SUNDAY-THURSDAY
Anguish: Heading to Gethsemane
1. What is the meaning of “Gethsemane” and where was it located?
ANSWER:
oil-press; Gethsemane, a garden near Jerusalem.
2. Why did Jesus go to Gethsemane?
Matt. 26:36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
ANSWER:
To pray.
3. Which disciples were asked to watch Him pray?
Mark 14:33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy
Matt. 26:37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Matt. 26:38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
ANSWER:
Peter, James, and John.
OBSERVATIONAL QUESTION:
Why Jesus wanted Peter, James, and John to witness His prayer and His sorrow?
4. What did Jesus start feeling when He was going to pray?
Matt. 26:37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Matt. 26:38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
ANSWER:
“Began to be sorrowful and very heavy.”
“Exceeding sorrowful even unto death.”
OBSERVATION:
Progression sorrow: sorrowful to very heavy to exceeding sorrowful even unto death
5. What one word would you use to describe Jesus’ experience in Gethsemane?
ANSWER:
Sorrow.
EXTRA NOTE:
See how “sorrow” is connected to “curse” in the book of Lamentation.
Lam. 3:65 Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.
See how “sorrow” is connected to “anger” in the book of Job.
Job 21:17 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.
OBSERVATION:
Jesus was experience the time of “sorrow” for Himself. He was beginning to feel the curse of God and the anger of God against Jesus.
6. What is Jesus called in the book of Isaiah?
Is. 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Is. 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
ANSWER:
A man of sorrows.
7. Why was Jesus called “a man of sorrows” contextually in the same chapter?
Is. 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Is. 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Is. 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
ANSWER:
“Despised and rejected of men.”
“Acquainted with grief.”
“Borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.”
“Smitten of God and afflicted.”
“Wounded for our transgressions.”
“Bruised for our iniquities.”
Chastised.
8. In what way did Jesus experience bruising and grief?
Is. 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
ANSWER:
Jesus was offered as a sin offering.
OBSERBVATION:
The text says, “It pleased the LORD to bruise him”. This is as same as “God so love the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son.”
9. What is the purpose for a “sin offering”?
Lev. 4:20 And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.
ANSWER:
Atonement.
CONCLUSION:
In Gethsemane, Jesus became the “man of sorrows” for our atonement.
Jesus needed to go through “rejected of men” and “smitten of God” experience. Jesus was condemned by men and by God.
Jesus needed to go through the “sorrow” that came with being our “sin offering.”
10. Interesting Observations:
“Bruised”, in Hebrews, it means to beat to pieces, to crush, to destroy, to smite. Jesus began to experience that bruising in Gethsemane, the name of the place means oil-press.
Jesus is called the “Man of sorrows” but “Babylon” “see no sorrow” (Rev. 18:4,7). This antichrist power is also called the “man of sin”(2Thess. 2:3).
The Cup: Willing Submission
1. Read Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane.
Matt. 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Matt. 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
Mark 14:35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
Mark 14:36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt
Luke 22:41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Luke 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
2. What was Jesus’ body language when He prayed in Gethsemane?
ANSWER:
“Fell on His face.”
“Fell on the ground.”
“Kneeled down.”
“Being in an agony he prayed more earnestly.”
“His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”
3. Describe the prayer of Jesus.
ANSWER:
“Let this cup pass from me.”
But “Not my will” but “Thy will be done.”
4. Most likely the cup has to have something bad because Jesus didn’t want to drink it. What was in that “cup” that Jesus did not want to drink?
Jer. 25:15 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.
Rev. 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
ANSWER:
“Fury.”
“Wrath of God.”
“Indignation.”
NOTE:
Since Jesus began to feel the “sorrow” (the anger and the curse of God) in Gethsemane, the “cup” has to do something with the anger and the curse of God. This cup Jesus needed to drink because He offered Himself as a sin offering for the whole world.
5. Read Hebrews 2:9. The “cup” has to be drunk by Jesus therefore Jesus needed to taste what was in the cup. So what did Jesus taste?
Heb. 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
ANSWER:
“Taste death for every man.”
Jesus “tasted,” or experienced, the “fury”, the “wrath of God”, and the “indignation” of God in the form of “sorrow” unto death in Gethsemane.
