God, Guilt, and the Garden

REFLECTION QUOTES

“I walk around feeling a sort of existential guilt all the time….”

~Julia Louis-Dreyfus, American actress, comedian and producer

“Guilt is anger directed at ourselves—at what we did or did not do. Resentment is anger directed at others—at what they did or did not do.”

~Peter McWilliams (1949-2000), American author

“Guilt is cancer. Guilt will confine you, torture you, destroy you…. It’s a thief.”

~Dave Grohl, musician, best known for Nirvana and the Foo Fighters

“No work or love will flourish out of guilt, fear, or hollowness of heart…”

~Alan Watts, (1915-1973), British philosopher

“Nothing is more wretched than the mind of a man conscious of guilt.”

~Plautus (254-184 BC), Roman playwright

“Our huffing and puffing to impress God, our scrambling for brownie points, our thrashing about trying to fix ourselves while hiding our pettiness and wallowing in guilt are nauseating to God and are a flat out denial of the gospel of grace.”

~Brennan Manning (1934-2013), American author

“…the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be; God sacrifices himself for man and puts himself where only man deserves to be.”

~John Stott (1921-2011), English Christian leader, one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people (2005)

“You may pile up your sins till they rise like a dark mountain, and then multiply them by ten thousand for those you cannot think of; and after you have tried to enumerate all the sins you have ever committed, just let me bring one verse in, and that mountain will melt away: ‘The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from ALL sin.’”

~D.L. Moody (1837-1899), American preacher and founder of Northfield Mount Hermon School

SERMON PASSAGE

Mark 14:32-42 (ESV)

32 And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And [Jesus] said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” 35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 41 And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”