Gethsemane

Mat 26:36" Then cometh Yahoshua with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

Of all the passages throughout scripture, I think this may be the most powerful. Consider also that Luke 22:44 adds :"And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground."

Yahoshua the Messiah was not just some man. He was not even just some anointed man. He was not just a great prophet. He was and is today, Yahweh God,The Everliving, The Ancient of Days, but wrapped in the frailty of human flesh. I know that what I am saying may go against some doctrines but that's not really my problem.Yahoshua is Yahweh in the flesh, for only Yahweh could become Israel's "kinsmen redeemer", and the Salvation of the world.

Briefly, let's look at a few scriptures. Be patient, for this ties directly to Gethsemane and to you and I.

Deu 6:4" Hear, O Israel: Yahweh our God [is] one God:" This is pretty straight to the point. Yahweh is one God. Not two, not three. He is one and there is no one else.

Isa 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of Yahweh Sabaoath will perform this."

Everyone recognizes this as a prophecy of the coming or first advent of Yahoshua the Messiah. "unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:" This is obviously the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem unto Mary."Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David," We know that it is Yahoshua the Messiah who will return and sit upon the Throne of David and establish His Kingdom once and for all. But what is He also called here?" The mighty God, The everlasting Father". There is only One and One only who can fill that position, and that is Yahweh.

Isaiah 54:5" For thy Maker [is] thine husband; the LORD of hosts [is] his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called." So here we also see that only One could be considered the Redeemer-The Holy One of Israel-The God of the whole earth: Yahweh Sabaoath. And yet we read Gal 3:13 "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Yahoshua the Messiah; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. " Very briefly, this verse does not say that the Law was a curse, but is referring to the curse for disobeidiance to the Law; and it was Yahoshua the Messiah that redeemed us from that curse, and according to Isaiah 54:5 Only Yahweh could be our Redeemer.

Rev 5:8 "And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four [and] twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; "

So Yahoshua is Yahweh. The Spirit of Yahweh overshadowed Mary, caused her to concieve: Yahweh wrapping a piece of Himself in the wretchedness of human flesh there in Mary's womb, and that piece of Himself becoming for a time a seperate Being, yet still very much connected to the Source. Haven't you ever noticed how demons had no problem referring to Yahoshua as "Son of God", but would never refer to Him as "Son of Man", even though this was the Messiah's favorite term to apply to Himself. Why? Because all of eternity was hanging on this event of The Creator taking on the form of the created. The great war between Yahweh and Lucifer, between angelic warriors and demonic rebels was suddenly brought to a great turning point.

Jer 23:6" In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this [is] his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."

Another time we shall look more in depth at this subject, but for now I want to answer that question,"What has this got to do with Gethemane?"

Everything.

Yahoshua came to the garden of Gethsemane grieved, sorrowful even unto death. He even needed to feel the presence of His three closest disciples nearby.He moved a little away from them. He sank to His knees, the Godman communing with The Source, agonizing over something that was coming.

"And he went a little further, 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]." Soon, temple soldiers would be coming, moving under cover of darkness, led by the edomite Judas. He would be betrayed, they would bind Him in chains, His closest disciples would scatter and abandon Him, the soldiers would beat Him on the way.

"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." The unlawful court of the Sanhedrin would begin, the accusations, the lies, more beatings, more torture, Peter would deny Him three times, the unimaginable torment of the scourging with the cat-o-nine-tails, His flesh hanging in ribbons, the journey to the hill.

"And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words." He would be nailed to a cross, He would be mocked, He would die.

Yahoshua saw every bit of it coming. Even while celebrating the Passover with His disciples, it must have been gnawing at the back of His mind. Now as the hour arrived in the "Garden" of Gethsemane, the fear, the anxiety, the dread of it all came crashing in on Him. If you are having trouble imagining the Messiah actually feeling these emotions remember this:

Hbr 4:14 "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Yahoshua the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession. 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."

Yes, He was in ALL points tempted just as we are, but unlike us, He never faltered.

And He is Yahweh. But He was also man. "Son" of God, "son" of man; and in Gethsemane, the man part was being crushed. Ironically enough,Gethsemane was an olive grove, the very word or name Gethsemane meaning "olive press." Here the Messiah was being pressed. Here He was, actually praying that if there was any way for Him NOT to have to go through, what He knew that He was about to go through, please let it be. But He knew what the end HAD to be. So He prayed,

Not My will, but Your Will. Here was the victory won.You may be asking yourself right now, if Yahoshua truly was Yahweh in the flesh, HOW could He be so tortured? Well, wouldn't you be? Actually, aren't WE tormented over infinitely smaller decisions and choices? That is the curse of this flesh, and that is the victory of the "son of man".

Rom 7:15 "For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. ...:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. ...:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? "

Our current state, in this flesh, is a most pitiful state, full of weaknesses, desires, wants, ego,etc. Gal 5:17" For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. " We call it our sinful nature, our old man, and we have a need to be literally delivered from this flesh. There is a multitude out there proclaiming the "national message" concerning true Israel, but they are neglecting the individual message to true Israel. They point out the lineage of Israel back to Adam or Awdawm, illustrating the exclusiveness of the Adamic, Abrahamic, Israelitish race, but they leave out one very, very important point. We are a FALLEN race. Because of Adam's fall we too are born into a corrupt, sinful nature. We need a Savior.

