November 5, 2024 • 14 mins
Imagine standing beneath ancient olive trees, feeling the cool breeze on your skin as you ponder the weight of the world. As night falls in the Garden of Gethsemane, join me, Pastor Nick, in exploring this momentous time when Jesus faced immense pressure before his ultimate sacrifice. Together, we’ll draw strength from His profound journey, finding parallels with the trials of our own lives. We’ll reflect on my personal visit to this sacred place and consider how these moments of intense challenge can shape us, much like the pressing of olives transforming into precious oil.
In this episode of Beyond Sunday, I share the story of a beloved church member enduring his own time of hardship, drawing inspiration from Jesus’ example of resilience and grace. As we gather around an impromptu service in a hospital room, we witness how faith and community can uplift even the heaviest of hearts. Discover how embracing the pressures of life can lead to growth and transformation, and find solace in the serenity Jesus maintained amidst chaos. Join us as we uncover the powerful lessons from the shadowy groves of Gethsemane and apply them to our own lives.
In this episode of Beyond Sunday, I share the story of a beloved church member enduring his own time of hardship, drawing inspiration from Jesus’ example of resilience and grace. As we gather around an impromptu service in a hospital room, we witness how faith and community can uplift even the heaviest of hearts. Discover how embracing the pressures of life can lead to growth and transformation, and find solace in the serenity Jesus maintained amidst chaos. Join us as we uncover the powerful lessons from the shadowy groves of Gethsemane and apply them to our own lives.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Beyond Sunday, where we bridge
scripture with daily living.
I'm Pastor Nick, and today wejourney into the tranquil yet
tense atmosphere of the Gardenof Gethsemane in John, chapter
18.
Here, under a canopy of ancientolive trees, the air thick with
the scent of crushed olives, wefind Jesus in a very profound
(00:20):
moment of decision.
Back in 2019, I had theprivilege of going to Israel,
and one of the places that westopped when we got to Jerusalem
was the Garden of Gethsemane.
And as we walked through thatgarden, seeing these ancient
trees and watching the view ofJerusalem in the distance,
looking at the Kidron Valley inbetween, seeing all these
(00:42):
moments and imagining Jesusbeing there, it's really
breathtaking to realize thatthis was a place, the Garden of
Gethsemane, that Jesus wentmultiple times to pray.
This isn't a one-time moment,even though that's the story we
all remember, but within thestory, john, the writer of this
gospel, tells us that this was aplace that Jesus took his
(01:02):
disciples.
Often, that's how Judas knewwhere Jesus would be that night.
John, chapter 18, we see thisincredible story unfold.
Now, just for a moment.
Imagine the soft rustling ofleaves, the cool night breeze,
the distant city lights as abackdrop.
This isn't just any night,though it's the eve of the
(01:22):
greatest sacrifice in history.
Any night, though, it's the eveof the greatest sacrifice in
history, and you're there.
You're witnessing the calmbefore the storm In the shadowy
groves of Gethsemane, whereolives are pressed to release
their valuable oil.
Jesus experiences immensepressure as he prepares to take
on the sins of the world.
(01:43):
If you remember, in John,chapter 17, he said Father, the
hour has come.
Glorify your son, that your sonmay glorify you.
Then Jesus goes on to startthis journey, walking towards
the Garden of Gethsemane, and atsome point in chapter 17, he
pauses and he begins to pray outloud for the disciples and what
(02:04):
they're going to be against.
He's praying for the future ofthe church.
He's praying for you and me.
He looks up to heaven and hebegins to pray, and this was
such an impactful moment for thedisciples that they wrote this
prayer down so that you and Icould witness it several
thousand years later.
And then, after that, he makeshis journey to the Garden of
Gethsemane.
(02:24):
Now, personally, think of atime when you felt the weight of
the world on your shoulders,your thoughts heavy like the
dense air before a storm.
Many of you know him.
He's one of our church members,a beloved church member that
has been faithful in serving,and about 23 days ago he had a
stroke that has changed his lifeand it has been a sad, hard
(02:53):
journey that the hospitalSarasota Memorial has not made
easy, but we are walking thisjourney with him every day.
