Luke 22:24-46, Follow Jesus’ Example To The End
1. Patiently Teach The Same Lessons Repeatedly (v24-30)
2. Allow People To Fail And Plan For Restoration (v31-34)
3. Prepare People For New Challenges And Seasons (v35-38)
4. Pray Earnestly That You Submit To The Father’s Will (v39-46)
Luke Chapter 22 is where we will be this evening continuing our journey through the Bible in three years, and we're in that last segment of Jesus's life now heading. To the cross and we're looking at this passage here that we are assigned for today verses 24 through 46. And as we look at this in his final stretch to the to the cross, he's about to be betrayed as we head into tomorrow's reading. So it's right on the heels of that. It's that last night in the upper room with the disciples and some of the interactions that happened, there are so important and interesting. And so we're following Jesus along and continuing to look at him. And as we do tonight, I want to encourage you to consider Jesus as. The example to follow, and of course he is the example to follow, but some specific things we'll look at tonight here in Luke Chapter 22 verses 24 through 46. I've titled the message tonight. Follow Jesus's example to the end as he is making his way to the end as he is in his. Final stretch to that final you know, moment of victory there at the cross. He is really setting a great pattern for us to follow. In the interactions that he has with the disciples around him and in the ways that he is seeking to keep himself aligned with the father and the father's, will some really important truths for us and examples for us to follow in the life and Ministry of Jesus. And so we're going to jump into. Point #1 looking at verses 24 through 30 this evening and that is patiently teach the same lessons repeatedly. And here's what we're going to see Jesus do in these verses. Let's go ahead and read through them. Luke chapter 22, verses 24 through 30 says this. Now there was also a dispute among them as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And he said to them, the kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. But not so among you. On the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger. And he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater? He who sits at the table. Or he who serves. Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the one who serves. But you are. Those who have continued with me in my trials. And I bestow upon you a Kingdom, just as my father bestowed one upon me. That you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom and sit on Thrones judging the 12 Tribes of Israel. Here in this first portion of the chapter that we're looking at this evening. We see Jesus addressing dealing with relating to his disciples. And he has to deal with here, something he's dealt with previously. There's there's a dispute that pops up that they've had on more than one occasion. They were arguing, debating about which one of them was considered the greatest. Now we looked at this few weeks back in Luke Chapter 9 because it was there in Luke Chapter 9 that this same dispute arose. Luke, Chapter 9, verse 46 tells us that a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be the greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and sent him by him and said to them, whoever receives this little child and my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him, who sent me for he who is least among you all will be great. And so this dispute that they had a few chapters back in Luke Chapter 9 is the same dispute that pops up now. The question is which of them will be the greatest? Which of them is considered the greatest in the Kingdom of God? Now, as I mentioned back in Luke Chapter 9 a few weeks back, when we went through that. They weren't arguing for somebody else to be considered the greatest. They were. Doing for themselves, Peter was saying I'm the greatest. I'm going to have the greatest position and John was saying no, no, no. I'm the one that Jesus loves. I have the greatest position and Thomas was saying, hey, I have the most doubts. So I'm the greatest and each of them was arguing themselves as the greatest if they were going to be taking a vote. Over which of them you know, should be the leader amongst the disciples. They would have written down their own names and said yes, I'm the greatest. Put me down there. That's the place that I belong in. What's really interesting about this here in Chapter 22 is what leads up to this just before these verses starting in verse 24. Jesus Institutes the Lord's supper. Where we get the communion elements from the communion practice from here and in the upper room. In verse 14, Jesus begins to introduce that. But then he also announces. That he is about to be betrayed. And verse 23 is interesting in light of verse 24, Luke Chapter 22, verse 23 says then they began to question among themselves which of them it was. Who would do this thing? Who is it that's going to betray Jesus? And you. Might remember. As we get the full account of this upper room experience 1 by 1, the disciples were going around saying what does it me? Am I the one who's going to betray you? Are you talking about me? You're talking about betrayal. And so we get this picture. Here they're in this room having this dinner. One meal time. And and in this one occasion, this one evening, this one meal time. They go from wondering, am I the? One who's gonna betray