Saved from Agony by Agony

“Thy Will Be Done”
Brian Reid, April 3, 2007
Ashmore Baptist Church

The Sycamore Tree
“You know, I’ve been in this Garden for many a millennia. In the winter I sleep, and dream of the spring, when I come alive, once again. I seek the warmth of the sun. I search the clear blue sky for the happy singers of joy. The birds, they fly while telling the story again and again. In this Garden, I, the Great Sycamore can only watch, but remember so well, what happened that day.”

Christ’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane is not the normal place to start, when we think of the events of the Passion Week. For this, happens Thursday evening, after the Last Supper. On this night, Jesus will be betrayed and arrested. On Friday, He will tried, convicted and crucified.

But, what about all those things that come before, His triumphant ride into Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt, clearing the temple, and other events that build one upon another.

I wanted to start here! I wanted to talk about the agony that Christ experienced, and I wanted to talk about the agony that we, Christians, also suffer, all this week - every day, as we read and re-read and listen and listen again, to what our savior Christ went through for us. For we suffer, a different kind of agony…

As we think and remember what happen to Jesus this week, it’s hard to image, us, as committed Christians, us, going through the same thing.
He knew He would be betrayed, He knew He would be beaten and humiliated, and He knew He must die as an atonement, to God, for our sins. He knew all this and He over it.

Have you ever agonized over a decision or rationalized something with these words?

“Should I? Shouldn’t I?”
“Is there any other way this can be done?”
“I want to please you Lord, but this is very difficult!”

These are questions of commitment.

How committed was Christ to atone us, and be our substitution on the cross? How committed was Christ in following through, on His promise to His father? How committed was Christ to do what He did, knowing the pain and suffering He would undertake?

Christ tells Peter, James and John in verse 38;
“My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.”

How committed of a Christian are you? Do you agonize over things, or do you give into the temptation to turn away and run?

The underlining theme in the Garden, was temptation. Jesus knew His departure was drawing closer, and He knew the disciples would be all alone, with nothing but His teachings to guide them. He worried they would fall into temptation and flee, as predicted in Zechariah 13:7 and Mark 14:27;

“Strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will scatter.”

Why was Jesus so preoccupied, as weather the disciples would scatter or not? Why was He worried about them, when His own life was coming to an end? Why was Jesus, so insistent, that the disciples should pray? Why was Jesus so concerned with what the disciples would do, when He knew what He must do; and He knew that time was coming?

Jesus told His disciples that night, and His message is conveyed to us today;
“Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will over power you. For, though, the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!”

The Garden of Gethsemane, at the foot of the Mount of Olives, is (both) the scene of agony and the place of victory. In submitting to God’s will, Jesus would be able to complete His mission of salvation, for God’s chosen people. This was Christ’s commitment to His father and to us.

When Jesus went to the Garden, He asked Peter, James and John to follow Him deeper into Gethsemane, while the rest of the disciples he left at the edge of the olive grove.

Back in Matthew 17, Peter, James and John had witnessed the Transfiguration of Christ, now they would have another glimpse at Christ’s true nature – being (both) fully human and fully divine.


It is easy to say we will endure anything for Christ, and yet most of us complain about the most minor things. When Peter, James and John pledged their commitment, Jesus knew they were about to face temptation in a huge manner. He knew that they could not survive (without assistance), for temptation could be their downfall of their discipleships. That is why He asked them, repeatedly, to pray.

But, Jesus had to leave them, for He also knew, that no other person on earth could pay the price and drink from the ‘Cup’ – so He must.

Because Jesus took on the sins of this world, some of the agony he experienced, might have been in reaction to these sins. When we sin we feel great guilt, anger and sadness. We feel isolated, alone, cast-out and worthless. We feel betrayed by ourselves, and we feel stupid in many ways. We feel like we can never do anything right, and everything we do is wrong. And most importantly, we feel separated from God and His love.

If Christ took on all of our sins, He might have been feeling and suffering from all these emotions – multiplied by all. He would have also been experiencing the rejection of the people He came to save. He would have felt absolutely alone. He would have felt like he couldn’t trust anyone. For He already knew that one of His own disciples would betray Him.

He would also be experiencing a lack of understanding sympathy from His own closest followers. They didn’t seem to understand what He was going through – Agreeing to die so others wouldn’t?

In verse 37, Jesus’ human side is revealed and we come to see Him as the suffering servant - he became anguished and distressed. It is only because He endured such great human agony and testing, that He can now strengthen us in our times of sorrow and temptation; He identifies with us, for, He knows earthly anguish.

