468 – Christ and His Disciples in Gethsemane

SEMESTER 5

468 – Christ and His Disciples in Gethsemane

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: BIBLE SURVEY V LESSON # 68
CHRIST AND HIS DISCIPLES IN GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE

Read Mat. 26:30-46, Mk. 14:26-42, Lk. 22:39-46 and Jn. 18:1-2.

INTRODUCTION:

1. Two things about the events of this night should be obvious to us.

i. It was the foreordained place for His arrest.
ii. Jesus knew what was to transpire there that night.

2. In this lesson, let’s consider reasons for His coming and truths we are taught by it.

I. REASONS THE LORD CAME TO THE GARDEN ON THIS NIGHT

1. He sought a place of retreat to pray. (Matt. 26:36)
2. It was a place His disciples knew and would thus be themselves. (Jn. 18:2)
3. It was a place which Judas knew and to which he would bring the soldiers. (Jn. 18:2)
4. Notice this is not an attempt to hide, or to resist, but to present Himself to be crucified. (Matt. 26:31-32)

II. JESUS’ ACTIVITY IN GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE

1. As He approached the garden, He declared the weakness of the disciples commitment and character. (Matt. 26:30-35)
2. He showed sovereign choice among His disciples. (Matt. 26:36-38)
3. He placed His disciples in a place that forced them to see their own weaknesses. (Matt. 26:40-43)
4. Conversely, He shows His own commitment and subjection to God and His control over the flesh. (Matt. 26:39,42,44)
5. He subjects Himself to men whom He could obviously defeat. (Matt. 26:51-57, Jn. 18:4-13)

I. JESUS’ APOSTLES’ CONDUCT IN THE GARDEN

1. As they approached, they displayed and stated their self-confidence. (Matt. 26:31-35)

i. In the degree of commitment: “I’ll never forsake you.”
ii. In their character, compared to others: “though all men for­sake.”

2. Once inside the garden, they lapsed into lethargy and self-indul­gence.
3. Peter showed the depth of their understanding as to what the nature of their commitment should be. (Jn. 18:10-11)
4. When their expectations failed, they all forsook Him and fled. (Matt. 26:56, Mark 14:46-52)
4. Peter, who seemed to show the most commitment, then denied Him. (Jn. 18:25-28, Luke 22:54-62, Matt. 26:69-75)
5. The conduct of these men should show us what we are, at the best of our natural character.

II. THE CONDUCT OF THE LOST WORLD

1. Judas, who had claimed fidelity, betrayed Him with a kiss. (Matt. 26:47-50, Mark 14:43-45, Luke 22:47-48)
2. The soldiers ignored His obvious power. (Jn. 18:5-6, Jn. 18:12-13)
3. They ignored His unbelievable compassion on one of them. (Luke 22:50-53, Jn. 18:10-13)
4. They, having seen all this, acted as if He were a common criminal trying to escape. (Luke 22:52-54, Matt. 26:52-57)

CONCLUSION: In all this let us see these basic truths:

a) God had ordained this event. (Acts 2:23)
b) Jesus was totally subjected to that plan. (Matt. 26:42, Luke 22:42)
c) Yet, the men who executed it were evil and wicked in their hearts and actions. (Acts 2:23, Acts 7:52)