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Jesus (The Way of the Cross) Part 2

Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, “What? 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.”
Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, “What? 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.”

I want us to focus on a few points in this week’s column about Jesus and the Way of the Cross.

One: The disciples of Jesus slept when Jesus needed them the most.

This is sad but in many ways it is the same today. Millions of believers in Jesus are sleeping in self-contentment and self- centerness while the world is missing the very heart of Jesus and the Father’¦us being witnesses to the lost about Jesus and Salvation.
Jesus said for us to Go, and witness and preach the Gospel but this Sunday as hundreds of millions of people gather in church we leave still sleeping to the mission of seeking to save the lost and being personal witnesses.
Jesus was in the greatest struggle of His life on earth and needed the closeness and help of His friends yet they slept on. Our Lord and Savior is call us as followers to go and tell. The Heart of Jesus and the reason for His coming was to seek and save those who are lost. He said “as My Father has sent me so send I you. Are we seeking to save the lost or are we sleeping?
This season as we remember Jesus, the cross and the resurrection will you be a spectator or a witness? Will you sleep or be awake to tell the message of Jesus to a lost and dying world. Will we give excuses for our lack of sharing Jesus or give our lives in service.

Sad but true as God cries out “Whom shall I send and Who will go for us’ we lay sleeping and what Christ died for is not shared. Oh God have mercy on us sinners.

Two: Jesus suffered unspeakably as He prayed and agonized in prayer with the Father and His Will.

Please read the following.

Matthew 26:36-45

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.”

And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.

Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, “What? 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.”

Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”

And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.

So He left them, 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 resting? Behold, the hour is at hand,

and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Mark 14:32-41

Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane ; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”

And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed.

Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.”

He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.

And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour?

“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit truly is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words.

And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him.

Then He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Luke 22:39-46

Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives , as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.

When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed,

saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.

And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.

Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”

John 18:1-4

When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.

And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples.

Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”

Oh, the passage of scripture above is too much to comprehend. Many theologians have written on this. I will simply state that this is Holy Ground and as we see this agony of Jesus and His conversation with the Father I can only lay in stunned silence.

Jesus knew what was before Him and made the choice to follow through on the decision made before the foundation of the world. Even knowing the outcome it did not lessen the struggle in the Heart of Jesus. Jesus accepted the ‘Way of the Cross’ for our salvation. This was such a struggle that the Blood vessels of Jesus Face burst and His sweat was now mixed with His Blood. Such was the suffering of Jesus.

I personally believe this was the greatest suffering of Jesus except for the moment when Jesus cried out on the cross ‘Why have You forsaken Me’. All the load of sin from Adam to the End was now dumped on Jesus who became our sin-bearer.

Will you knowing the cost of being a witness for Jesus leave your will behind so that you may do His will for your life?

Will you and I leave our comfort zone and move out to share Jesus with family, friends and the world?

Is your will or your comfort more important that the will of God?

You choose. I have made my choice!

Third: Betrayal with a Kiss.

Luke 22:47-48
And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.
But Jesus said to him,
“Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

Matt 26:47-50
And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.
Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.”
Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him .
But Jesus said to him,
“Friend, why have you come?”
Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.

I do not know how many of you have ever been betrayed but Jesus was.
Jesus experienced the humiliation of by being betrayed by a ‘friend’ with a ‘kiss’.
Those of us who have known such betrayal in our lives know the pain of this and it is a comfort to know that Jesus understands.

Jesus was kind to Judas and even let Judas kiss Him. We are to be kind to our betrayers and forgiving them.
This betrayal was a part of ‘the way of the cross’ for Jesus.
For you who have know betrayal and have had to suffer for it just look at Jesus. Jesus moved on to fulfill His mission.
Also remember the greatest betrayal comes from ‘friends’. When your friend or friends turn on you then you have been betrayed!
Don’t let betrayal be a stumbling stone but a stepping-stone on your journey upwards to Glory.

Jesus had 12 chosen Disciples:
11 of the disciples ‘forsook Jesus’.
1 of the disciples ‘betrayed’ Jesus.

What will you do with Jesus today?

Pilgrim followers of Jesus,

Arthur and Denise Blessitt
Luke 18:1