MAIN POINT: Jesus is the perfect man to come, and no one can stop Him from building a heavenly kingdom. POINT #1 – Jesus suffers, but remains the perfect man to bring about our salvation. Mark 14:32-34 ESV, “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, 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.” The place where they went is spoken of in two different ways. Mark tells us that it is a place called Gethsemane and in Luke 22 where this story is recorded it is called the mount of olives. It was Jesus’s habit to get away to places away from crowds to pray. Similarly to the Transfiguration story, Jesus only took his closest friends with him. He wanted the Peter, James, and John to remain alert and awake. He even tells the disciples why he is going to pray. My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Jesus shows in his prophecy of the future and his knowledge of future details that he is fully God. If Jesus was not fully God then all he was was a good man or a good teacher or a good prophet, but he could not bear the weight of God’s judgement for sin. But, because a man had to be sacrificed and had to be perfect, then Jesus also had to be fully man. We see evidence of both throughout the life and ministry of Jesus. Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit but born of a woman. Jesus born without the sinful seed of Adam. Jesus being troubled and sorrowful is revealing that he is fully man. He is struggling. His soul is downcast. Jesus remains perfect though. Even as he is sorrowful. This should give us permission to do a few things. For those that can’t have children or struggle with infertility, you don’t have to smile about it. You don’t have to act like nothing is going on. This is hard. This is confusing. This is evidence that we live in a broken world where suffering is a reality. For those that have cancer or who have lost a loved one. You can still worship God, but you can do that through tears. You can struggle with God’s plan for your life. You can doubt things. You can weep openly and yet remain faithful to God. Jesus remained perfect even in sorrow. Jesus was the exact savior we needed to die for us. All of those lambs that were sacrificed on Passover were all imperfect. Their blood was spilled as a reminder that they were waiting on the perfect lamb to be slain for our sins. Jesus fulfilled all the Old Testament prophecies that said the one who would come would be pierced for our transgression, he was crushed for our iniquities. Jesus is a man of sorrows. You need him and I need him. Don’t trust in your own sacrifices. Don’t trust in your own good works. You need to trust in the great sacrifice of Jesus for your salvation. You need to trust in Jesus’s perfection. POINT #2 – Jesus doesn’t just have to suffer physically; he also suffers under the wrath of God. Mark 14:35-36 35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 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.” POINT #3 – If we understood the significance of Christ’s death, we would not be sleeping Christians. Mark 14:37:42 ESV, “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.” 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 41 And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” POINT #4 – Everyone lacks understanding that Jesus is suffering for a heavenly kingdom and not an earthly one. Mark 14:43-50 ESV, “43 And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” 45 And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 46 And they laid hands on him and seized him. 47 But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant[e] of the high priest and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” 50 And they all left him and fled.”