THE IMPORTANCE OF GETHSEMANE: THE UNCANCELABLE GOSPEL
Luke 22:54-62: LIFEWAY SPRING QUARTERLY 2021 SESSION 9
My undergraduate degree is in Business but I almost didn’t finish it because of one particular subject “ACCOUNTING”. I loved studying Marketing, Management, and especially Human Resources and Coordination but I loathed Accounting and having to remember and apply all those rules for what could be “written off” and what could not be written off on “the books” and why- I almost dropped my major (and in hindsight maybe I should have!) Now I know- some people really enjoy the subject of Accounting- and good for you but I’m just not a “fun with numbers” kind of guy! However, when it comes to a “Spiritual Accounting” before God we know the bad news and THE GOOD NEWS- THE BEST NEWS EVER- THE GOSPEL! The terrible bad news is this- like in “Accounting” we have been “Written Off” we have been “canceled.” If our lives and souls were a check written with the worth of our own self-righteousness on our own merit of personal holiness before God and His “Books” of the Law the Bible says we would be worthless, null, void and canceled- we possess no value in and of ourselves that makes us justified before God because of our sin which we cannot “write off” our ledger (Romans 3:9-12, 23, 6:23)!
A major part of the importance of the story of Gethsemane is the way Luke exposes the ugly sinfulness, hypocrisy, unbelief, chaos and betrayal of humanity towards God as shown in the attitudes, and actions of the Teachers of the Law, the soldiers, Judas and yes even somewhat in the disciples’ response to Jesus’ arrest. Jesus’ questions to the mob and Judas doesn’t stop them from their evil deeds but does establish their “accountability” an “accounting of their sinfulness in contrast to Jesus’ perfection, innocence, integrity and sacrifice (a major theme of Luke’s Crucifixion Account). Jesus’ attitudes and actions display His righteousness while exposing the fallenness and sin of His enemies.
You see, Jesus’ enemies (in league with Satan with the dominion of darkness- v.53) thought they had come to the right place at the right time in a secluded garden under the cover of night and darkness to finally “cancel” (KILL) Jesus and His ministry (see John’s dramatic Passion account alongside Luke’s – Lk 22:3-6; Jn 13:27-36). Their insane reasoning (remember our previous lesson from session 7 Lk 20:9-19) went like this: kill Him and you kill His identification with God, kill His Gospel, and kill His mission. “Cancel” Jesus- throw the “Son” out of the “Vineyard” out of Israel, Jerusalem, and the Temple. Take Him away- shame the Son of Man by crucifying Him as a common criminal and enemy of the people on a Roman cross- let the people see Him suffer and die for the sin and transgression of His “blasphemous” claims and the World will eventually forget Him and be saved… Cancel the gift of Jesus and the Gospel from Heaven, Cancel the gift of Jesus and the Gospel so it can’t be received by needy people and Creation, Cancel the proclamation of His Name and you stop the spread of His Kingdom. Luke’s Gospel shows us the spiritual foolishness, the insanity and the irony of His enemies’ beliefs (see 1Cor 2…)
It is an insanity and irony that is still in the world today- but not for long for the Son of Man is returning! We live in a fallen and dark world where Satan has taken captive people’s minds and hearts. We live in a society that has embraced “canceling” other’s culture. You mess up, you make a mistake, you don’t “live up” or more like “live down” to the World’s standard- if you stand for the love and Truth of the Gospel for Jesus’ Name you will be hated, reviled and “canceled” “written off” under the false belief and earthly wisdom that they are doing a “good thing” for “their god” for humanity and the world… (See Matt 5:10-12, Jn 15:18-16:11). They think “cancelling”- attempting to silence us as proclaimers of the Gospel will stop God’s redemptive plan. However, by God’s grace we KNOW better!