And as I walked into hishospital room this afternoon, he
was sitting there.
Somebody had put an iPad in theroom that he could watch
Sunday's sermon, and so he hadSunday's sermon going.
He had called one of the nursesin the room that he could watch
Sunday sermon, and so he hadSunday sermon going.
He had called one of the nursesin the room to watch the sermon
with him.
One of the pastors from thechurch and his wife were there
as well.
And so I walk in and there'sthis mini church service going
(03:15):
on and as I talk and I hear themessage and if you are a public
speaker, you know the worstthing in the world is to have to
sit and listen to yourselfspeak.
Some of the things I talkedabout yesterday in this sermon
were these hard reflections ofwhat Jesus went through, but
that we also go through.
Jesus, too, felt this weight onthat evening, yet his was the
(03:37):
weight of the world's salvation.
For a moment, think about thatwhen you and I feel overwhelmed.
Remember the olive press.
Just as pressure releases thevaluable oil from olives, your
times of pressure can yieldstrength and virtue.
Embrace these moments, knowingthat they are shaping you.
(03:59):
Jesus is there in the garden andas Judas approaches with a band
of soldiers history tells usthere was probably 60 to 100
people that came, their torchesflickering like fireflies in the
dark, jesus remains a figure ofserene authority amidst the
chaos.
He says who have you come for?
(04:19):
They say jesus of nazareth andhis response to them is that I
am he.
And when he says that, hisvoice steady, causing the
soldiers to stagger and fallback.
This is john, chapter 18, 4through 6.
I wish I could have witnessedthat moment.
This is one of those moments inscripture that I think, man, it
(04:40):
would have been incredible tosee 60 to 100 grown men,
soldiers, who were ready forbattle, armed, to take on the
Prince of Peace.
And when he said his name, thatI am he, it threw them back on
the ground To stand there andwatch.
That had to have been comical,but also overwhelming to know
(05:02):
the weight of Jesus's name.
It's not like they wereposturing for defense.
They weren't ready to battle inthat moment.
They are literally falling tothe ground.
His calm amidst betrayal is alighthouse standing firm.
It's light, steady and sureagainst the crashing waves of a
stormy sea.
And so you and I, we facemoments like that.
(05:24):
When faced with betrayal orconfrontation, imagine yourself
as the lighthouse Stand firm inyour integrity, your light
unwavering, guiding others evenin tumultuous times.
Now, if you know the story,jesus is arrested, peter tries
to fight back, pulls a sword.
(05:45):
I don't know who gave Peter asword, but Peter pulls a sword,
cuts off a guy's ear.
Jesus tells him to stand down,shields the guy with the ear
problem no-transcript.
And then he's arrested, he'sbound up and he's taken away,
(06:06):
the disciples just standingthere watching him go.
He goes to a couple of differentplaces.
He goes to Annas' house first.
Who was the high priestprevious to the current high
priest?
The current high priest wasCaiaphas, and that is Annas'
son-in-law, and it's a familyaffair here, but for some reason
they took Jesus to Annas first,and basically because he still
(06:28):
was the one running the show.
He may not have been in theposition anymore, but he had the
power.
Annas questions Jesus when hegets frustrated.
He sends Jesus across thestreet to the Sanhedrin and
Caiaphas and he enters asituation there.
And then eventually they takehim to see Pilate.
And as Jesus stands beforePilate, the clash of two
(06:50):
kingdoms becomes apparent thetransient pomp of Roman power
versus the internal, unshakablerealm of Christ.
As he's talking John 18, verse36, he says my kingdom is not of
this world.
I can't imagine what Pilate wasimagining in this moment or
(07:10):
what he was experiencing.
He was already up against ahard situation.
He knew who Jesus was.
Based on the questions that heasked him, he didn't feel that
there was enough evidenceagainst Jesus.
In fact, eventually he tries towash his hands of the whole
situation.
But truth is he knew.
And so, as Jesus says, mykingdom is not of this world.
