The Last Temptation

Savior and Teacher-A Study of Matthew Part 7
Rev. John Lin
25 March 2012

Matthew 26: 36-46
36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."  37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.  38Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.  Stay here and keep watch with me."

39Going 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."

40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping.  "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter.  41"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

42He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.  44So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

45Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting?  Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.  46Rise, let us go!  Here comes my betrayer!"

JESUS WAS SHAKEN BY THE THOUGHT OF HIS DEATH
--not the physical pain, but the abandonment of God.
--the feeling of rejection, by God, his FATHER.

SACRIFICE OF JESUS WAS A SACRIFICE OF LOVE
--a TRUE love that answers to the objective reality of God's wrath.
--God's love and wrath are interconnected.

JESUS OBEYS GOD DESPITE UNANSWERED PRAYERS AND EVENTUAL ABANDONMENT
--We are treated in the way that Jesus unequivocably obeyed God.
--God sees us through Jesus's Record and actions.

COMFORT IN HARDSHIP
--Jesus endured the wrath of God, so what can we really do to lose his love for us.
PERSISTENCE IN PRAYER
--Honest prayer where be bear all our sins and secrets.
--Don't pray for results, pray so that "thy will be done".
PATIENCE WITHOUT SELF PITY.
--Jesus endured the ultimate suffering without complaint--surely, we can endure our petty issues.