Sermon Extras

The Prayers of Jesus Week 4: Mark 14:32-42

INTRO> Maybe your family is like ours when it comes to traveling and taking a trip, if you don’t prepare you won’t make it. Just recently went on a trip, Courtnee packed me a bag of snacks and stuff.

CONTEXT> The context of our passage today is hard to even comprehend. Jesus has just shared a meal with his friends and is hours away from being betrayed by a friend and is going to be murdered. He walks to the a Garden close by, “The Garden of Gethsemane” (PIC) the word means “oil press” (Pic) Close by Jesus is an oil Press (Pic) Do you see the picture now of what is taking place. Jesus is literally being pressed and crushed by pain. Emotional , spiritual and physical pain are all pressing in on him. We are promised pain in this world.

• • • • “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”- John 16:33
      • “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21

APP> What does Jesus do in these last moments, what does he show us? the word “pray” is used 4x in these short verses. Which tells me this:

Big Idea > We must prepare and process our pain in prayer.

1. Request friends to pray with you . v32-33

“32 And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John…”

1. 1. Loneliness is a choice. (Hard truth to learn)
   2. Asking for help isn’t weak, it’s wise. (Remain, Watch)
   3. Be selective on who you let in. (Peter, James and John, inner 3)

APP> During this season, social distancing doesn’t mean social disconnection.

2) Run to the Father. v36

“36 And he said, “Abba, Father…”

1. 1. Who or what we run to reveals what we love. (Currently in the pandemic liquor sales are up by 30%)
   2. Your perspective of God shapes your prayers to God. (If God is angry, absent , God is a loving Father)

APP> When our kids were younger, when they got hurt they run to me!

3) Release your emotions. v33-35

33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” 35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground”

1. 1. Prayer is the primary way to process our emotions.
   2. Honesty is the key to intimacy. (Let this cup pass!)
   3. Jesus knows your pain.

4) Remind yourself of God’s bigness. v36

“36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

1. 1. When you are uncertain of the future, recall God’s faithfulness in the past.
   2. Prayer is about submitting to God’s will not getting our way. (*Andie Grace and “Amen)

5) Resist quitting. v38

37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

1. 1. Prayer is both discipline and delight. (It’s hard!)
   2. Powerful prayer is persistent prayer.

*ILL> During the great depression a man by the name of Napoleon Hill wrote a book to inspire the American people and in his book he tells a true story of a man by the name of R. U. Darby. Darby lived in Maryland and heard about the Gold rush out west, find a plot of land, found some gold on it, sells everything, keeps pursuing it, turns out it was a bust. Sells the land, the man picks up where he left off and find Gold 3 feet from where Darby quit. The story if called “# feet from Gold”

6) Repeat steps 1 through 5. v39

39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 

How do we prepare and process our pain through prayer?

1. 1. 1. Request friends to pray with you.
      2. Run to the Father.
      3. Release your emotions.
      4. Remind yourself of God’s bigness.
      5. Resist quitting.
      6. Repeat steps 1 through 5.

Big Idea > We must prepare and process our pain in prayer.