(07:31):
I wonder what Pilate thought.
For you think of a leader whochose the harder right over the
easier.
Wrong.
Their actions?
A beacon of truth in a sea ofcompromise.
Their legacy, like a starrynight, guides those navigating
the dark.
So how can you embody thevalues of Jesus' kingdom in your
(07:53):
daily interactions?
Perhaps it's choosing peaceover conflict, truth over
convenience in your workplace oryour home?
I made a post last night.
I actually shared a post in oneof my stories on social media
of another pastor that wrote apost.
The post was pretty ambiguousbut it was very triggering for a
(08:13):
friend of mine and they startedmessaging me almost immediately
, attacking me and how dare Ipost that?
What does that mean?
And at first I really was alittle naive, thinking they had
biblical questions, but then Irealized that it triggered them
and so I asked them hey, didthis trigger you?
This was not anywhere relatedto what you think it was, so how
(08:34):
did this trigger you?
I would like to say that we gotto an easy resolve, but truth is
I try not to spend much energyon people that are triggered.
My life is not spent beingtriggered by everybody else's
posts and comments.
I think that is a huge waste ofenergy and relational and
emotional energy within us, andso I just don't live in that
(08:55):
world, and so when other peopleare triggered, I don't allow
them to take me into their worldeither.
For some of you that do, maybethis is a great reminder.
You don't have to have thefeelings that other people have
you that do.
Maybe this is a great reminder.
You don't have to have thefeelings that other people have.
You don't have to enter theiremotional roller coaster just
because they're on it.
It's okay to say, hey, I'mgoing to let you deal with that,
I'll pray for you, but I'm out,which is essentially where I
(09:16):
landed in this situation.
I chose peace over conflict.
I chose truth over convenience.
Now back to the story.
Even as chaos unfolds aroundJesus, jesus' focus remains on
safeguarding his disciples,ensuring not even one is lost.
(09:40):
In verse 9, he says I've notlost one that you have gave me.
It's so interesting in thismoment for me because he is
challenging the soldiers.
They're there to arrest Jesusand, more than likely, arrest
those that are following Jesus.
And Jesus takes command of thesituation and basically says you
can take me, but you can't haveanybody else, and they listen
(10:03):
to him.
You can take me, but you can'thave anybody else, and they
listened to him.
Picture a shepherd in a wild,wind-spent field, braving the
elements to gather his scatteredsheep.
Jesus, even in his darkest hour, is that shepherd calling us to
safety.
And so here's a practical tipfor you Be a guardian in your
community.
Look for those who arestruggling or isolated and reach
(10:27):
out.
Your actions can be the shelterthey need from life's storms.
Now the fifth thing I want totalk to you about is truth and
sacrifice.
In the cool stone-clad halls ofPilate's palace, jesus'
conversation about truth and hisidentity cuts through the
political and philosophicalrhetoric like a sword.
(10:49):
Jesus stands there and Pilatelooks at Jesus and says what is
truth, his voice echoing off thecold stone walls filled with
weariness and cynicism.
Verse 38.
Now for you, contrast Pilate'sluxurious but hollow palace with
(11:12):
Jesus' humble but profoundpresence.
One represents earthly power,fleeting and fragile.
The other, eternal truth,enduring and incorruptible.
The other, eternal truth,enduring and incorruptible.
Reflect on your own leadershipand daily interactions.
Are they more like Pilate'spalace, focusing on appearances,
or like Jesus, rooted in truthand integrity?
(11:35):
I want to challenge you to aimto lead people by example,
prioritizing what is righteousand true.
Now, today's journey throughJohn 18 has shown us the serene
strength of Jesus as henavigates betrayal,
confrontation and his destiny.
Each step on this path is alesson for you and I on
(11:57):
integrity, on protection, on thepower of divine truth.
Thank you for joining me todayon Beyond Sunday.
May this week inspire you towalk in the truth of Christ,
confidence and compose, nomatter the trials you face,
until next time, live withcourage.
Until next time, live withcourage and love without limits.
(12:20):
Now, very quickly.
