We conclude our series on prayer with a third prayer of Jesus – the urgent prayer of our Savior in the garden of Gethsemane. As He faces the imminent physical and spiritual horror of the cross and bearing God’s wrath for the sin of the world, we see agonized prayer in the face of temptation, prayer that models for us how to pray amidst agony.

Scripture Reference

Matthew 26: 36-44

Sermon Audio

Sermon Notes

The Agony of Jesus

  1. Going to the Garden to Pray in Grief and Distress (verses 36-38)
  2. The Agony Ahead (verses 39-40)
    1. The physical suffering of the cross
    2. The cup of God’s wrath for our sin
  3. The Temptation at Hand (verses 41-44)
    1. For the disciples (verse 41)
    2. To avoid the cross, temptation unlike any since Matthew 4

Our Prayer – Crying Out to God Amidst Agony

  1. Praying Openly and Honestly Amidst Agony
    1. Many examples from Scripture
    2. God IS listening, even when it doesn’t feel like it (Hebrews 4: 14-16, 1 John 5: 14)
  2. Praying With Others Amidst Our Agony

Our Prayer – Submitting to God’s Will Amidst Agony

  1. Following Christ’s Example – Not My Will, But Yours
  2. God Strengthens Us for the Ordeal, Even When He Says No (verses 45-46; Luke 22: 43)