Jesus? Two moments later, saying I'm the greatest in the Kingdom of God. What an interesting transition to have. What a what a great opposite position to take from one moment to the next. And and here we get to see. The disciples can really be relatable for us because. I think we all have that experience. Of feeling like maybe I'm the one who betrays Jesus and I'm the worst in the Kingdom of God, and I'm the one who's not in the Kingdom of God. And maybe I was never a believer at all. And then moments later we can be in the position of thinking I am the greatest Christian who has ever lived, and God is so blessed to have me as part of his Kingdom. We we can all go through these things and and our feelings about this can change so quickly and from such extremes to extreme. It's one of the reasons why we need to be careful not to base our foundation upon our estimation or what we feel about things, but because we know those will change. But to base what we believe in our foundation and our walk upon what the Lord says, because that will never. Change and so very quickly they go from wondering. Asking is it me? Am I the one who will betray you to saying no? It's me. I'm the greatest. In the Kingdom of God and. Jesus now is going to address this. He's going to deal with this dispute that is going on, but again, it's not the first time back in chapter nine they had this dispute. Jesus taught them, addressed it directly. It wasn't vague, it wasn't unclear. It was very clear. Now you might think, well, OK, Luke Chapter 9. And then now again in Chapter 22. You know, there's probably a lot of time that's passed between. I mean, there's a lot of chapters in there, right, so a lot of time. So not that big of a deal for Jesus to have to teach. This again for this dispute to come up again. But you know, when you work through it a little bit, the time difference between Luke Chapter 9 and Luke Chapter 22 is actually not very much. But we talk about Jesus and his three years of ministry, three years of public ministry, right? But the majority of what we have contained in the gospel. Miles is focused on the latter portion of his ministry. In fact, let me show you this timeline here. That kind of breaks down the four different gospels and how they spread out in the chapters along the three years of ministry that Jesus had. Now if you're. Trying to look at that and you can't see it very well. There is the Gospels pamphlet on the back table that has this same timeline there but but if you look at the Gospel of Luke, you'll notice that Chapter 9 through the end of the book really just focuses on that final. Year of the Ministry of the Lord. So we're we're talking about not years that have passed maybe a few months have passed, but it also might have been even a shorter timeframe than that that they had this dispute. They had this battle over who was the greatest and then now Jesus is having to address this issue. Again. And so he addresses it and teaches them the truth about this in verse 25 and 26, he says, the kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them and those who exercise authority over them are. Called benefactors. But not so among you. On the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger and he who governs as he who serves. And so once again, we see Jesus make some important points. Authority within the Kingdom of God is different than authority in the world. Authority in the Kingdom of God is not about lording over, but authority in the Kingdom of God is about. Humility and service. Out in the World, Authority takes this. Role of or this look at like, you know, lording over high esteem. There's these great positions and they they exercise authority. They exercise their rule. That's a worldly type of authority. That's a worldly type of greatness. But Jesus says not so among you. It's the same lesson he taught back in Luke Chapter 9 last time in Luke chapter nine. He used a child to illustrate it, but it's the same lesson he said. He who is least in the Kingdom of God is the one who is the greatest. And here he says in verse 26 he was the greatest among you. Let him be as the younger and he who governs as he who serves. And so again, Jesus doesn't directly rebuke them for desiring to be great or for the want to be great in the Kingdom of God. But he says you're going about it all wrong. You have authority backwards and you don't understand when you have that drive and that desire to be great the way that you are to channel that is into service, to serve others and to Minister to others, because that is the path that is the way. To greatness in the Kingdom of God. Same lesson he taught back in Luke Chapter 9 last time he gave a child as an example. Now he'll give himself as an example in verse 27. He says who is greater? He who sits at the table, or he who serves picturing in their culture the master who would sit at the table, who would have servants that would wait on the master and bring the food and and serve the master clean up afterwards. Afterwards the servant would be able to eat their meal, but but the master was served first. Who's the greater? The master, who has servants and is being served, or the servant who is serving the master. From the natural perspective, from the worldly perspective, the master sitting at the table is greater. But Jesus says, look at me. Let me be your pattern. Let me be your example. I am among you as the one who serves. Not even as one of many who