Spoiler alert don't miss nextweek's podcast.
I've been working on somethingfor almost eight years now.
I say that, and I paused it forabout seven of those years, but
I've been working on somethingthat I want to share with you.
It's coming out in January, butnext week I'm going to tell you
what it is and how you can helpme.
(12:40):
So do not miss next week'spodcast.
Thanks for listening today.
Hope you have a great week.
Welcome to Beyond Sunday, where we bridge
scripture with daily living.
I'm Pastor Nick, and today wejourney into the tranquil yet
tense atmosphere of the Gardenof Gethsemane in John, chapter
18.
Here, under a canopy of ancientolive trees, the air thick with
the scent of crushed olives, wefind Jesus in a very profound
(00:20):
moment of decision.
Back in 2019, I had theprivilege of going to Israel,
and one of the places that westopped when we got to Jerusalem
was the Garden of Gethsemane.
And as we walked through thatgarden, seeing these ancient
trees and watching the view ofJerusalem in the distance,
looking at the Kidron Valley inbetween, seeing all these
(00:42):
moments and imagining Jesusbeing there, it's really
breathtaking to realize thatthis was a place, the Garden of
Gethsemane, that Jesus wentmultiple times to pray.
This isn't a one-time moment,even though that's the story we
all remember, but within thestory, john, the writer of this
gospel, tells us that this was aplace that Jesus took his
(01:02):
disciples.
Often, that's how Judas knewwhere Jesus would be that night.
John, chapter 18, we see thisincredible story unfold.
Now, just for a moment.
Imagine the soft rustling ofleaves, the cool night breeze,
the distant city lights as abackdrop.
This isn't just any night,though it's the eve of the
(01:22):
greatest sacrifice in history.
Any night, though, it's the eveof the greatest sacrifice in
history, and you're there.
You're witnessing the calmbefore the storm In the shadowy
groves of Gethsemane, whereolives are pressed to release
their valuable oil.
Jesus experiences immensepressure as he prepares to take
on the sins of the world.
(01:43):
If you remember, in John,chapter 17, he said Father, the
hour has come.
Glorify your son, that your sonmay glorify you.
Then Jesus goes on to startthis journey, walking towards
the Garden of Gethsemane, and atsome point in chapter 17, he
pauses and he begins to pray outloud for the disciples and what
(02:04):
they're going to be against.
He's praying for the future ofthe church.
He's praying for you and me.
He looks up to heaven and hebegins to pray, and this was
such an impactful moment for thedisciples that they wrote this
prayer down so that you and Icould witness it several
thousand years later.
And then, after that, he makeshis journey to the Garden of
Gethsemane.
(02:24):
Now, personally, think of atime when you felt the weight of
the world on your shoulders,your thoughts heavy like the
dense air before a storm.
Many of you know him.
He's one of our church members,a beloved church member that
has been faithful in serving,and about 23 days ago he had a
stroke that has changed his lifeand it has been a sad, hard
(02:53):
journey that the hospitalSarasota Memorial has not made
easy, but we are walking thisjourney with him every day.
And as I walked into hishospital room this afternoon, he
was sitting there.
Somebody had put an iPad in theroom that he could watch
Sunday's sermon, and so he hadSunday's sermon going.
He had called one of the nursesin the room that he could watch
Sunday sermon, and so he hadSunday sermon going.
He had called one of the nursesin the room to watch the sermon
with him.
One of the pastors from thechurch and his wife were there
as well.
And so I walk in and there'sthis mini church service going
(03:15):
on and as I talk and I hear themessage and if you are a public
speaker, you know the worstthing in the world is to have to
sit and listen to yourselfspeak.
Some of the things I talkedabout yesterday in this sermon
were these hard reflections ofwhat Jesus went through, but
that we also go through.
Jesus, too, felt this weight onthat evening, yet his was the
(03:37):
weight of the world's salvation.
For a moment, think about thatwhen you and I feel overwhelmed.
Remember the olive press.
Just as pressure releases thevaluable oil from olives, your
times of pressure can yieldstrength and virtue.
