According To Luke: Jesus…Alone With God

 According To Luke: Jesus…Alone With God

Opening Illustration:

ESPN rated it the 31st best moment in sports in the 20th Century. What was the moment? Of course we all remember the great player, #42, Jackie Robinson. Jackie Robinson was in the first year of playing Major League Baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was the first black man to play professional baseball. The event took place in 1947, years before the Civil Rights moment of the 1960’s. The Dodgers had traveled to Boston, Mass. to take on the vaunted Reds. Jackie Robinson endured all sorts of problems, obstacles, and blatant racism during his career. Fastball were aimed at his head. Opposing players would slide cleats high so that their metal spikes would dig into his shins and thighs. Opponents and crowds yelled all sorts of demeaning and derogatory jeers at him. It took years for his own players to accept him as an equal. Imagine being Jackie Robinson for one moment. Imagine how awkward and alone he must have felt during those early years when racism was so prevalent in the United States. 

Again, go back to 1947 Boston. Jackie was playing second base. A routine hit came his way and Robinson bobbled the baseball and the runner was called safe at first. Jeers showered down on Robinson. It had been a long difficult year and #42 had been so strong. Yet, all the hatred coupled with the embarrassing error became too much for even Jackie Robinson. He hung his head in shame and tears began to stream down his face. The crowd sensed a moment of weakness from Robinson and the boo’s became even louder. Jackie Robinson was completely alone, he felt totally abandoned. 

In the midst of this, another Dodger, a Southern white player named Pee Wee Reese, called for a time out. He walked from his position at shortstop toward Robinson at second base, put his arm around Robinson's shoulder, and stood there with him for what seemed like a very long time. This gesture spoke is ways that words cannot describe, "this man is my friend." Reese’s gesture surprised Robinson. He dried his eyes and hugged Pee Wee Reese. The gesture also had an affect on the crowd. The boos ceased. The jeers stopped. Suddenly, the crowd was moved to compassion. They began to cheer for the kindness and compassion that they had suddenly, unexpectedly, witnessed. 

We all need a friend like Pee Wee Reese, don't we?

Point:

Have you ever felt like Jackie Robinson? Have you ever felt that the world was out to get you? Have you ever felt alone or abandoned? If you have, you probably had someone come to your aid to let you know that you are indeed loved. If you did not have a person do that for you, perhaps it was God Himself that wrapped His arms around you to reveal to you the depth of His love. Well, if you have felt alone or abandoned, then you are not alone. Jesus has walked the same road that you traveled. He has felt the sting of being abandoned. He has felt the hurt of friends who betray him, family who abused Him, and acquaintances hurl insults at Him. 

While prophesying about Christ, the prophet Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 53:3 the following, 

Isaiah 53:3 AMP

He was despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and pain and acquainted with grief; And like One from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or esteem Him.

Jesus was someone familiar with loneliness, feeling like He had no one, feeling abandoned. 

David also felt the same way. Several times in Scripture David comments on feeling alone:

Psalm 22:6 NASB

But I am a worm and not a person, A disgrace of mankind and despised by the people.

Psalm 22:7 NLT

Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads…

So friends if you are feeling low, unloved, uncared for this morning, you are in good company. I would say that just about every Bible character that I can think of felt the same way that you are feeling right now. Most of us have been there before, alone. If you have never felt that emotion, don’t worry, one day you will. 

If you are feeling this way today, I have some good news for you. You are never alone because God is with you. He loves you, adores you in fact. You are not abandoned. In fact you are found! You are a part of God’s family because of what Christ has done for you on the cross. Praise Jesus!

So, ask yourself this question this morning as we look in Scripture this morning. Have you ever felt alone or abandoned? If the answer is “yes”, you are not alone. 

Have You Ever Felt Alone and Abandoned?

Background and Context:

The Last Supper, the first Communion has just occurred. Judas has left the disciples to do what he will do. Jesus is enjoying the last few moments of His freedom. Soon He will be betrayed and turned over to the authorities. He will be wrongly accused, incorrectly tried, brutally punished, convicted by the people, and crucified. Before all of these event occur Jesus has a discussion with Peter about commitment. He will give His final earthly words before death to His disciples and then He will head to the Mount of Olives, also known as the Garden of Gethsemane. He will take a few disciples with Him and we will see the depth of Jesus’ prayers. So, let’s take a deeper look into today’s passage. I am reading Luke 22:31-53.