serves right. But I am among you as the one who serves Jesus came as the supreme servant to humanity. Although he is God, he is the creator of the heavens and the earth. Philippians chapter two walks us through that humbling of Jesus. He humbled himself, not considering equality with God, something to be grasped, but he became a man. But he didn't just become a man, but he humbled himself to the point of death. Even the death on the cross. He he has humbled himself to a greater degree than anybody has ever humbled themselves before or since. There is nobody who can come close. There is no possibility of you humbling yourself to a greater degree than Jesus humbled himself. He says I am among you as the one who serves. And so he used a child last time as an example. He uses himself this time as an example to teach the same lesson. If you want to be great in the Kingdom of God, learn to be the servant of all. Pastor David Guzik says the supreme patience of Jesus was displayed in his gentle correction of his squabbling disciples. He obviously had great things weighing down his mind. Yet he taught and corrected them. The lesson of humility, the lesson of service. Again, it was one that they had heard before. But that they needed to hear again. And as this dispute popped up again, I think it's easy to kind of imagine someone being frustrated in their shoes, right? Like the parent coming out to the kids in the living room, if I have to come out here one more time, I don't. Know if your. Parents ever told you that, but I think my parents have told me that a time and. If I have to come out here one more time, I've already told you once. I've already told you twice. If I have to do this one more time, there's there's the frustration that that builds because the same thing is being required to be said over and over and over again. But here Jesus. Incredibly patient. The same dispute pops up. Jesus doesn't get frustrated and start throwing things at his disciples. He doesn't make a whip. And start whipping. Them and get this through your head. You know he's he's. Addressing it, he's patiently teaching the same lesson that he's taught before. Once again, what a great example for us. As we encounter and interact with people around us. As we endeavor to go into all the world and make disciples, you need to understand that part of that is going to include patiently teaching the same lessons repeatedly. As you seek to Minister to people around you to be a light and a witness and love on family members or coworkers or neighbor. Others, you need to understand and expect it's going to require that you patiently teach the same lessons repeatedly. Don't get frustrated when the same dispute that was dealt with previously pops up again. Don't get frustrated and and and kind of give up on the situation or the people involved. Whenever you have to deal with the same situation, the same circumstances, the same battle that was fought previously. This is parts of the process. Jesus here is preparing his disciples for his departure. And part of the process of his ministering to his disciples and preparing them for what was to come. Was to patiently teach them the same lessons. That he had taught them previously. It's the pattern for us. It's the model for us. Prepare yourself to deliberately choose not to be frustrated. By those repetitions by those same issues. Sometimes I know it could be quite frustrating you have the same argument 5 * 7 * 10 * / 10 or 20 years. You have the same argument over and over again, right? Patiently teach the same lessons repeatedly. Jesus goes on to teach them in verses 28 through 30 that they will be rewarded for their service if they follow his instruction and humble themselves and serve, he says. You are those who have continued with me in my trials, I bestow upon you a Kingdom, just as my father. Bestowed one upon me. That you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom and sit on Thrones judging the 12 Tribes of Israel. There is a great role and a great position ahead of you. As my faithful servants, Jesus said. And so there's great reward for listening to the lesson of Jesus. But in order for them to achieve that in order for them to receive the reward and and you can think about it that way. If you want those that you are ministering to and those perhaps that are frustrating. Do because they require the same lesson to be taught repeatedly. If you want them to receive reward, if you want them to receive that role and that position that God has for them in the Kingdom of God. Then follow the example of Jesus and patiently teach the same lessons repeatedly. And Philippians chapter 3 verse one, Paul says finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord for me to write the same things to you is not tedious. But for you? It is safe. Paul says, rejoice in the Lord and the Philippians said whoa, we've never heard that before. What an incredible new revelation, no? Paul's already been writing that to them throughout the first part of Philippians. Seems obvious. He taught them that while. He was there. And he says, look, I've told you this 1000 times, but it's not tedious. For me to write the same thing to you. It's not tedious. Sometimes it feels tedious to teach the same lesson to say the same thing, to provide the same encouragement. And sometimes we can really kind of lose our zest and our zeal in providing an encouragement. And we'd say praise the Lord, but it's lost all