The Garden of Gethsemane   

Theme: In Matthew 26:30-56 we see Jesus pray one last time to His Father before going to the cross. It’s in this prayer and in this garden that we learn much about Jesus and what He went through on our behalf.

Major Points:

1.. What do we learn from the garden of Gethsemane?

A.) We Learn about The Cup!

What in the world was in that cup?

There was something dark and unattractive inside the cup that Jesus referenced.

What?

The Sin of the world

The wrath of God

The penalty of Sin

You!

Questions:

How does this passage change the way you view sin in your own life?

How does this passage change the way you view Jesus’ love for you?

B.) We learn about The Christ!

An Obedient Savior

Jesus is a better Adam.

Sin first originated in a garden but salvation originated in this garden.

Sin originated through disobedience and a tree.

Salvation comes through Jesus’ obedience and a tree.

God promised Adam if you disobey me about a tree I'm going to remove you from it. God promised Jesus if you obey me about a tree I'm going to nail you to it.

A Great Exchange (His righteousness for our sinfulness)

Jesus is our substitute! 

Substitution = It’s not that He died on a cross, it’s that He died in our place!

We are recipients of Grace!

This is called imputation. 

By His living, His righteousness is credited to our account.

By His dying, our sin is credited to His account.

An Example to follow

He teaches us how to live

He teaches us how to love

He teaches us how to forgive

He teaches us how to pray

He teaches us who to trust (God)

Questions:

How does Jesus' obedience in your place change the way you view your salvation?

If Jesus is our example, How does this passage change things in your life?

How you live?

How you love?

How you forgive?

How you pray?

How you trust God?

C.) We learn about The Cure!

Jesus’ prayer Vs 39

39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

God’s answer Vs 46

 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

John 14:6

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus Trades places with us. Jesus took the cup of wrath and offers us the cup of Grace.

Questions:

How does this truth change the way you take communion?

How does this truth change the way you raise your kids?

How does this truth change the way you follow Christ?

This passage is why casual Christianity isn’t biblical, because there was nothing casual about the cup Jesus drank for you!