Prologue
God and Jesus in Gethsemane
Isaiah 49 and the Gethsemane accounts of Jesus in the Garden
by Andy Madonio
Have you ever had a troubling time; a time when you didn't think you did the right thing, or a time when you felt like you followed scripture to the tee, heard God's voice and acted in faithful obedience -- but things still turned out terribly? When it was all said and done, did you stick to your faithful course, even though it seemed all wrong? Did you remain faithful to the one who has always been faithful to you?
Do you think Jesus ever had doubts and confusion? If He didn't, how do you think He would be able to understand your situation? How could the writer of Hebrews say that we have a priest that is NOT out of touch with our reality, one who has been through weakness and testing and experienced it all -- all but the sin? Let me make it clear to you -- Of course Jesus had difficult times, frustrations, doubts and struggles.
As a bit of background preparation, you need to read the following passages: Isaiah 49:1-7, Isaiah 53:1-3, and finally Mark 14:32-41. When you've finished that reading, and have asked the Holy Spirit to guide you in this message, then please continue.
The following is my personal rendition of Isaiah 49:1-7 (Red text) blended with supporting scriptures (Green text) to form a Biblical montage of the pivotal night in Gethsemane, where the world was forever saved, and our great high priest was made perfect.
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{Isaiah 49:1} "Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me."
{Revelation 13:8} . . . . the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.
{Isaiah 49:1 cont'd} " . . . . from my birth he has made mention of my name."
{Luke 2:10-11} The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."
{Isaiah 49:2-4} "He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor." But I said, "I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. ""
{Isaiah 53:1-3} Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
{Isaiah 49:4} [AGAIN] "I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing."
{Mark 14:33-35} He began to be deeply distressed and troubled. "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch." Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.
{Luke 22:44} And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
{Isaiah 49:4 cont'd} "Yet what is due me is in the Lord's hand, and my reward is with my God."
{Mark 14:36} "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
{Isaiah 49:5-7} "And now the LORD says -- He who formed me in the womb to be His servant to bring Jacob back to Him and gather Israel to Himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength -- He says: "It is too small a thing for you to be My servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring My salvation to the ends of the earth." This is what the LORD says -- the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel -- to Him [Jesus] who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the servant of rulers: "Kings will see You and rise up, princes will see and bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You.""
The Conversation
In The Garden - Isaiah 49
A Message Preached March 29, 1998
Andy Madonio
The Conversation
Isaiah 49:1-7 in my own words
By Andy Madonio
"Hey dad, are you there? I really need to talk to you tonight."
"I'm here my son. What is it?"
"Dad, you know, I've been thinking a lot recently about many things. Lately, for example, my mind has been filled with thoughts of those wild events you told me about a long time ago; events that occurred even before we created this place. As I've been mulling those memories over in my mind, I have noticed that they are closely related to all the recent troubles that are at hand. Dad, [pause] -- I'm scared."
"Ok son, I'm listening, as I always do. What's on your mind tonight?"
"Oh my, where do I begin? Ok, well, let's see -- remember when my earthly mom found out I was going to be born?"
"How can I forget that?!"
"Yeah, right. You told me later that you were pretty excited. I guess you were, because you announced it to the entire world! You even said that you had chosen a name for me -- thousands of years before I was born!"
"A name is very important. It is a picture of your character, of who you will become. Yours was chosen very carefully son. It was chosen from the very beginning."
"Yeah, I remember. I also remember you picked out my career, and that you mentioned that to everyone in the world as well. But for some reason, your communication regarding my purpose was not very straightforward, was it? I mean, if someone were careful and pieced together all your stories and history and descriptions and prophecies, they would be able to know my purpose for coming.
"It's very sad for me to realize now, tonight, that not very many people put forth much effort in trying to figure it all out. And if that weren't bad enough, there is that one particular group of people you spent so much time with -- leading them through the desert to the place where they now live. You gave very special and detailed instructions to them; they had it all down pat. But when they realized what you had said and done, and that it had happened through me by your prearranged plan, they refused to believe it at all!"
"Yes my son, I know . . . . . . . Is that what's really bothering you tonight?"
"It sure is dad. Tonight, for some weird reason, it's like I can feel the weight of the entire world, past, present and future, resting heavily upon my shoulders. It's like my competition is doing everything he can -- right now, tonight, to ruin all I've done for you these past three years. He is also trying to take from me those you've given to me to carry on my work. He's really got me sweating bullets right now."
