Lent: Death to Power - Week 5
Opening Prayer:
Lord God,
You came to us as a servant, showing us the way of a different kind of power:
The way of love, forgiveness and sacrifice. You call us to follow You in the same way.
In all we do Lord, may Your will be done.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Key Scripture:
36 Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” 37 He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. 38 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
40 Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”
42 Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.
44 So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”
Matthew 26:36-46
Sermon Summary
In the garden of Gethsemane, we see Jesus at His most vulnerable, navigating a profound "wrestle" between His humanity and His divine mission. Set against the high-tension backdrop of Passover in Jerusalem, Jesus deliberately enters a confrontation with the "power players" of His time, knowing it will lead to His death. His distress is so intense that He describes His soul as "crushed with grief to the point of death".
The Nature of the Wrestle
Jesus’ prayer—asking for the "cup of suffering" to be removed while ultimately submitting to God's will—highlights the reality that following God often involves "hours of wrestling". This isn't a story of God forcing a puppet to obey; rather, it is about the "merging" of human and divine wills through relationship and honest struggle.
Defining God’s Will
God’s will is reframed using Ephesians 1:9-10, describing it as a cosmic plan to bring unity to all things in heaven and earth under Christ.
The Original Unity: In the beginning, the realms of God and creation were one.
The Fracture: Humanity’s desire for independent power caused a "fracture" between these realms.
The Junction: Jesus, being fully God and fully human, is the place where heaven and earth are unified again.
A Different Kind of Power
Worldly power is typically governed by strength, force, and domination. However, the power of God is subversive; it is based on humility, sacrifice, and the "way of the servant". Jesus defeats death not by using force or weapons or threats, but by laying down his life, showing that love and goodness are the true foundational forces of the universe.
Practical Implications for Us as Followers
As followers of Christ, we are called to be the "junctions" where heaven and earth meet today. This involves:
Merging Wills: Developing a relationship with God where our desires eventually align with His.
Choosing Service: Rejecting the use of force or domination to influence others.
Embracing the Hard Stuff: Recognizing that while the "merged life" is not always easy, it is the path to seeing true goodness come to our world.
Discussion Guide:
This discussion guide explores the tension between human desire and divine purpose, the true nature of God’s power, and how we can practically live as the "junction" where heaven and earth meet.
1. The Human Wrestle
In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see Jesus at His most vulnerable. He is "anguished and distressed," describing His soul as "crushed with grief to the point of death". This wasn't a stoic march to the cross; it was a deep, emotional struggle between His human side and His divine purpose.
The Prayer: Jesus asks for the "cup of suffering" to be taken away, yet concludes with, "I want Your will to be done, not mine".
The Reality: Following God isn't always easy or immediate; sometimes it requires "hours of wrestling" in prayer and tears.
Discussion Question:
Jesus’ disciples fell asleep when He needed them most. When you are in a season of "wrestling" with a hard decision or situation, how do you handle the feeling of being alone or misunderstood by those around you?
2. Defining "God's Will"
We often think of God’s will as a secret individual blueprint, but we suggest a much grander vision based on Ephesians 1:9-10: to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
The Fracture: Originally, the realms of God and creation were one. Humanity’s desire for independent power caused a "fracture".
The Goal: God’s will is for the goodness of heaven to be realised here on earth.
The Junction: Jesus is fully God and fully human; he is the literal place where heaven and earth are unified.
Reflection Activity: Jo used the image of a burger bun—originally whole, then cut (fractured), and finally held together by a stick (Jesus).
In what areas of your local community do you see the "fracture" most clearly?
What would it look like for "heaven" to touch that specific area?
3. A Different Kind of Power
The world defines power through strength, force, and domination. Jesus redefines it through humility and sacrifice.
Characteristics of Worldly Power
Governed by force and weapons
Seeks to dominate others
Uses violence to maintain control
Characteristics of the Way of Jesus
Governed by love and service
Seeks to give up status and wealth
Defeats death by laying down life
Group Discussion:
The sermon mentions that God does not use "force" to make us obey. If God is all-powerful but chooses the way of the "servant," how should that change the way we try to influence people in our jobs, families, or politics?
Practices:
As followers of Jesus, we are called to be places where heaven and earth are joined today. This happens when our will begins to "merge" with God's will.
Individual Practice: "The Merge"
Identify your "Cup": What is something hard you feel called to do? (e.g., forgiving someone, giving money away, or serving in a thankless role).
The Gethsemane Prayer: Practice Jesus’ prayer this week: "Not my will, but yours". Acknowledge the "wrestle" honestly to God.
Community Practice: "Heaven on Earth"
Service as Power: Choose one collective act of service this month that requires giving up "status" or "security" to help those the world ignores.
Rejecting Force: Identify any areas where your group might be tempted to use "force" or "pressure" to get its way. How can you replace that with the "way of the servant"?
Additional Resources:
For a printable version of this guide click here.