We’ve all had someone come to us and say, “I’ve got Good News and Bad News.”
Company Email
Good news: Your snarky reply to a coworker’s email is spot-on and gets a few chuckles.
Bad news: It accidentally goes out to the entire company—including your no-nonsense boss.
Parking Perfection
Good news: You find a prime parking spot right at the entrance.
Bad news: It turns out it’s next to a hydrant you didn’t notice, and you end up with a ticket
Shipping Trouble
Good news: Your long-awaited online order finally arrived.
Bad news: the package has taken a detour to someone else’s address.
DIY Disaster
Good news: You finally fix that annoying leaky sink all by yourself.
Bad news: In your triumph, you accidentally create a mini indoor water feature on your kitchen floor.
This morning’s passage leads to the Good News of the gospel - Jesus is redeeming us from sin.
But Jesus first shares the bad news with His disciples - He must die to pay the penalty of our sin.
This is the scene in Matt 26:30 35 where Jesus and the eleven disciples finished the Passover meal
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”
33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.
These verses (and the rest of what we’ll look at) allow us to learn about.
Title: Following Christ Through Trials and Temptation
I love epic stories that come to an action-packed conclusion where the hero conquers the evil enemy.
The final battle might be storming a secret lair or foiling a plot to destroy the world.
Usually, the W comes with a mix of brains & brawn with a little martial arts & wry humor on the side.
Rarely do we hear a story in which the hero plots the final victory with his sidekicks like this.
Pulling them all together, he tells them, when the evil villain arrives, you’re all going to run chicken.
Then, rather than me taking their throne like you expect, I’m going to be arrested and killed.
The sidekicks would be like, “Come again? Can we put this to a vote?”
This is the scene that gets read in the script room, and it causes a stir.
But it’s an excellent example of how our Savior prepared for our redemption.
And I believe that the experience of the disciples and Jesus Himself show us how to follow Him.
The first idea that can help us to Following Christ Through Trials and Temptation is to
FOLLOW JESUS BY FOCUSING ON THE END RESULTS. (30-35)
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”
On their way to the Garden of Gethsemane from Jerusalem, Jesus tells His disciples something sad.
He tells them they will ALL fall away/stumble because of Him.
It’s because of Him, meaning “because what will happen isn’t what they expect from their Messiah."
Falling away is the opposite of standing by Jesus with faith in Him being who He claimed to be
Jesus shares that it fulfilled the prophecy for His disciples to scatter like sheep when He is struck down.
He’s referencing the prophecy from Zechariah 13:7
32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”
But Jesus promises them what will happen after He’s resurrected.
They will meet again in Galilee.
They won’t have to worry that they’re leaving His body in Jerusalem.
Instead, He will already be ahead of them for their next mission.
There should be great comfort in this promise because Jesus implies that their relationship will be restored.
And they will follow His lead again.
33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”
Peter says, “Maybe these other guys might, but I’ll never fall away. I’m the toughest of us all.”
He should be somberly sober about the challenge to his faith that lays before him.
34 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”
Jesus reinforces our theme with His definitive prediction.
We might expect Jesus to say, “Well, Peter, maybe I was wrong about you. I guess you won’t fall away.”
Instead, He’s leaving no doubt about the fact that Peter would deny Him.
This is an excellent example of why we are approaching this section as we are -
“Jesus is Preparing for our Redemption.”
35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.
Peter should be second-guessing his self-important spectacle of smugness when Jesus is more adamant.
Instead, he’s doubling down.
He’s telling Jesus, “No, You’re wrong. I know I won’t deny You.”
When learning to drive, I had to learn some lessons quickly.
One of them was how to keep the pickup truck I was driving in what seemed like a tiny little lane on country roads.
What doesn’t work is watching the yellow line right in front of you.
Initially, I tried to watch where the hood of the cab was and saw the yellow line in my field of view.
The people honking at me from the oncoming lane told me that wasn’t the way to do it.
Then, I learned how to stay on the road.