meaning in the way that we say it, because we have found it tedious. Too difficult. To stay engaged and connected. And that same message that. Needs to be given over and over and over again. But Paul says, I've determined it's not tedious. I'm not going to be frustrated by this. I'm not going to grow weary in it. I'm going to tell you the same things. Because for you, he tells the Philippians, it's safe. I'm concerned about your safety more than I am about my weariness in saying the same thing and repeating the same lesson and encouraging you in the same ways that you've been encouraged previously. I'm more concerned about your safety, and so it's not tedious for me. To deliver this same message to you. I'm going to be patient. I'm going to give you that exhortation and that encouragement again. Now similarly, Peter tells us in second Peter chapter one. He says for this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always. Of these things. Though you know and are established in the present. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I'm in this tent to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. He goes on to say, moreover, I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease, check out what Peter says here. He says I will not be negligent to remind you. To not remind you would be negligence on my. Part I would be. Unfaithful to what God has called me to, if I didn't remind you. Of things that you know, he says, though, you know, and are established in the truth. You know the truth. You're established in the truth, but it would be negligent on my part to not remind you of the truth. And so I need to, as long as I can, as long as I'm in this body, Peter says, to stir you. Up and remind you. Of the truth of the gospel of what we have in Christ, of what the. Lord has revealed. And Peter says I'm also doing this understanding. I'm not going to be here forever. I'm not going to be here for much longer. And so I'm not just reminding you now, although it's important. I would be negligent if I didn't keep reminding you. As long as I'm alive in this body, in this tent. But I'm also making sure that you have reminders after I'm gone. So I'm writing this letter. We don't know what else Peter did, but maybe Peter instructed some of the people around him. Hey, make sure you send out letters too, and make sure you remind people too, and make sure you deliver this same message repeatedly. Peter says I'm taking steps to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after I'm gone. And so Paul. Says it's not tedious for me to remind you of these things to write the same things to you, Peter says I'm working hard in this life, and even after I'm gone to make sure you have reminders. Perhaps you're saying did you have to share both Philippians and second Peter and Luke 9 and Luke 22? Yes, that's the point. The repetition. Is good for us. It's important for us. It's valuable for us. We need those lessons. Drilled into us repeat. And so think about those that God has called you to Minister to. And follow the example of Jesus. Patiently teach the same lessons repeatedly, and if it helps, maybe just think back this week and think about what you got frustrated about what. What conversations kind of really got you worked up and discouraged and upset and challenged? You know what, what was it that really bothered you this week and those? The lessons that needed to be taught, and perhaps those are some good places to start where you. Follow the example of Jesus and deliberately decide this is not going to be tedious. I'm going to have to give this speech 1000 times. I'm going to teach this lesson thousands of times. I'm going to use these illustrations and examples over and over and over again. But it's safe for them for their benefit. I will patiently teach the same lessons repeatedly while moving on to verses 31 through 34. We get point #2 this evening and that is allow people to fail and plan for restoration. It's a tough one. Allow people to fail verse 31 and the Lord, said Simon Simon. Indeed, Satan has asked for you that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail. And when you have returned to me, strengthen your brethren. But he said to him, Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death. Then he said. I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day. Before you will deny me three times or deny three times that you know me. Here the Lord. Now directs his focus and attention on Peter. They're fighting about who's the greatest and, you know, maybe Peter was winning that argument. Just imagine that for a minute, maybe he's the one who started it. Maybe he is the one who had the loudest voice in it. Not hard to imagine, right? Of based on what we know and understand about Peter. And so that might be part of the reason why the Lord here singles him out and says Simon Simon. You're so convinced. You're the greatest. You're the strong one. You're you've got such great ideas and such big plans. But Simon? There's something coming that you're completely unprepared for. And you're completely blind to. Satan has asked for you that he may sift you as wheat. He really wants to run you through the ringer, Peter. He wants to wipe you out completely. Now notice here that Satan. Is making a request. And so we can kind of read into this the whole account of Joe Joe, chapter one and two where you see that encounter of Satan coming before the father and. Making