========================================================================
  AND MYRRH
  by G.W. North
========================================================================

Summary: Jesus, in the midst of His agony, demonstrated unwavering love
and acceptance towards His disciples despite their failure to support
Him.

Topics: "Loneliness of Christ", "Sacrifice and Love"
Scripture References: Psalm 22:1, Isaiah 53:3, Matthew 26:40-41, Matthew 27:46, Mark 14:34, Luke 22:44, John 15:13, John 16:32, Romans 5:8, Hebrews 5:7

------------------------------------------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
------------------------------------------------------------------------

G.W. North reflects on the profound loneliness of Jesus during His agony
in the garden, where He cried out in anguish while His closest disciples
slept, symbolizing humanity's oblivion to His suffering. Despite knowing
that He would face His final ordeal alone, even forsaken by God, Jesus
held no bitterness towards His disciples, understanding their human
frailty. His love remained steadfast, as He sought only their
companionship in His moment of need. This sermon emphasizes the depth of
Christ's sacrifice and the weight of His commitment to fulfill the
Father's will, even in the face of abandonment.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENT
------------------------------------------------------------------------

He cried out from the fires of agony, His sweat pouring from Him for all
the world like drops of blood, but the chosen on whose behalf He cried
were lying asleep behind Him. He had no illusions. He fully realised
that they represented the whole vast company of people, who, oblivious
as they, would be for ever unaware. Yet neither their sleep nor their
inability to watch with Him through one dark hour embittered His soul;
He loved them. He had always known that when He reached the last
terrible ordeal now lying so close just ahead of Him, He would be out on
His own. He knew that in the final event no-one would be with Him, not
even God.

That had been perfectly understood between Father and He from the
beginning.

Long ago in eternity past He had agreed to it before ever He undertook
to be made a man. So desire it as He may, He did not really expect men
to stay with Him; why, even God was going to forsake Him. Peter, James
and John, who had been chosen by Him to become future pillars of His
Church, completely failed Him; they were a disappointment to Him, but He
felt no bitterness. All He sought of them was human love and
companionship while He committed Himself afresh to His Father's will,
that was all. But it was not to be. And so to crucifixion.

========================================================================
Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/gw-north/and-myrrh/
========================================================================