The Disciples later on in the text, and all the way down the golden thread of the Great Cloud of Witnesses to Believers today (see Heb 11 and 12) have been granted spiritual wisdom, Heavenly wisdom (2 Cor 2, James 3:13-4:10) (our text today shows us this comes through prayer…) from the Holy Spirit that allows them and us to see God’s plan of salvation- to see the Gospel clearly at work even though and in spite of the evil actions of the spiritual powers of darkness and the people Satan has taken captive to do His will (see Rom 8:28, 2 Tim 2:25-26). The Truth of God’s redemptive plan as displayed and revealed in the Gospel shows Luke’s “Heavenly reversal of fortune” that came through the enemies’ schemes. Here’s the GOOD NEWS. No matter how hard the world and Satan may try (and the crucifixion was their most concerted effort) - no one- nothing can “write off” the Gospel. It is uncancelable! The World can’t write off: the commands of God, the Truth of God, the holiness of God, the integrity of God, the Mercy of God, the Faithfulness of God, the Grace of God, the Power of God, the Presence of God, the Promises of God, the WORD of God, and the greatest of these… The LOVE of GOD in and through Christ Jesus our LORD.
Where the Pharisees thought they would expose Jesus as a sinful Transgressor on the cross they exalted Him as the redeeming Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the World (Phil 2:1-10) - glorifying His righteousness as the perfect sacrifice while exposing theirs and our inequity. Like we’ve already argued all of humankind can easily be written off under the standard of God’s Law- we are canceled if we try to stand and be justified before God in our own righteousness so the Teachers of the Law didn’t “cancel Jesus” instead Jesus canceled sin for all who will believe in His name. WE ARE NOT WRITTEN OFF, OUR SIN IS WRITTEN OFF because of Jesus. Not because of Law but by Grace through Faith (Eph 2:8). The cup of suffering (“this is the new covenant of my blood poured out for you” Lk 22:20) Jesus partook beginning in that garden was the cup that revealed His identity to the World and washed us clean! Far from being forgotten as the Son of Man’s enemies desired, Jesus is exalted and in Him the world- people can be saved and we are the living proof! That is what we proclaim, that is what defines us as a church as a people of God and followers of Christ. We proclaim Him as Paul writes to Timothy “in and out of season” good times and bad (2 Tim 4:1-2), comforting times and times of suffering- it was through Jesus’ suffering that His Kingdom, identity, love and holiness were proclaimed loudest… And it can be in our pain and suffering that the testimony of God’s grace at work in us and His Gospel can most clearly be revealed to and for others. So the three remaining questions that reveal the importance of Gethsemane are: How did Jesus endure His suffering? Why did Jesus endure His suffering? How now do we endure suffering as His followers in a Christian “canceling” culture?
How did Jesus endure His suffering beginning in Gethsemane? The first and most obvious answer is because He is the Perfect Son of God and the Perfect Son of Man… As the Son of God He is completely sovereign over the situation, as the Son of Man He fully knows and has no doubt over His mission and what must be accomplished. In reality ONLY Jesus as the perfect suffering servant (Isaiah 52:13- 53:12) could endure and take the payment of our sin through the wrath of Father God. Jesus suffered and died on the cross not only willingly (Lk 22:42), not only because He obeyed the Father, not only because He loves us, but also because ONLY He was the worthy sacrifice to do it as Savior and LORD. Luke however wants us to see not less but more than solid “Christological” “Soteriological” Doctrine here (Theology that explains Jesus as being fully God and fully Man, and explains why Jesus’ identity and actions are the only thing that can secure our salvation). Luke wants us to see what Jesus used in his human limitation and weakness to endure suffering. He wants us to see what is available to us for enduring suffering like Jesus did. Luke wants us to see the “orthopraxis” behind the “orthodoxy”; how we can please God and be a witness like Jesus did when we face betrayal, persecution, and suffering- the “practicalities” behind the spiritual realities of these scriptures…
First Jesus entrusted Himself to the Father and He did this through earlier preparation and now prayer. Not always, but most of the time we see suffering coming… It’s like being in the lead car on a rollercoaster- we are slowly climbing that first hill for the BIG DROP! We know it’s coming. As your climbing onboard the ride are you going to tell the attendant- “Nah, I don’t need the harness or a seatbelt, I’m good!” Of course not! You’re going to check that harness again and again, you are going to lament about being coaxed onto this ride and you’re going to say your prayers! The Christian life is like that, remember when you were young and first accepted Christ or the “good times” in your life with Him? You’re all “gung ho!” Your hands are open, family, profession, church, career community, and opportunity are promising, growing, expanding, blooming. Love and laughter, resources physical and spiritual might come easy- you go to church with that genuine smile saying “Alright! Yeah! Where do I sign?!” Then the storms come. Then the withering drought of aging or illness makes itself evident. Nothing’s alright, suffering is here. The Bible tells us don’t be surprised. Throughout Luke Jesus tells His disciples that suffering is coming- it’s a way of life for His followers so don’t be surprised or dismayed though it’s definitely OK to emote and be troubled (our Savior sweated drops of blood!)