6. Why did Jesus have to taste death for every man?
Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
2Cor. 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
ANSWER:
Because Jesus made Himself to be sin for us. The wages of sin is death.
7. What is the true “death” experience or the true consequence of sin?
Is. 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
ANSWER:
Separation.
Hiding God’s face.
God will not hear.
CONCLUSION:
The result of sin is death.
However this death is more than just giving up your breath.
The “death” experience includes separation from God, cannot see God’s face, and God will not hear you.
8. Did Jesus know what it is like to be separated from the Father before Gethsemane and the cross?
John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
OBSERVATION:
The answer is obvious, no; Jesus always felt that the Father was with Him.
Jesus’ assurance that the Father was with Him because Jesus did “always those things that please Him.”
Is. 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin.
The Father was pleased when Jesus drank the “cup”, the bruising experience.
Yet Jesus felt the separation because Jesus drank the “cup.”
Why Jesus drank that “cup” Because Jesus prayed, “Not my will” but “Thy will be done.”
APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
How much are you willing to submit to the will of God?
How do you balance between the joy of submission and the suffering that may come because you submit to God’s will?
9. Read Numbers 16:46.
Num. 16:46 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.
OBSERVATION:
Jesus took the wrath of God on Him through offering Himself as our atonement so that we may escape the plagues.
The Cry: Exploring the Mystery
1. Read the following verses on what Jesus said when He was on the cross.
Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
John 19:26, 27 “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”
Luke 23:43 “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Matt. 27:46; Mark 15:34 “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
John 19:28 “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.”
John 19:30 “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”
Luke 23:46 “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”
OBSERVATIONS:
Jesus said seven sentences on the cross.
The center sentence is “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?”
2. Read Psalms 22:1-2. What is the experience of being “forsaken” by God contextually?
Psa. 22:1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
Psa. 22:2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
ANSWER:
God is “far from helping.”
God does not hear.
OBSERVATIONS:
This sounds just like the consequence of sin according to Isaiah 59:2. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
Jesus made that cry because He became sin for us.
3. Where was the Father when Jesus made that cry? Read the following verses.
Matt. 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
Mark 15:33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
Luke 23:44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
Matt. 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent
Luke 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him,
OBSERVATIONS AND QUESTION:
God led Matthew, Mark, and Luke to write about the “darkness”. Therefore there is something important about that “darkness.”
Observe these characteristics about the death of Jesus: darkness, earthquake, mount (Calvary).
Where else in the Bible do we have “darkness”, “earthquake”, and “mount”?
ANSWER: Mount Sinai Deut. 5:22 “These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.” (Read also Heb. 12:18-21)
What was the “darkness” on the mount Sinai for?
ANSWER:
God was in the “darkness” Ex. 20:21 “And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.”
CONCLUSION:
The Father came near to Jesus by hiding within the “darkness.”
Yet Jesus did not feel the presence of the Father because Jesus became sin for us, our atoning sacrifice.
The Father was suffering with His Son at the cross. What a sight to behold!!
It is Finished: From Death to Life
1. On the cross Jesus spoke to God the Father, John, Mary, the thief, and Himself. But what did He say that made it sound like He made an announcement for all to hear?
John 19:30 “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”
ANSWER:
“It is finished.”
2. What did Jesus say about what He needed to finish on earth?
John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
John 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
ANSWER:
“To do the will of Him that sent me.”
“The works” which God has given Jesus to do.
“Glorified Thee on the earth.”
3. What is the “will of Him” (Father) for Jesus to finish on the earth?
Gal. 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father
John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
John 6:39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
ANSWER:
To give “Himself (Jesus) for our sins.”
To “deliver us from this present evil world.”
To be able to resurrect those that believe in Jesus.
4. Read Heb. 2:14. Why can Jesus’ death deliver us from death? What was so special about His death?
Heb. 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; Heb. 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Phil. 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
ANSWER:
Because Jesus lived a perfect obedient life even unto the death of the cross.
SUMMARY: For us…
Jesus became sin from Gethsemane to Calvary.
Jesus needed to submit to receiving of the wrath of God.
Jesus needed to be offered as a perfect sacrifice on the cross in order to resurrect the believers in the last days.
CONCLUSION:
Jesus offered Himself as our perfect atonement on the cross that He may be able to take away our sorrow, our condemnation, and our death.
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