the request that he would be able to bring. The trouble and affliction to job. In a similar way, the enemy has requested. That he be allowed to sift Simon as wheat to really shake him up, tear him apart. And see where he stands afterwards now. The father allows. These kinds of things to take place in our lives. He allows things to get shaken up. But it's. With the boundaries and the parameters that he sets. Knowing what is good for us, knowing. The strength he's provided for us, knowing the way that he will lead us through it, he. Strategically and carefully allows exactly the right amounts. Of sifting in our lives. And Simon? You're not going. To really do well in this sifting. He says in verse 32. But I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail. And when you have returned to me, strengthen. Your brethren. Peter, you're about to enter into a pretty tough sifting, shaking season. But I've prayed for you. That your faith should not fail. I've already been doing some advanced work. So that. I know you make it through. This will not be the end of you. This will not be the end of your relationship with God. Your faith will not fail. You're going to trip, you're going to stumble. But you're not going to give up and walk away. But notice. There is the failure that is included here, he says. When you have returned to me, there's there's going to be a departure that requires a return. So there's going to be a victory in the end. I've prayed for you. Your faith will not fail, but at the same time, it's not going to be all victory throughout. The whole trial. The victory will be accomplished at the end. But in between, there's going to be a departure. There's going to be a serious failure. But I know you're going to make it through, Peter. I've been praying for you. I've been doing some advanced work. And when you get back, when you come back to me, when you get back to your rightful place as my servant. Then strengthen your brother. I have a mission for you. I have a purpose for you. I'll work. For you strengthen. Your brethren. What a powerful. Message from the Lord for Peter. But it's interesting to note. He doesn't really receive it in verse 33. But he said to him, Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death. Lord, you don't know what you're talking about. I'm not gonna fail. I'm not gonna depart and have to return. I I'm not gonna. Be sifted like wheat and fall apart. I'm not gonna be shaken up and destroyed by whatever comes. I'm ready for anything. Prison, death, whatever. I don't care. I am ready. And Jesus tells him no, you're not. Before the rooster crows. You're going to deny three times that you even know me. And we know how this plays out. We'll read about it as we continue on. In the Gospel of Luke. But I find it interesting to note here that Peter is not ready to receive this word from the Lord. He's not ready to receive this word, even though it's from the very lips of Jesus. He's face to face with Jesus, and Jesus has a message for him and he says no, you're wrong. I don't think so. I think you underestimate me, Jesus. I'm ready to go with you, to prison and.
To death.
Jesus in walking Peter through this. Allows him to be in a. Position where he will fail. When you've returned, strengthen your brethren. Peter Satan has asked for you to sift you like we. And you know. What had some good counsel with the Father, Peter, and we agreed. We're going to allow some sifting. It's necessary for you. It's good for you. You need it. Right now, you're blind to. In reality, you think you're stronger than you are. You think of yourself more highly. You think you're the greatest amongst all the disciples, and so you know what Peter you need. You need to undergo some sifting. And so Peter. You're going to fail. You're going to deny me? You're going to deny three times that. You ever knew me? Interesting how the Lord allows Peter. To fail, he could have. He's God, he could have. Said no, when Satan said I. Want to sift Peter? And the father could have just said Nope. Done deal. No trials for Peter. He's fine as he is. No afflictions. You can't touch him at all. Not going to happen. He could have. It's not just the job situations where the father knows. He's a righteous man. He's not going to fail in this trial, Satan. That's what happened for. Job and job was shown to be righteous and commended at the end. But it's not only those occasions where the Lord allows. For that sifting, for that testing to take place. He doesn't protect us from all failure and prevent any kind of we don't have victory in every moment in every situation. Sometimes we get sifted. We get shaken and we fail because we need to be sifted and to be shaken and to fail. Because it's good for us. Because it's important for our development and because he's done the advanced work and he knows what we can handle it, he knows how we'll respond and and even though we will fail, he says. I've prayed for you, and when you return. Then strengthen your brethren. And so here we see the Lord allowing. Peter to fail. But also having a plan for his restoration. After the resurrection, Peter has denied the Lord he went out weeping after the resurrection. When they find the Angel at the tomb and Mark Chapter 16, it tells us the Angel. Tells them not to be alarmed. You seek Jesus. He's not here. He's risen. Come see the place where they lead him. And go tell the disciples and Peter. The Lord sets up this situation to make sure