It’s OK to be confused, sad, even depressed, but where will you turn? Jesus “took it to Father God in prayer” (I think there’s a hymn we all know that mentions this-). We can prepare and learn about suffering till the “cows come home” but as humans we are never fully prepared for the actual experience- we must pray and entrust ourselves to God and one another even when we have a strong suspicion other people might not be there for us in our hour of need we know God will be there and see us through. Jesus shows us that God’s presence doesn’t always mitigate the pain the way we want but He is there with us regardless. Verses 41-46 are reminiscent of 1 Kings 19 where even in the midst of his depression Elijah is reminded of God’s presence and work. Remember that nothing, no suffering can cancel the work of Jesus’ Gospel in your life once you have submitted to Him- not loss, not death, not COVID-19, disability, or isolation or loneliness. The Gospel’s a mighty rolling river! You might be “lonely” but because of Jesus and the Gospel you are never alone Christian! You are never without HOPE and the fulfillment of God’s promises in you; it is a constant of your New Life in Jesus- you are being raised (see 2nd Cor 4:1-6:2 emphasis 4:5-10, 4:13-18, 5:14-17) and you will be raised! (1st Thess 4:13-18) therefore we can endure.
Therefore we can be a witness. Jesus’ suffering was the gateway to the greatest and strongest revelation of scripture that He - King Jesus saves! What does that mean about our suffering? Can Jesus be revealed? Can the love and power of God, His forgiveness, peace, mercy, Truth and gentleness be revealed in us as we handle and turn over our difficult circumstances and sufferings to Him? This is where the Disciples were experiencing spiritual difficulty (verses 49-51) they didn’t respond to the mob the way Jesus responded to the mob because they hadn’t prayed and readjusted their focus towards Jesus’ words; they were focused on what they saw around them not having faith in God for what was to come. However, they eventually did learn from Jesus’ example and the “good fruit” of His suffering how to turn their suffering and pain over to God for His witness and glory to bear good fruit themselves in Him and it turned the World upside down! And it still does so today! Will you give your sufferings over to God? Will you prepare, remember, and pray? If you do- great spiritual fruit, peace and witness will result in and through your life!
March 16th, 2020 was our first typed up lesson that was written and sent out to our off campus Care and Retirement Facility Sunday School Classes. Here we are now, more than a year later with 59 lessons and 265 written pages and 3 facilities in reception. It looks like our written reminder that “we will be together soon” is almost here: Sunday, May 2nd 2021 is our soft start date- 9:30 am at the Lyndale Common Room for IN-PERSON Sunday School. We are working for openings with the other facilities. God is opening the doors. I am so excited, humbled and blessed and I pray you are and will be too! If you are available at Lyndale Sunday please come… We will have social distancing limits but don’t let that keep you from attending. We will practice safe guidelines AND we will conduct as many classes this Sunday as needed to accommodate EVERYONE. NO ONE will be left out. The time of comfort and reconnecting is here and the time of isolation is prayerfully ending.
I am overwhelmed. I have missed all of you terribly and look forward to greeting familiar faces and meeting new ones! The “Pause” is ending “The GO” is coming! We have walked this COVID-19 road of suffering together and now we will walk this road of “healing” this road of hope and comfort, this road of witness, expectation and if God so wills not under human pride or demand but through humility, dependence in and on Him and the audacity of Faith- REVIVAL that God has laid before us. We will sing His praises, we will remember His promises, we will pray, encourage, cry, remember, proclaim and laugh together. I don’t know what to expect- but I can hardly wait to find out! May our fellowship be sweet in the JOY of the LORD is my prayer and I hope yours as well. Hang in there! Love to you all and all the best! See you soon! In Christ, Darrin.