GOING FURTHER WITH JESUS
GOING FURTHER WITH JESUS
Text: John 18; Matthew 26
Theme: Going the extra mile in our walk with the Lord
Introduction: The Road Into the Garden
As Jesus left the upper room after praying the prayer of John 17, He crossed the brook Cedron and entered the Garden of Gethsemane (John 18:1).
Matthew 26:36 reveals that He told eight of His disciples, “Sit ye here,” and then took Peter, James, and John further into the garden.
These three disciples had a rich, personal history with Jesus—perhaps contributing to why they went further than the other eight:
They were among the first called to follow Jesus (Matthew 4:18–22).
They alone saw His glory on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17).
They heard His teaching on the extra mile (Matthew 5:41).
Whether from memory, conviction, or desire, these three went a little further with Jesus than the others. But even then, Matthew 26:39 records that Jesus Himself “went a little further.”
It is not wrong to obey when the Lord says to “sit and stay,” yet we may wonder if Jesus’ words tested their character—much like Paul’s test in Acts 21 when, despite warnings, he still went up to Jerusalem, ready to suffer for Christ.
There will always be a “pull-off point” in our Christian walk:
A moment of drowsiness, difficulty, despair, distress, or discouragement that tempts us to stop going further.
None of us can match the spiritual strength of Jesus Christ, but the question remains:
Where is your pull-off point? Where do you call it quits?
Judas pulled over before Jesus exited the upper room.
Eight disciples pulled over before entering the garden.
Three disciples pulled over before enduring temptation.
If you are going to go further with Jesus, it will require three things:
I. Be Faithful in Moments of Betrayal
(John 18:2)
Chinese Proverb:
“No man is so dangerous as a friend with a knife hidden behind his smile.”
A. Betrayal Offers Opportunities
There will always be opportunities that tempt you to compromise:
Tempting shortcuts
Tantalizing solutions
Timely situations
B. Betrayal Overlooks Outcomes
Judas is a sobering picture of a disciple who refused to go further—not from weakness, but from willful betrayal.
He snuck out ahead of Jesus to betray Him.
He seized his opportunity to sin rather than serve.
He brought an armed band, though he had seen Jesus calm storms, heal the sick, and raise the dead.
He thought he could outmaneuver the Lord, but with one word—“I Am He”—Jesus knocked the entire band backward (v. 6).
He ended up hanging himself and going to hell over 30 pieces of silver.
C. Application
Faithfulness is walking with Jesus, not ahead of Him.
“It never costs you more to serve God than it does to serve sin.”
II. Be Forward Moving When Others Stay Behind
G. Campbell Morgan:
“The difference between the disciple who succeeds and the disciple who fails is this: one keeps moving when the other stops.”Amy Carmichael:
“Sometimes God will lead us where others refuse to go. Their refusal is no excuse for our disobedience.”
A. Examples of Forward Faith
The three disciples moved forward with Jesus while the other eight stayed behind. Others did the same throughout Scripture:
Ruth went forward with Naomi while Orpah stayed behind.
Elisha followed Elijah while the other prophets stayed behind.
Paul pressed toward the mark, forgetting the things which are behind (Philippians 3:13–14).
We are to look unto Jesus and keep moving forward by faith (Hebrews 12:1–2).
Illustration:
An old plow horse may not be the fastest horse in the barn, but he’s often the most faithful and reliable to get the job done.
B. Going Further Doesn’t Make You Superior
Even though the three moved forward without the other eight, they still missed out on going the distance—because Jesus went on alone to pray.
You can outrun and outperform other Christians, but that doesn’t make you better.
Eventually, they all forsook Jesus and fled.
C. Sometimes You’re Meant to Stay Behind
1 Samuel 30:1–10, 21–25 – Some of David’s men were too weary to continue, yet he rewarded them for staying by the stuff.
Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.
God will reward your faithfulness based on where you are now, not where others think you should be.
III. Be Fervently Watching and Waiting for His Return
“The early church was marked by poverty, prisons, persecution, and prayer.
Today, the church is marked by prosperity, personality, and popularity.”
A. Faithfulness in Every Season
Daniel prayed when it was dangerous.
Joseph was faithful in the pit, the prison, and the palace.
Jeremiah stayed faithful in the miry pit.
Paul stayed faithful through his imprisonments.
Jesus stayed faithful all the way to the cross.
B. The Three Disciples Who Went Further
Those same three—Peter, James, and John—were later the ones who wrote about watching and waiting:
John – Gospel, Epistles, and Revelation.
James – wrote of Job’s patience in waiting for the Lord’s coming.
Peter – warned of scoffers who deny the return of Christ (2 Peter 3).
C. The Expectation of Hope
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”
— Titus 2:13
Billy Sunday:
“The trouble with the church today is that we have too many professing Christians who are looking for a getaway instead of a go-up day!”
Closing Thought & Call to Action
How far have you gone?
How far are you willing to go?
Are you faithful where you are?
Do you sense that God wants you to go further?
Some, like Judas, quit when a better opportunity comes along.
Some, like the eight, stop when they feel justified by circumstances.
Some, like the three, quit when they are weary and worn out.
But Jesus went all the way.
He went further into the garden, further into suffering, further into obedience, further into sacrifice.
“Not my will, but Thine be done.”
Question:
Will you go further with Jesus—no matter the cost?