You don’t look at the road that’s immediately in front of you. You look as far down the road as you can.
In the same way, we need to look past the present moment,
And we must look as far down the road as God has told us.
We can trust Him for the present when we trust Him with our ultimate future and keep our eyes on that.
In that moment, why couldn’t the disciples rejoice in Jesus’ prediction that He would rise again.
Why couldn’t they look forward to being with Him in Galilee, thinking,
“Whatever takes place, I know we’ll be together in Galilee because Jesus said so”?
They were too busy arguing about what they didn’t want to have happen.
They were too focused on what they didn’t want God to be doing soon to have their eyes and ears open to be comforted by His promising results.
What’s our first response if God were to tell us,
“You're going to lose your job, but I’m at work for your growth, making you like my son.”
“Your child will wander from me, but my plan will be carried out.”
“Your spouse is going to be taken from you, but I will be with you.”
“You’ll suffer loss and hurt, but I will never leave you.”
We want to argue back and say,
“No, Lord, You’re wrong. I won’t lose that person or go through that pain.”
Or, more like Peter, we might say, “No, Lord, I won’t show my glaring need for your grace.”
“I plan to impress You instead.”
Follow Jesus through the pain by looking ahead to the end results that He’s promised.
Follow Jesus through the shame and frustration of knowing you’ll have bad days when you don’t follow Him as you ought.
We can better follow Him through these seasons when we’re reminded of what He’s promised.
Know what God promises for the Christian in the end.
* Romans 8:35–39 35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?... 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Surround yourself with friends who will remind you of God’s ultimate promises.
Remind your friends of God’s promises when they experience pain and loss.
The rest of our passage takes place in the Garden of Gethsemane.
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
The name Gethsemane means “olive press.”
There’d be expected to be an olive press on the Mt. of Olives where the oil would be extracted.
Jesus takes His inner circle of disciples to pray, as was His practice.
He shares that He needs them to support Him in His time of great sorrow.
He seeks strength through prayer and their presence as He’s deeply grieved and distressed.
Continuing on to v. 38, we read.
38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
We’ll see how effective that was -
42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.
The next idea that can help us to Following Christ Through Trials and Temptation is to
FOLLOW JESUS BY KEEPING ALERT AGAINST TEMPTATION. (36-38)
38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”
Jesus asks His disciples to watch with Him.
We’ve seen this term before - watch - γρηγορέω - to stay awake, be watchful
Paul used this same term, warning the Ephesian elders in -
* Acts 20:31 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
He also wrote to the Corinthians in the verse that is our theme for this year’s Christian Men’s Breakfast
* 1 Corinthians 16:13 13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
And to the Colossians, he writes in -
* Colossians 4:2 2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
We have to wonder if Peter thought of this night when he writes in -
* 1 Peter 5:8 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Our Lord Jesus would tell the church of Sardis
* Revelation 3:2–3 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.
40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Hold on! Peter was telling Jesus that He was wrong - that HE would stand by Him no matter what
It’s as if Peter was saying, “I’ll die for you, but just don’t ask me to stay awake and pray for you.”
The temptation that Jesus warns them against is the desire to fall asleep - to not be alert.
In these last moments that Jesus has with them, He wants them to be of victory rather than defeat
even on such a simple issue of falling asleep when they should be alert.
What is the greatest enemy of these disciples at this moment?
It’s the same as ours - the flesh.
The fact is that followers of Jesus are always fighting against the desires of the flesh.
And no matter how religious those fleshly desires are, they’re still of the flesh.
No matter how natural those desires are, they’re still of the flesh.
Case in Point:
Peter had flaunted his fleshly strength as he claimed to be more committed than all the others.
In the strength of his flesh, he proclaimed that he wouldn’t deny Jesus as his Lord.
In these verses, Peter’s challenge is the tiredness of his flesh.
This is why Jesus gives us the insight that it may be that our spirit “is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
The Lakota Sioux Chief, Sitting Bull, once said, “Inside of me there are two dogs. One is mean and evil and the other is good and they fight each other all the time. When asked which one wins I answer, the one I feed the most.”