Luke 22:31-53 ESV

31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

35 And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” 36 He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” 38 And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”

39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

4 Applications From Jesus’ Abandonment 

I. We See Satan’s Plan vs. 31

Luke 22:31 ESV

31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat…

Point:

It has become popular these day, even the in thing, to say that Satan is not real. There are popular preachers that actually preach that Satan is an allegory for sin. He is an illustration of sin personified but not a real entity or living being. the Bible of course says otherwise. the Bible has a lot to say about the Devil. Scripture tells us that the Devil is real, that He was created as a beautiful angel of light, that he led a revolt against God and that he was soundly defeated. God cast Satan from heaven, he along with about one third of all the other angels. Satan is a vanquished foe but a powerful enemy. Satan has control of this earthy sinful system to a point. Satan is a force to be reckoned with but he is a force contained by God. He is only able to do what God allows him to do. He is powerful but not as powerful as God. He is not all knowing, but he is cunning. He is not everywhere all at once, but he is fast. He is not all powerful, but he is strong. As believers we are not to fear him, but we would be foolish not to respect him. 

Point:

Peter is in the middle of a spiritual war for his very soul and he is unaware. Jesus informs him that Satan wishes to sift him like wheat. What does that even mean? The Greek word being used for sift is se-ne-ä'-zo. It means to shake or agitate. Satan is requesting that God allow him to shake up Peter’s life, to agitate him, to corrupt him. 

Again, Peter is completely unaware of what is happening around him. This is Peter I am talking about, not some Joe Blow fella off the street. This is Peter, the rock, the primary disciple, the one closest to Christ. A spiritual warfare has broken loose for his soul and he is blind. If this is happening in Peter’s life and he is unaware, what about you and I? Brothers and sisters, trust me, Satan would love nothing more than to break into your life, to shake it up or agitate you to the point of losing your nerve and your faith. 

Satan is a real force in the lives of human and he wants to destroy you. I thought for a while what Satan is trying to do to our lives. Let me list my thoughts for you briefly:

Six Things the Devil Wants for Your Life

1. For you to doubt God

In John 20, the disciples shouted that they had seen Jesus raised from the grave, but Thomas’ doubt kept him from believing in the miracle of salvation. Jesus appeared to Thomas and said, “Stop doubting and believe" (John 20:27).

When the devil tempts you to doubt God, don’t let your circumstance determine your God; let your God determine your circumstance.

2. For you to live in fear

Fear is not the absence of faith, it is the misplacement of it. The devil doesn’t want to rob us of our faith, he wants our faith to be in anything but God. Life in Christ is life not in fear!

Psalm 34:4 says, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears."

3. For you to feel insecure

Don’t let the devil tell you that you are unloved or not good enough! You are God’s handiwork and, in Christ, we are not only good enough, “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Ephesians 2:10, Romans 8:37).

4. For you to avoid the church

The more uninvolved you become with the body of Christ, the harder it is to persevere in your faith. It isn't easy to follow Jesus in a world that doesn't. When we leave the community we were made for, we are destined to be devoured (I Corinthians 12).

5. For you to be led astray

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves" (Matthew 7:15). When we rely on the words of men or ourselves in place of God’s Word, we can lead others away from Jesus and be led away from His truth ourselves.

6. For you to fail

The devil wants to destroy us. He wants us to settle for what the world has given us and accept our lots. II Corinthians 4:8-10 says, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” When you feel like you’re going to lose, take heart, Jesus already won for you!

Point:

The Devil only has control of that which we give to him. Your may feel like your life is being sifted today, and maybe it is, but take heart! Jesus is with you. He will never leave you or abandon you. Don’t follow the example of Peter found in Matthew 16:23. 

Matthew 16:23 ESV

But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

4 Applications From Jesus’ Abandonment 

I. We See Satan’s Plan vs. 31

II. We Hear Jesus’ Prayer vs. 32

Luke 22:32 ESV

32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 

Point:

So after Jesus reveals that there is a spiritual war taking place for Peter’s very soul, look what happens next. Jesus states that He prayed for Peter. Brothers and sisters, I have some great news today, Jesus is praying for you too. Are you feeling attacked today? Abandoned? Alone? Are the circumstances of your life not going the way that you would like? Jesus is praying for YOU! Satan may want to sift you, but Jesus is praying for you. 