This is a story of commitment, this is a story of a promise given, this is a story of integrity, agony and will. Sometimes we make promises we can’t or won’t keep. We tell someone, “Sure, I’ll do that for you” – secretly hoping that they will forget they asked us. We say ‘yes,’ actually meaning ‘no.’ This is lost commitment.

Christ made a commitment to His father when He came to earth. Christ knew how the story would go and He knew how it ended. But, as the time came nearer, His humanity surfaced and fear abound. He prayed for release.

Verse 39; “He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet, I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Was it Christ’s temptation to refuse the Will of God? For we know the disciples would be tempted to scatter and deny they knew Jesus at all. But, was Jesus really trying to get out of His assigned task? No!

Jesus simply expressed His true feelings, but did not deny or rebel against God’s will. He affirmed His desire to do what God wanted. His prayers, highlights the terrible suffering he had to endure – an agony so much more magnified, because He had to take on the sins of the whole world – with it. This ‘Cup’ was the agony of isolation from God, His Father, at the cross. For when Jesus died for our sins, He was temporarily separated from God, so that we could be eternally, connected and saved.

While praying, Jesus was aware of what doing the Father’s Will, would cost. His divine side understood the suffering He was about to encounter, and His human side did not want to endure that horrible experience. But, Jesus prayed, ‘not my will, but yours.’

Anything worth having, comes at some cost. What does your commitment to God cost you? Nothing? We must be willing to pay the price to gain what is priceless – which is eternal life.

In times of stress, trails and struggles, we are vulnerable to temptation, even if we have a willing spirit.
In verse 41, Jesus has this message for His disciples - and for us; “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

The way to overcome temptation is to keep alert and be aware of the possibilities, be sensitive to it’s details, and be spiritually equipped to fight it – everyday of your life. For temptation strikes where and when we least expect it, and when we don’t have the power to fight. Prayer is essential, because we can find God’s strength in our weaknesses – if we ask for His help.

In verse 42, Jesus prays;
“My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will, be done.”

3 times Jesus goes off (a little way), to pray. 3 times he returns to find the disciples sleeping – defenseless (against temptation). How tragic, it is, that many Christians act as if they are sound asleep, when it comes to devotion to Christ and service to Him. Don’t be fooled in thinking temptation is easy defeated, don’t be unprepared to do Christ’s work.

Temptation can be defeated if we; pray to God for help, seek support of Christian friends and loved ones, and focus on the purpose God has given you in your life.

In times of suffering and temptation, people often wish they knew the future, or they wish they could understand the reason for their anguish. Jesus knew what lay ahead of Him, and He knew the reason; even so, His struggle was intense, more wrenching than any struggle we will ever have to face. Knowing didn’t help, but added to His agony.

What does it take to be able to say; ‘not my will, but yours.’ It takes firm trust in God’s plans; it takes prayer, and its takes obedience each step of the way.

“Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more eagerly, and he was in such agony of spirit, that his sweat fell to the ground, like great drops of blood.”

Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane in an agony, He went in confused and bewildered, He went uncertain and afraid; But, He came out, strengthened and supported, He came out, at ease, with what must be done, He came out, with the victory won and with peace in His soul – for He had talked with God and God reaffirmed Him.

When Jesus’ agony was over, His peace was complete. He emerged with calmness and majesty, ready to face trail, physical death and redemption for man’s sin. His faith remained victorious, even though in a few short hours, He would die.

Be assured, as you experience the Passion and agony of this week, Sunday is approaching, and with it, comes the Splendor Of Easter.

All those who journey, soon or late,
Must pass within the garden gate;
Must kneel alone in darkness there,
And battle with some fierce despair.
God pity those who cannot say,
“Not mine, but thine,” who only pray,
“Let this Cup pass,” and cannot see,
The Purpose in Gethsemane.

How many times have you felt such agony?
How many times have you dropped to your knees, in total exhaustion?
How many times have you sweet drops of blood?
How many times have you showed the kind of committed that Jesus showed?
And, how many times, will you feel His agony, this week?

Jesus simply asks:
“Are you able to drink from the bitter Cup of sorrow, that I am about to drink?”

Let us pray;

Father God, as we travel this week of sorrow, and experience the events leading up to Friday, we can look beyond that day, in anticipation of the resurrection of Christ, this Easter Sunday. Amen.