Peter knows he's called out by name. God's not done with him. He has failed. He has waffled in his faith and departed. But the Lord goes out of his way to make sure Peter knows I'm not done with you. I haven't given up on you. I told you this was gonna happen. Yes, you've failed. But now it's time to return. So go tell Peter. I've raised from the dead. The Apostle John Records for us in John Chapter 21 that restoration of Peter. Peter, do you love me? They're having breakfast on the the beach there. You know I love. You, Jesus says, feed my lambs. Peter, do you love me? You know I love you. Tend my sheep. Peter, do you love me or do you know all things? You know that I love you and Jesus says feed my sheep. He has a plan. For Peter to get back. To his place of service in the Kingdom of God. Plan of God for Peter's life allows. For Peter to fail. And allows for Peter to be restored after the failure. Listen, this is the model an example. That we need to consider about Jesus as we interact with people around us. It is easy for us to show so much less patience for other people than the Lord shows for us. The Lord allows us to feel. He allows us to face situations that are hard and difficult and challenging. And we struggle in them and sometimes we have victory and sometimes. We are defeated. When he allows the defeat. It's not. Punishment. It's because. He's helping us to see the reality about ourselves and to help us to grow and develop. And you know, sometimes we. Find it very difficult. Especially if it's someone that we feel we are greater than. Here's a person who is. Our responsibility, perhaps. A person that is supposed to be listening to us and following our instruction and taking heed. And we can be so frustrated that they don't. And then they fail. And then there's shaking and destruction and all, like, if only you would have listened to me and and and there can be. Kind of a turning away and it's shutting out like, no, I I cannot allow you back into my life because you know you've already failed so many times. It's too hard. It's too hurtful. It's too painful. But how the Lord relates to us? Knowing exactly what we need. And what's best for us? He allows there to be sifting. He allows us. To fail, but always with a plan for restoration. It's something valuable for us to learn from the example of Jesus. Now Peter is not ready to receive this word, even from Jesus, and this is so important to take note of. Because there are people in our lives who are on the path to failure. And it's so frustrating that they won't receive the word that we're trying to bring forth. We can see the path. We can see where they're going. We can see the trajectory. You're headed for a brick wall. And they won't receive the word from us. How frustrating. But listen. If Peter's face to face with Jesus is able to be blind to the value of that message that was given, don't be surprised. Give them space, it doesn't mean. Set people up for failure, right? That's not our job. And it doesn't mean. That we can stop everybody from failing. We we still give the message, we still do our part like Jesus face to face. We say this is where you're headed. But once the message has been given, we have to allow people we have to give them the opportunity to fall on their face and see the reality. But but we also have to be. Standing there not with our back turn. Like, hey, don't come. Crawling back to me when that comes terrible, you know, and just falls all apart. No, no, no. Come crawling back to me. In fact, you don't have to come crawling back to me. I'm gonna be right there next to. You to help you up when you're ready. To be helped back up and to be restored. Allow people to fail. And plan. For restoration. Unsolicited advice. Is very rarely received. It's very rarely just appreciated and go wow. Peter got some unsolicited advice from Jesus, right? But his heart was not in a place where he. Was like, OK Lord, yeah. Wow, I saw something completely different, but I'm just going to take you at your word and trust you in it. For no way I'm ready to go and die for you. That's not going to happen. We need to recognize. When a person is soliciting advice, help, encouragement, exhortation. There's great opportunity there when they're not. It doesn't mean we give no advice. It doesn't mean we give no counsel or no exhortation, but we need to understand the kind of position we're in and have. That the understanding ahead of time. Listen, I'm not going to be surprised. If you don't listen to this. Because you didn't ask for my opinion, you didn't ask for my counsel and insight. I I understand. I'm just blindsiding you with this nugget of truth and this great wisdom. I pray you receive it. I'm obligated to share it. But it's yours now. Do with it as you will. And if you want to ignore it and fail. Listen, I want you to know I'll be here when you're. Ready to be restored? That's the approach that Peter received from the Lord. And others around us need that from us as well. Allow people to fail and plan for restoration. Moving on to verses 35 through 38, we get point #3. Prepare people for new challenges and seasons, verse 35 says. And he said to them when I sent you without money, bag knapsack. And Sandals, did you like anything? So they said nothing. Then he said to them. But now he who has a money bag let him take it, and likewise a knapsack and he who has no sword let him sell his garment and buy one. For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in