SERMON SUBJECT: SIGNIFICANT PLACES IN OUR SAVIOR’S FINAL HOURS

SERMON TEXT: “A place called Gethsemane . . . A place called Golgotha . . . (the grave) A place where He was lying” (Matthew 26:36; 27:33; 28:6).

THESIS: The most significant place in your life and mine is the place where we met the Savior.

INTRODUCTION: All of us have significant places of reference in our living experiences. Places where, perhaps, we had life-changing experiences. Places where we had breakthroughs and turning points. Significant places of decision.

Jesus, likewise, had significant places in His life and ministry. This was especially true of His final hours upon the earth. In this message, as we prepare to meet Jesus, at His table, we will briefly retrace three significant places in Jesus’ ministry during the final phase of His life on earth. We will see how these places thus became significant places in our lives as well.

First, let’s consider . . .

1. “A PLACE CALLED GETHSEMANE”- The Bible says, “Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray”(Matt. 26:36)

2. What was significant about this place?

1) It was a place of PRAYER for Jesus. As the Bible seems to indicate, it was Jesus’ favorite place to pray. This was the place to which He retreated to make the most important decision of His life.

2) It was a place of PAIN. What kind of pain? Emotional pain. Jesus said to His disciples who were with Him, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death.” The Bible tells us that His sweat became as drops of blood. We sense His pain in these words as He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt”(Matt. 26:39).

3) It was a place of PARTING. In the garden, Jesus would be separated from His closest allies. It would be a painful parting as they would forsake Him and flee when He needed them most.

Second, we see . . .

“A PLACE CALLED GOLGOTHA” The Bible says, “They came to a place called Golgotha (which means the place of the Skull”(Matt. 27:33)

1) Golgotha was a place of REJECTION. From the cross, Jesus cried, “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken Me?”

2) Golgotha was a place of RELEASE. From the cross, Jesus cried, “It is finished!”

3) Golgotha, for you and me, was a place of REDEMPTION.

Finally, there is . . .

3. THE GRAVE - “A PLACE WHERE HE WAS LYING.”(Matt. 28:6). The angel said, “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said, Come, see the place where He was lying.”

1) The place “Where He was lying” becomes a PRESENT reality.

2) The place “Where He was lying” gives us hope for the FUTURE.

Hope that allows us to say with the Apostle Paul, “O death, where is your victory? O death where is your sting?”(I Cor. 15:55). “ . . . thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”(v.57).

Thus we can sing, “Because He Lives . . .”

CONCLUSION: What should our response be to a review of these significant places in the life of Jesus, during His final hours? “ . . . go quickly and tell . . .that He has risen from the dead . . .”(Matthew 28:7). Is there a significant place that you can return to this morning?

A place where you met Jesus, and had a life changing experience?