"Um hmm. Go on son. Go on."
"I remember when I first started doing your work, just as we agreed from the beginning. It was my first official day on the job when you sent me on that very difficult 40 day assignment in the wilderness. I prayed and fasted to prepare just like you taught me, and guess who arrived at my weakest moment? Of course, my competition! I was as vulnerable as I had ever been when he approached.
"He could have given me big trouble, but I was ready because you told me that's what he would do. I learned a very important lesson that day, a lesson I passed on to all those under me at one point or another. I learned that when I am weak, your strength inside me is at it's strongest. Dad, I'm as weak tonight as I have ever been.
"He tried to mess me up that day by slyly twisting your words around his lies, but I knew the truth of your words dad. I knew what they really meant, because you and I talked so much about them beforehand."
"Son, those times you and I talk are the most special times of my life."
"Yeah, I know dad. They are for me too. If it weren't for the long talks we have, my competition would have won already. Thanks dad.
"Well anyway, back to my frustrations of tonight. So many of the people I have spoken to have understood my message -- quite well; but they claim my message, which came from your heart, is false! They insist that you wouldn't have wanted me to say those things. Isn't that ridiculous?
"I told them I always ask you everything -- what to do and what to say, and yet they think I'm a fake. They have accused me of lying and distorting your words. Why they even accused me of working for my competition! I know that particular accusation made you very upset, and I told them so. I'm afraid it mattered very little however. They persisted in calling me a liar and their anger grew very intense."
"Yes, I know. I saw it all son . . . . They will receive what is due them. Now, how about those special assistants I gave you; how are they working out?"
"Well dad, they have been a real challenge to bring up to speed. Sure, they love me, and they even help me in the work you have given me to do, but they aren't very fast learners. Two or three show more promise than the others, and I've been working closely with them, showing them some real "inside stuff". But when you look at those 12 guys in total, they are not a lot to show for all my work.
[Pause] "Dad, I guess that's what really bothers me the most tonight. I've given everything I can and yet I don't think I've accomplished very much. Why, even now, as we are talking, three of my very best men have failed to uphold me. I should be able to feel the strength of their prayers, but I sense nothing. Tonight of all nights, when I need them like I never have, when I need them the most, they are sleeping instead of praying!
"Boy is my competition working me over right now. He's going for the kill! Three years of working night and day with my men, and what are they doing dad? They're sleeping when they should be working! Oh dad, I really feel like a failure just now."
"Son, remember when you, yourself, told your own men that the people of this world don't really know me? And that because in rejecting you, they have rejected me too? I know you remember, because we discussed it at length very early one morning in that solitary place we love to meet in. You also told your guys that if you were rejected, they should plan on being rejected as well, remember? We talked often about this son, because I knew it would be difficult for you -- remember?"
"Yeah dad, of course I remember. But you know what? I never realized it would be as bad as you warned. I never realized it would tear at your heart so much either -- and mine too. I think that's at the center of my troubles tonight. They have rejected you, the one with more love inside than anything in all creation. I think that is what is tearing me up the most tonight."
"Son, have you always obeyed me?"
"You know I always have dad. I have constantly told my men that I do nothing except that which you tell me to do, and that's the truth -- your word is truth dad."
"Then know this my son; your efforts have not been wasted. By merely obeying my commands, even the ones you didn't understand or believe in, you have accomplished ALL that I have planned for you. By obeying me perfectly, with a pure and devoted heart, you have fulfilled ALL things perfectly. When you return home, you will see.
"I know the people down there didn't think much of you son, but I do. I planned for you to be unobtrusive and unappealing so as not to draw attention to yourself. I wanted them to notice your MESSAGE, not you. Those people are consistently fickle, but they will consistently follow a charismatic individual. Remember that the most popular folks around are the false prophets!
"You are my son, and I'm proud of you. I've said it before and I'll say it again. You, my son, will be a light for the whole world one day. And you will also lead those rebellious ones I have chosen back to me -- in the fullness of time."
"Thanks dad. I think I can make it through to the end now. My men will soon abandon me, but this talk with you has given me the strength I need -- again. I love you dad."
"And I love you too son -- see you soon."
