Journey--Grow- The Garden of Gethsemane (Trials and Testing)
This summer, we’ve been growing as we journey with Jesus. We’re learning about the pruning of the Master Gardener (John 15:1-2) who refines us to bear much fruit. We started with a refined purpose last week, one that is focused on God’s kingdom and bringing God glory. Like clay in the hands of a potter, disciples are reshaped after following Jesus as they are “made for more.”
This week, we journey to another well known garden in Scripture–the Garden of Gethsemane. This garden is best known for being the last place Jesus went as a free man before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. But we actually see that Jesus was in Gethsemane often (John 18:2). Perhaps that is why in His time of struggle, Jesus heads to Gethsemane again.
In the garden, we see that Jesus is struggling under the weight of the suffering that is to come.
Luke 22:44b | He was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood
Jesus is being tested as He decides between the road that leads to the cross (and death) or the one that allows Him to live.
Just like Jesus, God’s followers are not exempt from times of testing, trial, or trouble. In fact, these times are pretty much guaranteed (John 16:33). We see in Scripture that God uses trials to grow us –
James 1:3 | For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
That endurance is exactly what we need as we journey with Jesus. Remember our theme verse?
Hebrews 12:1b | … let us run with endurance the race (or the journey) God has set before us.
We can be sure that if God allows times of testing and trial for the sake of our endurance, He will use that endurance during our journey.
We also see that trials purify our faith and provide an opportunity to bring God glory–-
1st Peter 1:7 | These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
Through trials, God grows His followers, building their capacity to trust Him so that wherever He leads, they are sure to follow. We’ve already seen that we are ‘made for more,’ but we aren’t always ready for more until we’ve grown through testing and trial.
Because trials and testing are so important to the disciple’s journey, James says–
James 1:2 | Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
If we head back to the garden, we don’t immediately see joy in Jesus’ testing. But joy is not a feeling of happiness, it is a feeling of contentment – knowing that you can trust God no matter what. We see Biblical joy all over Jesus’ prayer–
Luke 22:42a | “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
God doesn’t remove the trial from Jesus. Instead, Jesus endured the cross. He is able to walk forward into the storm because He knows He has been called there by the Father. And the call to testing comes with a promise–
1st Peter 5:10b | So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.
Sure enough, Jesus enduring His testing leads to victory, but we’ll see that in another garden soon.
1st Peter 4:12-13 | Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
At times, trials and testing seem impossible, but don’t lose heart- you were made for more! Sometimes, that more is to be the one who glorifies God in the struggle like the boys in the fiery furnace or Stephen facing stones. Other times, your time of testing builds the capacity for the more, like Joseph’s struggle in slavery, Abraham’s testing in Egypt, or Daniel’s time in captivity. The pruning you experience results in the ability to bear the more (John 15:2). When trials or testing come, be very glad.
What is a trial or a time of testing?
How does God use trials and testing in the life of the believer?
What was Jesus’ response to His testing? What can you learn from His example?
What does it mean to glorify God in or during a trial/time of testing?
What does it mean to have your capacity built by testing so you can bear more in the future?