Sunday, June 12, 2016

Not My Will But Thine

• 4th Sunday after Pentecost
On Matthew 26:31-46, Jesus prays Not my will but thine
www.FirstChurchBville.com   @FirstUMCBville   @kerrfunk

• Jesus knows.
Knows what’s going to happen, knows what’s going on.
Chooses to go on in spite of personal pain.
• I had a wedding yesterday, Laura and Gary.
Marriage is a chosen re-ordering of life and priority.
One time a young teen asked if I liked being married
– obviously she did not have a good model to learn from.
We need good models to learn from.
Marriage is a chosen re-ordering of life and priority.
There is more at stake here than “me, myself, and I”.
What is good/enjoyable/desirable for ME
may not be so for US. (activity, purchase, etc.)
AND I gladly surrender because my love for US is greater.
I want to make my partner smile.
• In Christian marriage the covenant between Christ and church is shown.
In the garden, what Jesus wants is no suffering.
But he sets his will aside for relationship.
He could opt out, could satisfy himself.
He’s even currently abandoned by friends!
But he sets his will aside for relationship.
Early hearers would’ve recalled Abraham and Isaac.
Wait here while we go worship.
• Five powerful words for any disciple: Not my will but thine.
The episode in the garden is not written to shame the weak but to model Jesus and to demonstrate that God’s love and grace and presence is without fail.
Not my will but thine.
Could prevent a host of troubles, could strengthen relationship.
Basically, nothing bad happen, only good. Not my will but thine.
• Jesus is in deep sorrow: prays.
Jesus is abandoned by friends: prays. Keeps them in mind.
And result of prayer, of surrender: cool mind. Strength for task.
• Amazing Love (And Can It Be), by Charles Wesley. Read lyrics.

• Hymn 363 And Can it Be that I Should Gain by Charles Wesley
1. And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood!
Died he for me? who caused his pain! For me? who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

2. 'Tis mystery all: the Immortal dies!
Who can explore his strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries to sound the depths of love divine.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore; let angel minds inquire no more.

3. He left his Father's throne above (so free, so infinite his grace!),
emptied himself of all but love, and bled for Adam's helpless race.
'Tis mercy all, immense and free, for O my God, it found out me!

4. Long my imprisoned spirit lay, fast bound in sin and nature's night;
thine eye diffused a quickening ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
my chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

5. No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in him, is mine;
alive in him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine,
bold I approach the eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own. 


Matthew 26:31-46        (Common English Bible)
31 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Tonight you will all fall away because of me. This is because it is written, I will hit the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will go off in all directions
.[Zechariah 13:7]
32 But after I’m raised up, I’ll go before you to Galilee.”
33 Peter replied, “If everyone else stumbles because of you,
I’ll never stumble.”
34 Jesus said to him, “I assure you that, before the rooster crows tonight, you will deny me three times.”
35 Peter said, “Even if I must die alongside you, I won’t deny you.”
And all the disciples said the same thing.
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane.
He said to the disciples, “Stay here while I go and pray over there.” 37 When he took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, he began to feel sad and anxious. 38 Then he said to them, “I’m overwhelmed with sorrow. It’s as if I’m dying. Stay here and keep alert with me.” 39 Then he went a short distance farther and fell on his face and prayed, “My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. However—not what I want but what you want.”
40 He came back to the disciples and found them sleeping.
He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you stay alert one hour with me?
41 Stay alert and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation.
The spirit is eager, but the flesh is weak.” 42 A second time he went away and prayed, “My Father, if it’s not possible that this cup be taken away unless I drink it, then let it be what you want.”
43 Again he came and found them sleeping. Their eyes were heavy with sleep. 44 But he left them and again went and prayed the same words for the third time. 45 Then he came to his disciples and said to them, “Will you sleep and rest all night? Look, the time has come for the Son of Man to be betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Get up. Let’s go. Look, here comes my betrayer.”  
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Philippians 2:5-11        (Common English Bible)    
5 Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus:

6 Though he was in the form of God,
        he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit.
7 But he emptied himself
        by taking the form of a slave
        and by becoming like human beings.
When he found himself in the form of a human,
8         he humbled himself by becoming obedient
          to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore, God highly honored him
        and gave him a name above all names,
10     so that at the name of Jesus everyone in heaven,
        on earth, and under the earth might bow
11         and every tongue confess
            that Jesus Christ is Lord,
            to the glory of God the Father.    
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