Point:

One of my favorite movies is Disney’s Aladdin. My favorite part of the movie is when Aladdin meets the Genie for the first time. Aladdin is a nobody. A nothing. A street rat. Yet, he has big dreams and goals. Up until the point of meeting the Genie, not much has gone right for Aladdin but everything is about to change. He has the Genie. Remember the song “Friend Like Me”? 

But master you in luck 'cause up your sleeves

You got a brand of magic never fails

You got some power in your corner now

Some heavy ammunition in your camp

You got some punch, pizzazz, yahoo and how

See all you gotta do is rub that lamp

Point:

Well Im not talking about rubbing lamps, Im talking about something more powerful, more real, more useful. Im talking about prayer! Friends, Jesus is praying for me and for you right now and when you realize that, when you put your faith in that, then you really do understand that you do have some power in your corner, some heavy ammunition in your camp, some punch, and pizzazz! 

There is no prayer warrior greater than Jesus and Jesus is praying for you and me.

Point:

Prayer is the act of communicating with God. We know that prayer was a big part of Jesus’ life while He was on earth. He spent considerable time alone with His Father. Most of the time, what He prayed about we can only speculate on; however, a few places in the New Testament tell us exactly what He prayed for. In Matthew 19:13, He prayed for little children. In today’s passage, He tells us that He prayed for Peter’s faith to remain strong. And in John 17 , Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer, He prayed for His followers and “for those who will believe in me through their message” (verse 20). That’s us! Now that Jesus has ascended back into heaven, He still prays for us. His ministry on our behalf continues (Hebrews 7:25).

Jesus is our “Advocate with the Father” . An advocate is one who pleads a case for another. Advocates stand in the place of those who cannot speak for themselves. Jesus, as our Advocate , stands in our place before the Father and pleads on our behalf. Jesus’ advocacy is sure to be effectual, because He is the one of whom the Father said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Jesus’ prayers for us are constant, and they are perfect.

We have an Advocate in Christ, but we also have an accuser: Satan, who accuses us night and day. Our mortal enemy broadcasts our sins before God, mocking and insulting the ones Jesus bought for His own. But Romans 8:33-34  says we need not worry about Satan’s malice because Jesus, our Advocate, is more powerful: “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

Hebrews 4:14-16 describes Jesus as our great High Priest. Because of His intercession for us, we have access to the Father ourselves: “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Despite what we may face in this life, we can live with the confident assurance that, if we belong to Jesus, He is always praying for us.

Hebrews 7:25 NIV

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

4 Applications From Jesus’ Abandonment 

I. We See Satan’s Plan vs. 31

II. We Hear Jesus’ Prayer vs. 32

III. We See Jesus’ Pain vs. 39-46

Luke 22:39-46 ESV

39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

Point:

I find the account of Christ in the garden quite telling of His humanity. Luke 22:43 tells us that while praying in the garden, Christ was in agony. Agony is something we have all experienced at least once in our lives, but certainly, nowhere near to the degree He felt it. We see the severity of his agony in the third part of this verse, "...and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." Sweating blood is a very rare medical phenomenon called Hemotohidrosis. It is said to be caused by very severe mental stress. It's notable that the writer of this gospel account, Luke, was a physician. It was not mentioned in the other gospel accounts.

Point

I have done my share of suffering in life, times when I didn't think anything could be so agonizing as what I was feeling and experiencing at that moment, but I have to say, I have never agonized to the point that I sweat blood. I think it not unfathomable that taking on the sin for all mankind and suffering such great shame and the punishment for it, He sweat blood and shed tears. Isaiah 53:6b says, "And the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all." And Paul stated, "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). What a gift that is for us, but what a horror it was for Him as He anticipated it in the garden.

