Mattt 26: 39 says "....He went a little further...."

The Saviour always did that in His Life, didn`t He ? He always went that little bit further to help an aching heart. He went out of His way to meet with a needy soul.

And what about our lives ? Hasn`t He gone a little bit further with us ? Hasn't He shown His Mercy and Love when we least deserved or required it ?

So let us reverently go a little further with the Saviour into Gethsemane, and think about, and learn,what He went through in that Garden.

In this sermon, Rev Elliott looks at the EXAMPLE which the Saviour SET, and the EXPERIENCE which He SUFFERED.

I want to look at this latter part first.

Rev Elliott mentions that phrase in Mark 14:33 , how the Lord "began to be sore amazed."

Just think of that statement - the Lord of Glory - sore amazed. It means that He was taken with the extremity of the horror and filled with total astonishment at what He saw ahead - at what He was going to partake of.

We read also in Matt 26:37 that He "began to be sorrowful and very heavy" - this means He was encompassed around by sorrow.

Luke 22:44 "His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. "

Rev Elliott then asks the question - WHY ??

Did you ever wonder why the Saviour was filled with such anguish and agony as He considered these things ? Our immediate answer would be, because He was going to die on the Cross, but Rev Elliott points out something here.

Think about martyrs who went to the flames and refused to deny their faith in Jesus Christ. Think of the calm which they felt and showed as they went into those flames, and died this brave death.

Think about Christians on their death-beds who have that look of calm and peace and serenity, even though they may be suffering pain and agony.

Now, do you think that the Saviour suffered such agony of soul because He was going to die ? No - it was because He was going to be forsaken by His Father, as He would bear the sins of His people, and bear their defilement, and curse and punishment.

Very briefly - think of that verse in Luke 22:43, "And there appeared an angel unto Him from Heaven, strengthening Him"

Did you ever stop to consider that verse ? The Creator of Heaven and earth, being strengthened by one of His creations ! What condescension ! Also, think of the restraint the Lord showed - He could have called 12 legions of angels to come and strengthen Him, yet He permitted only one.

Rev Elliott also looks at the example the Saviour set - He prayed even though faced with such agony and anguish.

Do difficulties make us run AWAY from prayer , or INTO prayer ?

Think also of how the Lord repeated His prayer - Matt 26: 44 " And He left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words."

Vain repetition is wrong, but this kind of praying is not - this is meaningful, earnest prayer.

The Saviour`s prayer was also prayed in submission - Luke 22:4 "nevertheless not My Will, but Thine, be done."

At the end of the sermon, Rev Elliott reminds those listening, that, having seen the horror of soul which the Saviour went through before taking the bitter cup - if the Lord went through all that, as well as what He endured at Calvary - how shall they escape who neglect such a great salvation ?

I would recommend that you get into the quiet - take away all distractions, and listen thoughtfully to this sermon, and go that little further with the Saviour into the Garden of Gethsemane.

Can I also recommend the sermon preached on the same day, entitled,

THE CENTRALITY OF CHRIST

Thankyou !