nissi
- The Lord Our Banner."
- Ex. 17:15. YHWH-Nissi – after Joshua defeats Amalek – Aaron and Hur hold up Moses arms
- God on the battlefield, from word which means "to glisten," "to lift up," Noticeable from a long distance
- See Psalm 4:6. Lift up the light of your face upon us
- IMPLICATION
- God is the One who fights our battles
- Learn to trust Him to do the fighting
- Turn our problems over to Him
- 2 Chron 20:15

8. Jehovah-M'Kaddesh
- The Lord Who Sanctifies"
- Lev. 20:8. I am the Lord who makes you holy
- God is the one who sets us apart and makes the difference, not our own efforts to be holy
- "To make whole, set apart for holiness."
- IMPLICATION
- Only God can make us holy
- Eph 2:10 – we are his workmanship
- 2 Cor 5:17 – a new creation

9. Jehovah-shalom
- The Lord Our Peace"
- Judges 6:24. Gideon comes face to face with JHWH – who tells him nothing bad will happen, God is our peace
- "Shalom" translated "peace" 170 times means "whole," "finished," "fulfilled," "perfected."
- Related to "well," welfare."
- IMPLICATIONS
- Shalom means that kind of peace that results from being a whole person in right relationship to God and to one's fellow man.
- Eph 2:16-17 – removed the enmity by the cross
- James 4:4 – friendship of world, enmity with God

10. Jehovah-tsidkenu
- The Lord Our Righteousness"
- Jer. 23:5, 6, 33:16. Messiah will be a wise, just and righteous King
- From "tsidek" (straight, stiff, balanced - as on scales - full weight, justice, right, righteous, declared innocent.)
- The Lord our Righteousness.
- IMPLICATIONS
- My own righteousness doesn’t cut it – I need Jesus righteousness inside me
- I can work as hard as I like, but it is only God who can make me totally righteous
- Phil 3:9 – righteousness that is by faith

11. Jehovah-rohi
- The Lord Our Shepherd"
- Psalm 23
- from "ro'eh" (to pasture).
- IMPLICATIONS:
- John 10 – Jesus is our shepherd
- He goes after the lost sheep
- He is not willing hat any should perish
- He finds us, cares for us, heals us, provides for us, protects us
- This is all described in his names

12. Jehovah-shammah
- The Lord is There"
- (Ezek. 48:35).From chapter 40 on, a description of worship after Jesus returns
- the temple will be rebuilt, and it says here that the Lord will be there
- IMPLICATIONS:
- When we accept Jesus, we invite him into our heart
- Our spirit now becomes His dwelling place
- Eph 2:19-22 we are now a dwelling where God lives
- And he tells us he will be with us always, even to the end of the world

Conclusion
- We have now looked at 12 of God’s names, as he is described in the Old Testament
- God is a God who is great and powerful, as well as kind and gentle and sensitive to our needs
- God is a God who wants to be with us, today, tomorrow and into eternity
- God is an awesome God