The Garden

BIG IDEA: On his painful path of suffering Jesus shows us how God uses our suffering to shape our & strengthen our .

Mark 14:32–42 (NLT) Jesus Prays in Gethsemane 32 They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.” 33 He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. 34 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 35 He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. 36 “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 37 Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 38 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” 39 Then Jesus left them again and prayed the same prayer as before. 40 When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. And they didn’t know what to say. 41 When he returned to them the third time, he said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But no—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”

Isaiah 53, Hebrews 12:9-11

Jesus’ prayer in the “garden of Gethsemane” revealed:

1. Who he is. Both fully God and . (vv33-35)

• You can turn to and relate to Jesus in prayer because there’s nothing you're suffering that he can’t understand or hasn’t felt.

2. What he paid. The cost. (vv35-36)

• You can trust Jesus’ never ending love because if his suffering did not make him give up on you, nothing will.

3. How he endured. by his life of prayer. (v36)

• Jesus’ garden prayer is where his human desires were submitted to and shaped by his Father’s.

Let your “soul crushing” suffering turn you in prayer to the God you intimately know & trust.

In prayer, if God isn’t at work changing your circumstances, you should expect He’s at work changing your desires.