1. Matt. 26:30 - Passover supper completed - Went to the Mt. of Olives.

    a. Matt. 26:36 - Gethsemane - Enclosed garden.

    b. Jno. 18:2 - Place of resort for Jesus & disciples.

2. In Gethsemane, Jesus experienced great agony & anxiety as He prayed to the Father, exhorted His disciples & presented Himself for arrest. We witness Judas’ kiss of betrayal, the mob which arrested Jesus & the flight of His disciples.

3. Heb. 5:7-9 - There, Jesus learned & teaches us obedience!

4. Texts: Matt. 26:36-56; Mk. 14:32-52; Lk. 22:39-53; Jno. 18:1-11.

I.    JESUS IN THE GARDEN.

    A.He Prayed To The Father - Matt. 26:36-39, 42, 44.

        1. His humanity is seen.

            a. Sorrowful unto death, troubled, agony - Reflect His thoughts & feelings as He neared death.

            b. Lk. 22:44 - Sweat as great drops of blood.

            c. v. 39 - Desired to have cup of suffering removed.

            d. Jesus was fully man & experienced all the feelings of humanity - Heb. 4:15.

        2. See His faith in God - Mk. 14:36.

            a. Resolved to do Father's will - Jno. 12:27; 6:38; Phil. 2:8.

            b. cf. Our resolve - Josh. 24:15; Jno. 7:17 (Heb. 13:21).

        3. He was heard by God - Heb. 5:7-8.

            a. Godly fear.

            b. Lk. 22:43 - Angel sent to strengthen Him.

            c. cf. l Jno. 5:14-15 - God hears His people!

    B.He Exhorted His Apostles - Matt. 26:37-41.

        1.v. 37-38 - Peter, James & John - "Watch with me."

            -(Lk. 22:40 - Also told to pray).

        2.v. 40 - Sleeping - Scolded - The need for constancy.

        3.v. 41 - Why?

            a. 26:31-35 - Impending dangers.

            b. Seek divine strength.

        4. Lessons: Watch - Be on guard against sin - 1 Pet. 5:8.

            Pray - Dependency upon God - 1 Cor. 10:13; Matt. 6:13.

    C.    He Voluntarily Surrendered - Jno. 18:3-11.

        1.v. 4-7 - Openly gave Himself (Jno. 10:17-18).

        2.Matt. 26:51-54 - Prohibited violence - Knew God's will & freely obeyed Him!

        3.Jno. 18:8-9 - Protected His disciples.

        4.Lk. 22:50-51 - Healed ear of Malchus Þ No hatred!

    A.    Judas Leads The Mob - Jno. 18:3.

        1.    Received soldiers & temples officers to go, arrest Jesus.

        2.    Mk. 14:10-11- Sought convenience - Cover of darkness gave it.

        3. cf. Jno. 3:19-21 - Sinners love "darkness" to hide evil works.

    B.    The Deed Is Done.

        1.    Mk. 14:44 - Kiss to identify Jesus.

        2. Mk. 14:44 - "Safely" - Judas may have had a false impression on what would happen to Jesus - cf. Matt. 27:3-4, ff.

        3. Judas’ end was one of shame & suicide.

        4. Lessons:

            a. Do not betray Jesus with a kiss! (Doctrine, immorality, etc.)

            b. We must carefully weigh the consequences of our actions! - cf. Matt. 5:13-16.

III. THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS: SCATTERED - Matt. 26:56.

    A.    Predicted By Jesus.

        1.    Matt. 26:31 - Fulfilled Zech. 13:7.

        2.    Jno. 16:30-32 - Statement of faith tempered with reality of what was about to happen!

            a. In the face of tribulation, they would desert Jesus.

            b. Yet - cf. Matt. 26:32 - Hope extended to them.

            c. Later - cf. Acts 5:41.

        3.    Is our faith ready to stand the test? - 1 Cor. 10:12; Heb. 10:36-39.  (Or do we "scatter" when tried by sin, error, the world?)

Conclusion

1. Jesus was ready to be obedient unto death - Phil. 2:8.

2. He learned obedience thru these events (Heb. 5:8), & became the one who gives salvation to the obedient (Heb. 5:9).