It was this flesh, this nature that Yahoshua wrestled with in Gethsemane. But in that prayer, not my will, but thine, the flesh was crushed. So, you may be asking, how does this apply to me?

We must go through our own Gethsemane's.

Rom 12:1" I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

We all have our own wants, desires, plans for the future. We have our own egos, ways that we look at ourselves. But no man or woman will ever accomplish anything for the Kingdom of Yahweh God, experience the true power and anointing that await them in the "new covenant" until they have been led by Yahweh's Spirit into Gethsemane. There they we will be pressed, squeezed, crushed. OUR wants, OUR egos, OUR plans suddenly being crucified. Perhaps it is a loved one who we fear will abandon us if we become a "fanatic" for Yahweh. Our hearts may be breaking inside. Perhaps it is the giving up of a lifelong dream or ambition, but the Father has revealed that is not the path HE wants for you. Perhaps the fear of becoming an outcast or giving up ideas and beliefs that have always been a part of who you are. Whatever the reason, now you look with terror at what may be. You can't imagine your life being so radically changed. Fear, anxiety, torment tear at your thoughts and emotions. A voice screams inside you "I don't want to give this up! I CAN'T!"

"that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice" Welcome to Gethsemane. You may feel like a part of you is dying, and you are right.Rom 6:6 "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.For he that is dead is freed from sin...."Rom 6:11 "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Yahoshua the Messiah our Lord."

This is the way of the cross, and there are no comfortable crosses. There are no short cuts. Let us look at the Messiah in agony in Gethsemane again.

"O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done." Here we are giving up our lives, our will, and accepting His. Yahoshua even prepared us for this when He showed us how to pray, Luk 11:2 "And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth." This is why , even though there is so much "activity" in ministries, churches and organizations, nothing ever changes. This is why even though we see stacks and stacks of "information" being put out, nothing changes. It is the product of talented and even well-meaning individuals acting in their own wisdom and planning. There is no "great awakening", no "great revival", because no one is willing to go through Gethsemane. Many have been "TO" it, but few have gone "THROUGH" it.

Now, here is the good news. Hbr 12:1" Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Yahoshua the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin."

What was the "joy set before Him"? Well, it certainly wasn't the cross or the shame. When you are going through Gethsemane, all you can see is the terrible loss that is before you, the pain and heartache. But the Messiah looked finally BEYOND all that, and there on the other side of the horrible torture and death before Him, was the Ressurection, the empty tomb, the Baptising in His Spirit of His followers, and one day; one sweet, glorious day, His triumphant return to establish His kingdom once and for all. This was the joy that was set before Him, and for the sake of all that, He endured.

And it's the same for us. If we can go THROUGH Gethsemane, give up our will for His, what awaits us is blessed. You see the real agony is in the actual "giving up". Once we have done this, the pain subsides, the darkness parts, and peace, peace which surpasses all understanding, comes and floods are hearts and souls. But to get to that part, requires TRUST in our Father. Trust that He is not trying to destroy us, that He doesn't hate us; that what He is actually trying to do is bless us. But many never get to that part. They've been to Gethsemane, but not through it. Oh they may have been on fire, they may have been filled with excitement and zeal at having learned they were a covenant people, they may even have been touched by the Holy Spirit in some extraordinary way. But then they came to a price, they came to Gethsemane, but they just couldn't go through.

Jhn 3:26 "And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all [men] come to him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I [must] decrease. "

John the Baptist had it figured out early on. Here was a man, filled with the Holy Spirit of Yahweh from his mother's womb. His ministry was unprecedented in Judea. Multitudes flocked to him, even Yahoshua the Messiah came to him to be baptised. But when Yahoshua's ministry began to outshine his own, there was nothing but humility and the realization that "He must increase, but I [must] decrease. " And so it must be with any who would truly serve the one True God , especially here in the last days. This world doesn't need more christian rock bands, the world doesn't need more programs and info-pushers. As Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 1:5", For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. "

Paul wasn't just some info-pusher, though he had lots of information to share. Paul's ministry was alive with the power of the Holy Spirit of Yahweh. So how did Paul get that kind of annointing? 1Cr 15:31 "I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Yahoshua the Messiah our Lord, I die daily."

See? Paul was constantly going to Gethsemane, dying to his own ego, wants and desires, so that he could be a clear, unobstructed vessel of the the Messiah's power.

Many of you have come to the knowledge that you are Israelites. But you want more. You've started studying the Word and putting into practice the commandments of Yahweh in your lives, but still you feel like something is missing. Some of you have come to a place where the Holy Spirit is beginning to lead you in deeper and more profound ways, but suddenly you've found yourself at a point. Perhaps it's a relationship that is draining you spiritually, or perhaps you're even being forced to choose between your walk with the Father or this relationship. Perhaps it is the loss of something if you continue to obey Yahweh's commandments. Whatever the situation, you've found yourself in Gethsemane, and there's nothing to do but go through. Oh, you can walk away as so many have done. But you will sacrifice whatever Yahweh was about to bring you into. You can go through the motions, but there will be no life, no joy, no Holy Presence; and whatever or whoever you decided it was that you just couldn't live without, will become a curse eventually, and even more ironic, you'll still end up losing it or them anyway.

But if you can go through, there is infinitely more waiting ahead of you than behind." Looking unto Yahoshua the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. "