Embrace these moments, knowingthat they are shaping you.
(03:59):
Jesus is there in the garden andas Judas approaches with a band
of soldiers history tells usthere was probably 60 to 100
people that came, their torchesflickering like fireflies in the
dark, jesus remains a figure ofserene authority amidst the
chaos.
He says who have you come for?
(04:19):
They say jesus of nazareth andhis response to them is that I
am he.
And when he says that, hisvoice steady, causing the
soldiers to stagger and fallback.
This is john, chapter 18, 4through 6.
I wish I could have witnessedthat moment.
This is one of those moments inscripture that I think, man, it
(04:40):
would have been incredible tosee 60 to 100 grown men,
soldiers, who were ready forbattle, armed, to take on the
Prince of Peace.
And when he said his name, thatI am he, it threw them back on
the ground To stand there andwatch.
That had to have been comical,but also overwhelming to know
(05:02):
the weight of Jesus's name.
It's not like they wereposturing for defense.
They weren't ready to battle inthat moment.
They are literally falling tothe ground.
His calm amidst betrayal is alighthouse standing firm.
It's light, steady and sureagainst the crashing waves of a
stormy sea.
And so you and I, we facemoments like that.
(05:24):
When faced with betrayal orconfrontation, imagine yourself
as the lighthouse Stand firm inyour integrity, your light
unwavering, guiding others evenin tumultuous times.
Now, if you know the story,jesus is arrested, peter tries
to fight back, pulls a sword.
(05:45):
I don't know who gave Peter asword, but Peter pulls a sword,
cuts off a guy's ear.
Jesus tells him to stand down,shields the guy with the ear
problem no-transcript.
And then he's arrested, he'sbound up and he's taken away,
(06:06):
the disciples just standingthere watching him go.
He goes to a couple of differentplaces.
He goes to Annas' house first.
Who was the high priestprevious to the current high
priest?
The current high priest wasCaiaphas, and that is Annas'
son-in-law, and it's a familyaffair here, but for some reason
they took Jesus to Annas first,and basically because he still
(06:28):
was the one running the show.
He may not have been in theposition anymore, but he had the
power.
Annas questions Jesus when hegets frustrated.
He sends Jesus across thestreet to the Sanhedrin and
Caiaphas and he enters asituation there.
And then eventually they takehim to see Pilate.
And as Jesus stands beforePilate, the clash of two
(06:50):
kingdoms becomes apparent thetransient pomp of Roman power
versus the internal, unshakablerealm of Christ.
As he's talking John 18, verse36, he says my kingdom is not of
this world.
I can't imagine what Pilate wasimagining in this moment or
(07:10):
what he was experiencing.
He was already up against ahard situation.
He knew who Jesus was.
Based on the questions that heasked him, he didn't feel that
there was enough evidenceagainst Jesus.
In fact, eventually he tries towash his hands of the whole
situation.
But truth is he knew.
And so, as Jesus says, mykingdom is not of this world.
(07:31):
I wonder what Pilate thought.
For you think of a leader whochose the harder right over the
easier.
Wrong.
Their actions?
A beacon of truth in a sea ofcompromise.
Their legacy, like a starrynight, guides those navigating
the dark.
So how can you embody thevalues of Jesus' kingdom in your
(07:53):
daily interactions?
Perhaps it's choosing peaceover conflict, truth over
convenience in your workplace oryour home?
I made a post last night.
I actually shared a post in oneof my stories on social media
of another pastor that wrote apost.
The post was pretty ambiguousbut it was very triggering for a
(08:13):
friend of mine and they startedmessaging me almost immediately
, attacking me and how dare Ipost that?
What does that mean?
And at first I really was alittle naive, thinking they had
biblical questions, but then Irealized that it triggered them
and so I asked them hey, didthis trigger you?
This was not anywhere relatedto what you think it was, so how
(08:34):
did this trigger you?
I would like to say that we gotto an easy resolve, but truth is
I try not to spend much energyon people that are triggered.
My life is not spent beingtriggered by everybody else's
posts and comments.