me and he was numbered with the transgressors. For the things concerning me, have an end. So they said, look Lord. Here are two swords and he said to them. It is enough. Here the Lord goes on to address the group. Once again. He addresses them with the question, hey, when I sent you out last time. I gave you specific instructions. Don't take any money. Don't take your backpack. Don't take extra pair of sandals. You went out there to do the work. That I sent you out to do. Did you lack anything? Even though you didn't have extra money in your. Wallet. Did you lack anything? Even though you didn't have an extra pair of shoes, did you lack anything? And they said nothing. Now this is referring back to Luke Chapter 10. It's here that Jesus sends out not the 12, but the 70 disciples. And he says, look, I'm sending you out. As lambs among wolves. But that doesn't mean you should arm yourselves. Don't take a money bag. Don't take a knapsack. Don't take sandals. Just go as. You are, and trust me to provide for you and take care of you. That was the instruction I gave. That's what you did. Did you lack anything? Lord, we did not lack anything. But now the instruction is changing. This is why we always need to be seeking the Lord, even when we're doing things that we've previously done, because sometimes the same thing later on is going to have some different instruction from the Lord. So this time the Lord says, but now if you have a money bag, make sure you take it. Don't leave home without it. Make sure that you have that with you and if you have a knapsack, take your backpack with you. And you know what, guys, if you? Don't have a sword. Then then you probably need to sell a garment and buy one. What Jesus is saying here is look. You're going to. Be sent on a similar mission, but it's not going to be. The same as before. I had some special provisions and instructions and protection for you before, but listen, you're heading into a new season with different challenges and and you're not going to just have everything provided for you and fall into your lap and you're not just going to have protection from everything and and never face any dangerous situations or life threatening. No, you're going to face some of those things. There's going to be some dangers and and and some troubles and some challenges. And so now you need to approach this next season differently. And so Jesus can see what's ahead. And he says, guys, you need to prepare yourselves. Don't go blindly. Don't just do the thing that you did last time. I have new instruction for you for this new season. That you're about to undergo. And Jesus explains why in verse 37 this this passage has yet to be fulfilled. He quotes here from Isaiah Chapter 53. He was numbered with the transgressors. There Isaiah Chapter 53 is that powerful prophecy of the Messiah as the suffering servant. Being beaten, being broken. For our iniquities. Being numbered with the transgressors. Bearing the sins of many so that he. Could be the one who provides forgiveness to all. And so guys, you've had my presence. You've had my protection. You've had this exciting season of ministry with me present. But things are changing. So I want you to prepare for that. There's new challenges and new seasons ahead. I can see it. You're not ready to understand it. You're not fully comprehending it yet, but I'm preparing you now and planting seeds now. That will bear fruits in the near future when all of this starts to unfold. Well, finally point #4 at verses 39 through 46. Pray earnestly. That you submit to the father's will pray earnestly. Here, as we follow the example of Jesus, the model of Jesus that he sets for us, we patiently teach. Those things that we've taught previously, the same lessons we allow people to fail and we are present to make sure that they can be restored when they're ready. We prepare people for the new challenges and seasons that are ahead. And now following Jesus example, we need to pray earnestly. That we keep ourselves. In the plan of God and the. Will of God verse 39? Through 46 says this. Coming out, he went to the Mount of Olives, and as he was accustomed, and his disciples also followed with him. When he came to the police, he said to them pray that you may not enter into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and he knelt down and prayed. Saying Father, if it is your will take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done. Then an Angel appeared to him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony, he prayed more earnestly than his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. When he rose up from prayer and had come to his disciples, he found them sleeping from sorrow. Then he said to them, why do you sleep? Rise and pray lest you enter into temptation. We have two examples to observe here. In this. Knights of prayer. The example of Jesus and then of course the example of the disciples. Jesus goes with his disciples to the garden of Gethsemane, where they would frequent. They would often go there and they knew the drill. They knew the routine. It was a time of prayer or seclusion to be alone with the father. And Jesus takes Peter, James and John a little bit farther into the garden with him than the rest of the disciples, but then he also leaves those guys behind. He goes about a stones throw away. A little bit further on his own. He kneels down and he praise, and here we get to be