A Stone’s Throw Away

The message was brought by Rev. Rodger Castle.

Luke 22: ³⁹ And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. ⁴⁰ And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. ⁴¹ And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, ⁴² Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. ⁴³ And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. ⁴⁴ 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. ⁴⁵ And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, ⁴⁶ And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

Jesus had been in the upper room with the disciples.  He had eaten with them.  He told them how much he loved them.  He told Judas to quickly do what he was going to do.  He knew it was his last night.  He wrapped a towel around his waist and washed the disciples’ feet.  This was a job for the lowest servant yet the Master did it.

Maybe you’re frustrated with the day and disheartened.  Jesus said he’ll never leave us.  He’ll never put more on us that we can bear.  We need to be obedient to God.  Jesus told the men to follow him; they went through the streets.  He instructed them on things, and they went to the Garden of Gethsemane.  There he prayed.  John 17 records the real Lord’s Prayer.  Here he prayed for us.  He told some of the men to wait at a certain place and then took Peter, James, and John a little further.  He told them to watch and pray and went a stone’s throw away from them to pray.  Only a stone’s throw away—he’s never far from us.  The men went to sleep.  We get tired and weary in the way.  The devil will convince us to stay away from church.  He’ll tell us somebody else can do it for a while.  The preacher looks out at empty seats because people are a stone’s throw away from the Lord.  Do you wonder why you don’t feel anything when others are blessed?  Are you a stone’s throw away?

Jesus had a lot on his mind.  He knew what he was facing.  While his disciples were sleeping a stone’s throw away, Jesus was in agony.  Many times we read verse 42 casually.  Here is was that he asked Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.  This plan was set before the foundation of the world.  Jesus was willing to do it, but he asked if there was another way.  Have you ever faced something that you knew you had to do but you really dreaded it?  That’s where Jesus was.

Why don’t we trust God completely?  What would you do if your child told you he wanted to be a missionary in a third world country?  Would you try to convince him not to go?  The vast majority of people who die are lost, and we’re over here asleep.  When someone tries to get you to do something, you won’t.  Jesus saw the disciples asleep and asked if they couldn’t stay awake one hour.  We’re unconcerned too. Many times we won’t get into a church service.  We sit like knots on logs.  These things happen because we’re a stone’s throw away. We need to be involved.  I could say we need to get in or get out.  Many times we need to get out of the way so that God can move.  Go to where Jesus is; do what he says.  There is a need to be involved in service for the Lord.  People are dying and going to hell; we don’t think anything about it.  We need to see how bad hell is. 

Jesus found the disciples asleep three times.  He said rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.  The devil can get you away from the crowd at church.  He’ll get you to stay home.  He’ll tell you to spend the weekend at the lake.  Why not take the kids to Dollywood today instead of going to church?  When you’re over here doing nothing, it’s not bad.  You teach your children that church is not important.  Do you enjoy being a stone’s throw away?

In Mark, we’re commanded to watch.  We’re commanded to invite the lost in.  We’ve been sent into the highways and hedges to compel others to come to Jesus.  It’s just about over.  Don’t be like the Laodicea church. Don’t be lukewarm.  He’ll spew you out of his mouth.  There are too many Christians who are lukewarm and a stone’s throw away.  All it takes is to get up and move toward God.  Don’t sit on the sidelines.  God needs you to get into the fight.

The Lord is calling your number.  You know you need to step up to the plate.  Don’t stay a stone’s throw away.