I think that is a huge waste ofenergy and relational and
emotional energy within us, andso I just don't live in that
(08:55):
world, and so when other peopleare triggered, I don't allow
them to take me into their worldeither.
For some of you that do, maybethis is a great reminder.
You don't have to have thefeelings that other people have
you that do.
Maybe this is a great reminder.
You don't have to have thefeelings that other people have.
You don't have to enter theiremotional roller coaster just
because they're on it.
It's okay to say, hey, I'mgoing to let you deal with that,
I'll pray for you, but I'm out,which is essentially where I
(09:16):
landed in this situation.
I chose peace over conflict.
I chose truth over convenience.
Now back to the story.
Even as chaos unfolds aroundJesus, jesus' focus remains on
safeguarding his disciples,ensuring not even one is lost.
(09:40):
In verse 9, he says I've notlost one that you have gave me.
It's so interesting in thismoment for me because he is
challenging the soldiers.
They're there to arrest Jesusand, more than likely, arrest
those that are following Jesus.
And Jesus takes command of thesituation and basically says you
can take me, but you can't haveanybody else, and they listen
(10:03):
to him.
You can take me, but you can'thave anybody else, and they
listened to him.
Picture a shepherd in a wild,wind-spent field, braving the
elements to gather his scatteredsheep.
Jesus, even in his darkest hour, is that shepherd calling us to
safety.
And so here's a practical tipfor you Be a guardian in your
community.
Look for those who arestruggling or isolated and reach
(10:27):
out.
Your actions can be the shelterthey need from life's storms.
Now the fifth thing I want totalk to you about is truth and
sacrifice.
In the cool stone-clad halls ofPilate's palace, jesus'
conversation about truth and hisidentity cuts through the
political and philosophicalrhetoric like a sword.
(10:49):
Jesus stands there and Pilatelooks at Jesus and says what is
truth, his voice echoing off thecold stone walls filled with
weariness and cynicism.
Verse 38.
Now for you, contrast Pilate'sluxurious but hollow palace with
(11:12):
Jesus' humble but profoundpresence.
One represents earthly power,fleeting and fragile.
The other, eternal truth,enduring and incorruptible.
The other, eternal truth,enduring and incorruptible.
Reflect on your own leadershipand daily interactions.
Are they more like Pilate'spalace, focusing on appearances,
or like Jesus, rooted in truthand integrity?
(11:35):
I want to challenge you to aimto lead people by example,
prioritizing what is righteousand true.
Now, today's journey throughJohn 18 has shown us the serene
strength of Jesus as henavigates betrayal,
confrontation and his destiny.
Each step on this path is alesson for you and I on
(11:57):
integrity, on protection, on thepower of divine truth.
Thank you for joining me todayon Beyond Sunday.
May this week inspire you towalk in the truth of Christ,
confidence and compose, nomatter the trials you face,
until next time, live withcourage.
Until next time, live withcourage and love without limits.
(12:20):
Now, very quickly.
Spoiler alert don't miss nextweek's podcast.
I've been working on somethingfor almost eight years now.
I say that, and I paused it forabout seven of those years, but
I've been working on somethingthat I want to share with you.
It's coming out in January, butnext week I'm going to tell you
what it is and how you can helpme.
(12:40):
So do not miss next week'spodcast.
Thanks for listening today.
Hope you have a great week.
Popular Podcasts
True Crime Tonight
If you eat, sleep, and breathe true crime, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT is serving up your nightly fix. Five nights a week, KT STUDIOS & iHEART RADIO invite listeners to pull up a seat for an unfiltered look at the biggest cases making headlines, celebrity scandals, and the trials everyone is watching. With a mix of expert analysis, hot takes, and listener call-ins, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT goes beyond the headlines to uncover the twists, turns, and unanswered questions that keep us all obsessed—because, at TRUE CRIME TONIGHT, there’s a seat for everyone. Whether breaking down crime scene forensics, scrutinizing serial killers, or debating the most binge-worthy true crime docs, True Crime Tonight is the fresh, fast-paced, and slightly addictive home for true crime lovers.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.