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Sermon
of 04-26-02
GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE US
by Dr. David A. Farmer, pastor
Scripture - 1 Samuel 12:22
"For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people."
March 22, 2002 is a day I would like to forget - but can't. It was the day I had to say goodbye to my best friend of 17 years, Tabby my Rat Terrier. She was old and I saw what was coming for quite sometime. Then that Friday morning when she couldn't stand up any longer I knew what I had to do.
Friends it was and will be for a long time the hardest thing I have ever done. And any of you that have ever had to do that before know what the pain, grief and sorrow I felt that day and still feel the this morning.
You know it is never easy saying goodbye. But one thing about mans best friend, they never abandon or forsake you. They will stand by you to their last breath. Kathy will tell you that Tabby would
whine whenever I wasn't around. Especially if she could hear my voice. She wanted to go with me whenever I left the house. She never wanted to be left alone. She wanted to be with me no matter what.
No she never betrayed, forsook or abandon me. But you know, we are not that way. For some reason we humans have been known to abandon others. All of us have heard of stories where someone ran and deserted their post. But most of us in this room probably feel we would never do that. We would never abandon or desert others. Oh? What would you say if I told you that you have deserted Someone? You might ask, "Who did you desert?"
Turn with me to Isaiah 53:6; "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;" In other words my friends, we have all turned our back on God. Paul says in Romans 5:10 that "we were God's enemies". Pretty harsh words wouldn't you say?
You do realize that an enemy is also an adversary? Do you know what an adversary is? In simple words it is someone that is
an opponent! It's one who offends, not out of ignorance, but on purpose! Now most of you are probably thinking; but that doesn't describe me. I've never opposed God before. Well, lets see if you have or not by asking you a few questions.
Now to keep from embarrassing you - just answer in your heart. Have you ever done anything knowing God would not want you to do it? Have you ever watched anything on TV or listen to anything on the radio you know God would not watch or listen to? Have you ever, sometime in your life, taken anything that wasn't yours to take? Ever lied, yes, white lies count, if there is such a thing? Ever looked at the opposite sex with lust before? Have you ever coveted before? Have you ever supported knowingly or unknowingly any work of the devil? Need I say anymore?
Folks, the Bible says in Romans 3:23; "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" How many? All. That includes you and me. That makes you and me an enemy of God.
But in Romans 6:18 Paul says; "Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."
Through Jesus Christ and what He did for us on the cross we are accepted back into His fold. Now even though we have at times abandon God - most of us desire to do what is right in God's sight. But we find it difficult to do at times.
Now with that in mind, have you ever considered another time Jesus appeared to be
abandoned? Turn with me to Matthew 26:36-46. As we continue our travel looking at the many items that took place surrounding the cross, this evening I want us to look at one that I consider is the most intimate conversation between God the Son and God the Father. Listen;
"Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
V:37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. V:38
Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. V:39
And he went a little farther, 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.
V:40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? V:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. V: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. V:43
And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. V:44
And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
V:45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. V:46
Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me."
This Garden Prayer represents to me an exhausting emotional, physical, and spiritual experience. But through it all, Jesus remained confident in His Father's love. The Bible shows that the Garden of Gethsemane is where Jesus frequently went to have communion with His Father. The name of Gethsemane meant, "Oil Press".
And now with the upper room experience over, with the disciples feet washed, with communion instructions given, Jesus wants to have a personal talk with His heavenly Father. Even though Jesus knew what Judas was up to at that exact moment, He still needed to hear words of encouragement from God.
In Matthew 26:37-38 we see that Jesus was becoming extremely sorrowful and troubled. Verse 38 shows clearly that Christ was very close to a death experience. Try as you or I might, this experience Jesus was going through cannot be described - only experienced.
This was to be Jesus' final prayer before the cross. This was to be His last moments before He was to be put to death. A death that would be counted toward every person that had or will ever live. The most emotional moment of His life and Jesus spends it praying. But it wasn't any normal prayer. This prayer would bring great drops of blood to His forehead.
It's probably worth noting that Jesus wasn't only praying for Himself, He was also praying for His disciples and you and me too. John 17:20 says;
"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;" Later read all of John 17.
Friends, in other words, when Jesus stepped into the Garden of Gethsemane we were on His mind. His final prayer was for those He came to save. His final passion wasn't for Himself, it was for you and me.
Listen to how Mark describes this scene, 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."
