Enlarge Your Soul Through Grief and Loss. Matthew 26:36-46

Transcription

1 Enlarge Your Soul Through Grief and Loss Matthew 26:36-46

2 From the Moment We Are Born; We Experience Loss For the First 2 Decades Our Gains Overshadow our Losses Aging is About Learning to Deal with Our Losses

3 Let s Listen to Jesus Deal with Grief and Loss 36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, Sit here while I go over there and pray. 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he

4 began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me. 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, My

5 Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will. 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. Couldn t you men keep watch with me for one hour? he asked Peter. 41 Watch and pray so that

6 you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. 42 He 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. 43 When he came back, he again found

7 them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them,

8 Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!

9 Peter, James and John Enter the Garden with Jesus Peter the Lead Disciple James and John Had Offered to Drink the Cup (20:20-23) Jesus said to them. Can you drink the cup I am going to drink? We Can, they answered.

10 The Contents of the Cup is Key to Understanding the Text and Jesus - soul overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. (vs 38) Luke 22:44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

11 The Cup is His Impending Suffering and Death; But Much More 1:21 He will save his people from their sins 20:28 just as the son of man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.

12 Jesus Took Upon Himself the Sins of the World the Wrath of God His Death Was Unique His Anguish Was Unique He Suffered Alone - Matt. 27:46 My God my God, why have you forsaken me? The Lamb of God

13 How Did Jesus Deal With His Grief and Loss? He Prayed 3X Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will. He Reverses the Garden of Eden not your will but mine be done.

14 Just as Jesus Yielded to the Will of the Father; So Must We This Has Happened Not My Will Not My Desire I Can t Understand It It Doesn t Make Sense But the Father Has Allowed It

15 Learning to Fall 26:39 he fell with his face to the ground He Doesn t Ignore It; Stuff It; or Medicate It He Feels It Overwhelmed by the Unfathomable Will and Power of God

16 Hebrews 5:8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered. Deep Grieving Clears Our Hearts of Junk (Peter Scazzero) Prayer is Essential Listening Vital

17 Transformation Comes By Way of the Cross John 12:24: Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Resurrection Only Comes After Death

18 Lessons for Christ Followers: Good Christians Feel Grief and Loss Good Christians Express Their Pain Good Christians Learn to Fall and Pray as Jesus Prayed Good Christians Will Rise Again Enlarge Your Soul Through Grief and Loss