reminded of the humanity of Jesus. Yes, he is God. But he really. Did become man, he added humanity to his deity. And he knelt down and he prayed. And he said, Father, if it's your will take this cup away from me, the cup referring to the suffering and judgment that he was about to endure, he knew what was ahead. He's headed to the cross almost there. He feels the. Pressure of it. Father, if it's your will, take this cup away from me. Not my will, but yours be done. Such a powerful picture of Jesus here praying earnestly. To keep himself aligned with the father because his physical body does not want to endure what it's about to endure. He's not excited about it. There's going to be more suffering than he's known before. And he's saying, father, if there's any other way. Let's take that option. But also saying nevertheless not my will but yours be done, and you can understand the gravity of this seeing this situation and and how serious this prayer is. Because in verse 43 it says an Angel appeared to him from heaven, strengthening him. I don't know if you've ever prayed so earnestly and and been facing something so severe that the father had to send an Angel to you to strengthen you so that you could continue praying. But the Angel of the Lord here strengthens Jesus. Again, we get to see his humanity. He needed strength. And you can also see the Father answered his prayer not by changing the plan, but by giving him strength. And it progresses in verse 44 and being in agony, he prayed more earnestly. That the situation is mounting, the intensity is growing. He's in agony. Facing this situation, understanding what's ahead of him and so he prays more earnestly the word agony. It means to be in combat and really focuses on the pain and the labor of the conflict, not just the fact that there is a battle, but how much the battle takes a toll. On the one who is fighting. This word agony is used to refer to that, to that trembling of anxiety that is produced. That tension. That the body experiences in the. Midst of a battle. And so his agony. Amplifies his intensity and prayer. And so he prays more earnestly. My body is resisting this and so I'm praying more earnestly that I will be submitted to the father's will. Nevertheless, not my will be done. But your will be. In contrast to that, we see the disciples same place in the garden of Jessamine. Same call to a time of prayer. He says in verse 40, when it came to that place, he said to them pray that you may not. Enter into temptation. Again, a little bit of unsolicited advice, the disciples say, oh, that's right, Jesus. I'm just gonna take a nap while you go pray. He rose up from his prayer in verse 45. He comes back to his disciples. He finds them sleeping. Now we know from the other gospels this. Happens three times. He keeps coming back, waking them up. Hey guys, pray pray. The serious, serious situation is about to unfold. Pray earnestly that you will be able to submit to the father's will in. The midst of the. Trial and the temptation you're about to. Endure and they just kept going back. They didn't pray earnestly and we find them falter in the next moments. Prayed earnestly. And he submitted. To the father's will. Setting us an example. It's a hard lesson for us to learn and we need to be reminded of it regularly. It's really our own selves that is the biggest obstacle. To our growth. And our success in the things of the Lord. We're the ones. Who get in our way. We're the ones who don't listen and fall asleep when we should be praying earnestly. We're the ones frustrated when we should be patient. We're the. Ones in the way. What if we could get out of the way? What if we could pray earnestly? That we would be submitted to and surrendered to the fathers will. That famous quote from Dwight Moody, the world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him by God's help. He said I aim to be that man. I would counter this. A little bit we did see. What God can do with the? Man fully consecrated to him in the life of Jesus. But he's the only one. What could the Lord do? If we would be. Serious about following Jesus's example to the end. What could the Lord do in your life and to the people around you in their lives? If you are patient in teaching the same lessons repeatedly. What could the Lord do? If you would allow people to fail. And at the same time be right there present for their restoration. Go out of your way to. Call them back. Be willing to reengage that relationship and that ministry and that opportunity. That God set there. What would the world be like if you? Went ahead of those that God had entrusted to you in prayer. So that you could prepare them for the. Challenges and seasons ahead. So that you. Could help them to face those things. Help arm them. For the new things that they. Would face in the battles that would be present. What would it be like? If we would pray earnestly. That we would keep ourselves submitted. To the father's will. Will you follow Jesus's example? To the end. Boy God could do. Something incredible. If we would submit ourselves to him. And so I want to close by just allowing us to meditate on that a little bit further. I'm going to close in a. Worship song or two here and I just. Encourage you to. Meditate on these things and allow the Lord. To speak to you. But most importantly, Pray earnestly. That you would be submitted. To the father's will. That you could follow the example of. Jesus to the very end.