SN - notes from 8/28/10
The Crucifixion of Jesus pt. 3 - the prayer in the garden (A)
Mark 14:32-41
review - part 2 of our series focused on Jesus’ words as He and the 12 walked to the garden. We noticed how He stressed the importance of His relationship to the Father and their relationship to Him. In sum:
Any effective, real expression of our faith in Jesus (works, obedience, love, fruit, etc.) must be hinged to our relationship with Jesus - without relationship, things become forced, contrived, and quickly get weird.
Tonight we will be taking a look at Jesus’ prayer in the garden both in terms of practice (as in how to pray - HTP) and content (as in how to live - HTL).
Next week we will do the same thing, but use John 17 as our reference point.
I. Prior to His prayer
How To Live (HTL) #1 - “Sit here while I pray” - in Ps. 46:10, we are told to “be still” knowing that “He is God” -
be still = rephah = to let hang, to be weak
this is easier to do when you compare Ps. 46 with the thought that He still takes time to pray for you - you matter that much to Him, and that is often an easy thing to forget.
HTL #2 - “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful - part 1”… - Jesus became depressed, until heaven, you will too. Recognize it as either biological or spiritual, and attack either (especially the latter) with prayer, fellowship, and the promises of God.
It is not a sin to seek medical help for the former. Is it a sin to use prosthetics for missing limbs?
HTL #3 - “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful - part 2”…
- Jesus was real in how He lived and about the things he was going through - here, we see that He had people in His life to talk with and pray with. Be real in your conversation and seek friendships that actually spur you on..
HTL #4 - “Stay here and watch” - we are always to be aware and awake for our sakes and others (in a non-nosey way) remembering that the devil is always roaming. The is command to take watch will have specific locations and seasons - there’s was the garden for a short period of time.
Rom 13:11 - And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed.
1Cr 15:34 - Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak [this] to your shame.
Eph 5:14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”
II. During His prayer (in Matt. 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22)
How To Pray (HTP) #1 - “Abba” - Jesus uses this title when teaching the 12 how to pray, 3X in His prayer for crucifixion alternatives, and 4X in His prayer for the 12 and the future church. Recognize you are praying to a limitless (all things are possible for You) loving “dad”.
HTP #2 - “Take this cup and away from me” - Jesus was real in how He prayed - He prayed His fears. Be real in your prayer life.
HTP #3 - “Watch and pray” - one key to avoiding temptation is to have a prayer life that is not static, but that is alive and flowing based on what you are “watching” in life.
“Watch and pray” is also used in the context of eschatology:
Mark 13:33 - “Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.
Luke 21:36 - “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
HTP #4 - “again He went away and prayed” - Jesus was constant in His prayers and prayer life. Pray with persistency.
Luke 18:1-8 - The parable of the persistent widow.
Luke 11:5-8 - The parable of the persistent friend.
Matt. 7:7 - Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
HTP #5 - Matt. 26:39 - “…nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Jesus put the will of the Father over His own will and desire. Pray with flexibility recognizing God is sovereign and He seems to like to use “audibles”.
HTL 1 = be still
HTL 2 = be aware (depression)
HTL 3 = be real in life
HTL 4 = be awake
HTP 1 = pray like a child
HTP 2 = pray real
HTP 3 = pray watchfully
HTP 4 = pray persistently
HTP 5 = pray with flexibility
