2026.08.09 The Crushing of the Christ

Jesus in Gethsemane

The Crushing of the Christ

John tells us that Jesus “went forth” with His disciples across the Kidron Valley into a garden. Luke places it at the foot of the Mount of Olives. Matthew and Mark give us its name: Gethsemane — the oil press. The place where olives were crushed under weight, UNDER PRESSURE until oil flowed.

Stand with me as we read our focal passage.

John 18:1–2 ¹ When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. ² And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples.

Father, bless the reading of Your Word. Lead us into the places where You press us, even crush us, as You did Your Son. Teach us to respond in prayer, in surrender, and in obedience. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

1. The Place of Crushing (John 18:1–2)

Jesus chose Gethsemane deliberately. He wasn’t hiding. He wasn’t running. He intentionally and willingly went to the place where the Father’s will would press Him.

The olive press crushed olives under enormous weight until oil flowed. In the same way, the weight of divine wrath pressed upon Christ until His blood flowed, first in Gethsemane and then on the cross, where He would experience the judgment that our sins deserved.

Gethsemane is not punishment. Gethsemane is preparation. It is where God crushed Jesus’s self‑will so that His will might ultimately flow through us.

Just days earlier, Jesus walked down the road beside the Mount of Olives to shouts of “Hosanna” and “Blessed be the Name of the Lord”

On this evening, He walked up the same mount, through Gehenna, a 24-hour a day burning pit of trash and refuse, reminding Him of the reality of Hell that would be experienced by those if Jesus succumbed to His own will of letting this cup pass.

The ancient olive press had three pressings: The first produced pure oil VIRGIN OIL for anointing, reserved and used only for Priestly Service.

The second pressing produced oil for food and daily use.

The third was the hardest pressing, getting the last bit of oil, but also the most impure of oils, which was really on good for soaps, or for cleansing, and also for burning in lamps, or used for light.

Jesus prayed three times. And on the third, He sweat great drops of blood. Three pressings — holiness, sacrifice, cleansing, and light for the world.

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Christ went to Gethsemane, the place where the Father pressed Him. Where is your Gethsemane? Where is God pressing you to fall on your face, surrender your will, and obey Him?

Is it forgiveness? Purity? Pride? Greed? Fear? A relationship? A habit? A calling? A sin you’ve excused?

GracePointe #1 — Gethsemane teaches us that in God’s hands, the place that crushes us releases our transformation. The Place of the Crushing does not make us useless, it’s where God converts us to become useful.”

Maybe it is an obedience you’ve delayed and that leads us to point #2

2. The Purpose of Obedience Matthew 26:36–46

Gethsemane reveals the purpose of obedience: to bring our will into submission to God’s will.

Three times, Jesus prayed, “Not My will, but Yours be done.” THIS second Prayer is the hinge of redemption.

The One crushed in the garden would conquer in the tomb. The garden of pressing empowered the endurance of the cross. Only the garden of Gethsemane could lead to the garden of resurrection.

The first pressing was the beginning of the Priestly service, His initial surrender, the second prayer and the second pressing was the food of obedience. Your remember in John 4:34 Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”

GracePointe # 2 — Obedience is not the death of our will; it brings our will into alignment with God’s will. The path may be hard, even humanly impossible, it is the path that leads to true joy in Him.

Our will bows to God’s will.”

 3. The Prayer of Submission

Luke 22:41–44

Matthew says Jesus was sorrowful and distressed. Mark says He was troubled unto death. But only Luke says He was in agony.

Only Luke records the medical reality of hematidrosis blood vessels bursting under extreme stress, mixing blood with sweat.

Only Luke records the angel who strengthened Him — just as angels ministered to Him after His forty days in the wilderness.

Jesus asked His disciples to pray. But they slept.

This is third and final prayer was one of submission and ultimate surrender. Like the third pressing was the heaviest in weight, squeezing out the last ounce of oil from the olives, This is the prayer of submission was the prayer that made Calvary possible.

And now the question comes to us: Are your prayers simply asking God to change your circumstances? Or are they asking God to change you? Or are you praying at all? Are you sleeping?