Similar to Sitting Bull’s statement, Jesus says that our spirit and our flesh fight against each other.
We don’t stay alert against temptation by strengthening our flesh.
We stay alert and watchful by allowing our spirit to be filled with God’s Spirit.
We stay watchful by seeking to walk closely with the Lord and standing guard against our flesh
even the religious expressions of our flesh.
Do your Christian practices cause you to rely more on your flesh rather than helping you to walk more closely with God?
How can you tell if you’re being watchful against temptation and when you’re not?
If you’re prideful, irritable, easily offended, etc - take these as a clue that you’re walking in your flesh.
Who is helping you stay alert against a powerful temptation you face?
This is the value of accountability - to help us stand guard and to remain walking by the Spirit.
The final idea that can help us to Following Christ Through Trials and Temptation is to
FOLLOW JESUS BY SURRENDERING YOUR DESIRES TO GOD’S DESIRES. (39-42)
39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”… 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”
Jesus fell on His face, a posture of surrender, usually taken by a servant.
The term cup generally represented something that a person dreaded to drink
Or it describes the wrath God might pour on those who rebel against Him.
Jesus is exposing His heart and righteous desires.
It’s one of the most instructive lessons on how someone can have good desires that contradict God’s will.
Jesus makes His righteous request known to the Father, but He also surrenders His will.
My family has a funny story about my younger brother from when we went to Disney World.
My brother, Seth, hated the idea of roller coasters.
We went to Disney World when my brother was about eight.
And we were standing in line for the Big Thunder Mountain Railway.
The whole time we stood in line, he kept asking, “Are you sure this isn’t a roller coaster?”
We reassured him the whole time.
I mean, it was pulled by a little locomotive-looking thing.
But when he was sitting in the car with the train heading down the track, he could be heard screaming,
“THIS is definitely a ROLLER COASTER!”
Despite all of our definitions of what would be fun for him or what constitutes a roller coaster,
He was convinced that we had tricked him into getting onto what he defined as a roller coaster.
God often takes us on rides that we wouldn’t choose to board.
Maybe His definition of a “roller coaster” is different than ours.
But the fact is that he never promised us that He wouldn’t take us on one.
What He did tell us in John 16:33 is this -
* John 16:33b “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
So, as difficult as it is to get our minds around it - Jesus desired to bypass the cross (avoid the worst ride)
But He told the Father, “If this is what it takes, strap me in.”
It’s hard for us to imagine the will of God the Son being different from the will of God the Father.
We should see here that we might have our own ideas of what’s best, which is actually different from God’s
What’s important is that our ideas are surrendered to God’s ideas of what is best.
What’s your will/desire for your life? - Comfort? Peace? Adventure? Success? Friendship?
These are normal and not unusual
God’s will for us is to be more like Jesus, holy, and fruitful.
As 1 Thessalonians 4:3 makes clear - “For this is the will of God, your sanctification”
God promises us in Romans 8:28 that He’s working all things out for the good of His children.
And that good is our being conformed to the image of His Son.
So, this is why, if we want to follow Him,
He says, “Deny yourself, take up YOUR cross daily, and follow me.”
The next verses tell us that the “roller coaster” was about to crest the first hill.
45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
From this point forward, they’re white-knuckling it.
If you’re feeling like you’re white-knuckling it right now,
If you feel like God’s got you seated on a ride that you didn’t sign up for,
These guys know what you’re feeling.
Jesus knows what it feels like to be going through what you don’t want to go through.
If you’re not feeling that now, just wait around long enough.
If you know Christ as your Savior, you have a friend/ advocate who understands your pain and discomfort.
God has a greater purpose that is greater than you could’ve hoped for.
Trust Him, and hold tight to Him.
If you don’t know Christ as your Savior, this is as good as it gets.
But I would love to share with you how the troubles in this life can seem like nothing
compared to the joy that can be to come for you