Abba in English is daddy. Jesus asks that the cup He is about to drink be taken away from Him. But Jesus knew that He and He alone could drink from the cup. No Angel could drink it, no human could drink it. No force in the universe could drink the ingredients from that cup - except God Himself.
His humanity asked to be delivered from having to drink from the cup. His humanity wanted out. But Jesus knew His answer before He even asked the question. Friends, I believe Jesus could have walked away from the Garden anytime He wanted to. But then again, He couldn't either. He knew He couldn't save Himself and save you and me at the same time. He knew what He had to do and He did it for us. He felt as if His Father was abandoning Him. He felt the whole world betraying Him.
Friends, let me assure you that Jesus knows what it is like to be torn between decisions. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 4:15:
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
Jesus knows what it feels like to be abandoned. He knows what it feels like to have Satan breathing down the back of your neck. And perhaps - most of all - Jesus knows what it feels like to ask God to change His mind and yet hear the Father, ever so lovingly and gentle, but firmly say "no."
For you see that is the answer Jesus heard that Thursday evening. But it didn't bother Jesus, for you see He had a calm peace come over Him. His heart fights no longer. He stands up, and friends the battle is won!
You may have heard that the battle against Satan was won on the cross at Golgotha. But friends it wasn't as far as I'm concern. You may have thought the sign of victory is an empty tomb. It isn't! I believe the battle was won in the Garden of Gethsemane. Friends it was in the Garden that Jesus made His decision that He would rather die forever than to live without us.
By now Judas was busy doing his dreadful dead. He knew that Jesus came to the Garden to talk to His Father. John 18:2 says Judas knew the exact spot where to bring the murderous mob.
"And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples."
John 18:2 NKJV
Friends, I want you to know that Christ never abandoned Judas. Jesus was there waiting on Judas. Then the Bible says that Judas used a kiss to give the sign of who the mob was to arrest.
Friends, have you ever wondered why Judas used a kiss as the sign? I mean he could have pointed just as easy. He could have shaken His hand or called out His name. But no, the Bible says it was a kiss. And Jesus stood there as Judas betrayed Him.
The Webster Dictionary I use at home described "betray" this way: "To deliver or expose to an enemy by treachery."
When I read that I couldn't help but notice the word next right below betray - betroth. Which means; "To promise to give in marriage."
Two words next to each other but yet their meanings were worlds apart. Friends, betray is a weapon found only in the hands of someone you love and trust. Your enemy has no such weapon, for only a friend can betray your trust. Betrayal is mutiny. It's a violation of another's faith. It's an inside job. It's more than rejection; for rejection opens up a wound but betrayal pours salt on it. Betrayal is more than loneliness, for loneliness leaves you in the cold but betrayal closes the door. It's more than mockery, for mockery plunges the knife in your back but betrayal twists it. It's more than an insult, for an insult attacks your pride but betrayal breaks your heart. Betrayal turns the world against you. But most of all, betrayal gives you the golden opportunity to forgive one another.
Listen to this statement I found in "Story of Jesus - 1896 from my favorite author; "Jesus did not reject the traitor's kiss. In this he gives us an example of forbearance, love, and pity, that is without a parallel." Then the authors adds; "If we are His disciples, we must treat our enemies as He treated Judas. "
Listen to Matthew 26:50: "And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him."
Friends, of all the names I would have called Judas "friend" is not one of them. I mean listen to Matthew 26:15-16; "And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. V:16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him."
Even though Jesus knew that Judas sold Him out, friend is exactly what Jesus calls Judas. Friends it was there that our Savior proves how far He is willing to go to forgive His children. If He could call Judas friend after what he had just done, don't you think that it stands to reason that He calls us His friends too no matter what we have done?
That's why He drinks all the ingredients in that cup for us. You may wonder what was in that cup? It was murder, rape, drugs, stealing, lying, smoking, liquor, Sabbath breaking, lustful thoughts, cheating, and every sin we have or will ever commit. He drinks it all and paid our penalty for sin - death.
And yet, even after drinking the ingredients of that cup of our sin - He still considers us as His most trusted friends!
As I come to a close let me say this; the next time you feel betrayed - remember what Jesus did for you. The next time you experience suffering - remember what Jesus did for you in the Garden. And finally the next time you feel like calling it quits - remember Christ could have too.
But instead of calling it quits, He took His trusted friend's cup of sin - that's you and me, and drank every last drop.
To me the Garden of Gethsemane is proof positive that Jesus will never desert, abandon, forsake, or leave us alone.
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