Point:

No one but no one except God the Father knew how alone and how in agony Christ felt at that dark hour. Jesus knew He had to go to the cross and He had to do it alone. We often say "Oh Joe has the weight of the world on his shoulders." No, only Jesus Christ had the weight of the world, or their sins, on His shoulders. What's more, He would be separated from the Father for six hours. From eternity past Christ has been in complete communion with the Father at all times, and to know He would soon be apart from Him because of the shame of our sin, He was overwhelmed. Yes, Jesus was overwhelmed. In the garden, we truly see Jesus' humanity. Although He knew, in the end, he would be resurrected and ascend to the Father's right hand, the thought of going to the cross and being separated from God caused unimaginable anxiety.

Point:

Friend, this should encourage today. You are probably asking, how is Jesus’ suffering in the Garden, supposed to encourage me today? How is that fact that Jesus is scared, frightened, and anxious, supposed to make me feel better. Can I be transparent with you for a moment? I know that as a pastor there is an expectation that I have everything in my life put together. I know that as a pastor my family is supposed to be perfect. My marriage is supposed to be perfect, Angela and I are not supposed to ever fight. My children have an expectation to be perfect angels all the time. By the way, this is not something that my kids ever asked for, nor were they ever consulted over this expectation when they were born. As a pastor I am supposed to have all the answers, be happy and joyful all the time, and never step out of line. 

Here is the transparent part. For the past 5-6 years I have battled crushing anxiety. I wake up on the regular with panic attacks and battle nightmares. My heart races and I will break out into cold sweats. I have history of depression and anxiety in my family that runs back generations. Since I turned 40, I have battled depression. Right now, yes right now, I am taking medication to help me with my anxiety and depression. Why? I take mediation to help me be the very best version of me. I do not take it because I have a lack of faith in God, I take it so that my faith can improve and soar. For someone who deals on the daily with anxiety, depression, panic attacks, seeing Jesus battle the same and have victory gives me hope. You see Jesus was not ruled by anxiety, He was ruled by obedience. Jesus had victory over these feelings. The one thing that comforts me the most about this passage, is that the angels came to minister to Jesus when He was battling with the darkness of anxiety, fear, abandonment, and depression. Brothers and sisters, it is sad to me that mental health remains a taboo subject in America and most especially here in the church. We feel that if we battle with mental illness that somehow we are not spiritually strong. This is untrue, false, a lie straight out of hell. Jesus was human. Human in body, soul and mind. This means that Jesus struggled in every way that a human can struggle. Jesus struggled physically. He struggled in His Spirit. Yes, He even struggled in His mind. Where we fail, He succeeded. Friend, if you are battling today with a form of mental illness, do not for a second believe that God is not close to you. God is drawn close to the broken and the hurting. Jesus prays for you today. Jesus knows what you are feeling and identifies with your pain. 

Hebrews 4:15 ESV

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

IV. We See Darkness’ Power vs. 47-53

Luke 22:47-53 ESV

47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

Point: 

Jesus had asked His disciples to watch and pray. Two times Jesus stops His praying to check on His followers only to walk away disappointed. Their flesh cried out in the weakness of exhaustion and they slept, they shut down. Have you ever felt that way? His disciples had just shared their last meal with Christ. They had just experienced the emotional experience of having viewed the Master wash their feet. They were informed of a coming betrayal and a prediction of death. This was just to much for the disciples to handle. They had come to their end. So, instead of pushing through, they shut down. Darkness can have that impact on us. It can beat us so badly that we quit. 

Thankfully Jesus is not defeated by darkness. He illuminates darkness. We see in the passage above that Jesus is arrested in the garden. He makes the statement that this is the their hour, and the power of darkness. Who has the power in this situation? Is it Judas? Is it the soldiers? Is it the Romans or the Pharisees? Certainly they thought they were in control. No. Jesus is always in control. 

Today if you are enduring darkness, know that Jesus is still in control. Jesus still rules. He is still on His throne. 

This is the last few moments of Jesus’ freedom. Soon He will endure the cross. He will bear the sin of humanity. He will be separated, cut off from His Father. This is indeed a dark hour, yet through the darkness comes light. If you are living in darkness today, your light will soon break forth. Hold on. Endure. Pray. Remember Psalm 139:12. 

Psalm 139:12 ESV

Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

Quote:

Joan of Arc said, when she was abandoned by those who should have stood by her, “It is better to be alone with God. His friendship will not fail me nor His counsel nor His love. In His strength I will dare and dare and dare until I die.”

Take Heart…Jesus Wins!