Gethsemane teaches us to pray until our will bends. Until our desires yield. Until our hearts say, “Father, Your will be done.”

Prayer is not trying to change God. Prayer is surrendering to let God change us.

 Before we step out of the garden this morning, I want to tell you that since this is likely the last time I will ever preach on the prayer of Gethsemane, what you’re about to hear comes from my devotional book. It’s a reflection born out of sitting with John’s words slowly letting the story breathe, letting the weight of Gethsemane settle on my own heart.

Gethsemane was not an accident. It was the place where the Father allowed the weight of the world to squeeze the Son until His obedience flowed like blood.

After months and even years of reflecting of the Gethsemane’s Place, Gethsemane’s Purpose, and Gethsemane’s Prayer, I wondered when Simon saw when The Savior as The Son of God was crushed into obediently surrendering to become The Sacrifice of the Son of Man.

 Peter pulled his outer garment tight against the cool spring wind as they walked beneath the brilliant Passover moon. Its silver glow washed the path in quiet light, the kind of night where everything feels still—except the heart of Jesus. His steps were slower, heavier, as though each one carried the weight of heaven.

Gethsemane rose ahead like a dark silhouette. The disciples followed, unsure of the destination but certain of the Leader. Peter had proclaimed Him the Messiah months earlier, yet tonight the Rabbi felt like an enigma wrapped in sorrow.

Jesus stopped. Eight disciples sat. Peter, James, and John followed Him deeper into the grove. Miracles often happened when the four of them were together, but tonight felt different—charged, trembling, holy.

Jesus lifted His hand. “Wait here… while I go and pray.” He stepped into a small clearing, knelt, and then collapsed to the ground. The Son of God—face in the dirt.

Peter tried to pray, but exhaustion pressed him like a weight. The Master’s voice drifted through the trees, strained and trembling: “Abba… Father… take this cup from Me… yet not My will, but Yours.”

The moon broke through the clouds and lit Jesus’ face. Peter had never seen such agony—eyes lifted, jaw clenched, body shaking under invisible pressure. It was as if the whole world was squeezing Him.

Peter whispered the same prayer, but his eyelids betrayed him. Sleep stole over him like a thief.

A voice thundered near him. “Simon… are you sleeping?” Not Peter. Simon.

The name cut deeper than any rebuke. Jesus’ eyes were not angry—only sorrowful. “Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you fall into temptation. The spirit is willing… but the flesh is weak.”

Jesus returned to the clearing. Peter sank to his knees, then to his belly, trying to pray, trying to stay awake, trying to be the Rock Jesus said he was. But memories flooded him—his calling, his failures, his bold promises at supper, his insistence that he would never deny the Lord. Never.

He pressed his face into the cold earth. “Is this my crushing?” he wondered.

Suddenly Jesus’ form blurred in the darkness. Something—someone—stood beside Him. A figure not human. An angel. Strengthening Him. And still Jesus writhed, trembling under a burden no man had ever carried.

Then Peter saw it—dark drops falling to the ground. Not sweat. Blood. The crushing had begun.

The weight of the world pressed the Son of God until His pores burst with agony. The sin of humanity squeezed Him like olives beneath a press, and the oil that flowed was blood.

Peter tried to move closer, but terror froze him. He felt swallowed by the night—fear, sorrow, wine, exhaustion, prophecy, failure—all swirling like a storm inside him.

Then a command shattered the darkness. “Get up.”

Jesus stood, resolute now, strengthened by surrender. The disciples gathered around Him—except one.

Judas approached. With soldiers.

And the crushing of the Christ moved from the garden to the cross.

GracePointe # 3 — Gethsemane and the prayer of submission teaches us to push past physical weariness and spiritual sleepiness to pray until resistance surrenders to submission.

“Heavenly Father, I confess to You that my prayer life needs to be more passionate and even agonizing as Jesus’s was. I also lay my requests before You, knowing that the greatest desire is that Your will and not mine be done. In Jesus’s Name. Amen.”