Mark 4:39. “And He arose and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, “Peace be still” and the wind ceased, and there was a great calm”

We know this story:
Jesus had bee so tired, HE had been asleep in the boat–even thru the storm.
But his disciples, had become scared (even tho He told them “let us go across to the other side)
Did they think He would take them out into the sea to drown?

But notice…He rebuked the wind. Like a father to a child which acting bad.

He said unto the sea; Also like a father; comforting a child which had been teased by another. Peace be still.

He Who created them at the first, keeps them; rebukes and speaks to them.

So He does to us. Sometimes we are like the boat in the wind, and sea. There is a great storm going on and we are getting tossed about.
Whether in our heads, or our emotions.
Life is sometimes storms.
How much we need Jesus Christ to speak to the storm and calm it.

Like the disciples, we are at a loss to do anything. I have been in a panic that rose and rose and seemed as if it was going to take over my reasonable thoughts. I did not know how to stop it.
But I knew Jesus could.
So I started to pray….”Lord I am in desperate need.. Please help me…Tell me what to do or just stop it yourself…. “. And so on I prayed covering everything.
What it was about.
What had just happened.
How I felt.
What I felt I should feel.
All the attitudes toward these things, and what I really wanted to do.

First, He rebuked me. Panic comes form the Adversary, the Devil. If I had gotten that far, there had been a time when I had been spoken to about this situation, and neglected to receive His Word.
Then, He began speaking to me about all the things I had talked to Him about.

We crossed that Sea, storm and all, and we made it safely to the other side, because Jesus heard my cry for help and arose to help me.
Sometimes the help we need is the rebuke of:
Mark 4:40 “And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?”

He will do the same to you. If you are out in a Sea of emotion, or in a wind of indecision; cry to Him. Get honest with Him. And He will get you to the other side.

The Fountain of Life Springing up within You

Psalm 36:9 “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.”

John 7:37-38 “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

In this feast, the celebration of God’s Salvation is looked at by water.
The priests and Levites would gather certain vessels, and in procession take them out the water gate to the wells outside the city.
They would be filled and carried back to the sanctuary; where they would be poured on the floor between the Brazen Altar, where the sacrifices were given; and the Holy Place where only the priests could enter.
In the temple there were steps behind the Altar, which lead to the Holy Place.

As they poured the water onto the floor they would be quoting:
Isaiah 12:2-6 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation.
Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the well of salvation.
And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.
Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”

On the last day, the great day of the feast, they would pour no water; but quote this passage: looking up to God to supply the Salvation in the Holy One for them.

This time, Jesus stepped to the stairs behind them and in fulfillment of prophesy, He cried:
“If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

Here was exactly what they were quoting about. Here was the Messiah, the Savior.

What would they do with Him?
John 7:40-43 “Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
Others said, This is the Christ. Some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?
Hath not the scriptures said, that Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
So there was a division among the people because of him.”

They talked about Him, but none made the decision that He had offered.

He gave them Light to see that He was indeed the Savior, who had been promised.
He spoke plainly to them and gave them the offer of Life; real, flowing, powerful life; like the water.

This He would supply by His Holy Spirit, within His believers.
John 7:39 “But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.”

They saw light, and knew the power of His Word, and life; but refused to yield to that truth.
John 7:45-46 “Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees: and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?
The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.”

God’s Light has been shown to you; He is indeed the Savior, Christ Jesus.
What will you do with the Life He has offered you?

Will you come to Him, and receive it; receive Him?
John 1:12 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

Would you be a Follower of Jesus?
Matthew 16:24. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

(This is for born again ones, for they have received the Holy Spirit, and grace for all their way.)
If any man will come after Me. What does it mean to come after Jesus?

First, it means that you get up from where you are in your life and leave it. To come after means leaving; But not in the physical sense.
It is a “leaving” of the past attitudes, past sins, and past pursuits to come after Him.
2 Corinthians 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, ”

Second, it means you follow Christ, by being obedient to His commands on your life.
John 14:23 “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

Third, it means to suffer for, and because of Christ. Every follower of Christ will, sooner or later, come to the place where they must choose the world or Christ, and if you choose Christ; the world will make you “suffer” in some respect.

Fourth, it means to stand with those for whom Christ died: other Christians.
John 13:35 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

You deny yourself and take up YOUR cross and follow Him. You need to “bear” your cross, to the place in your experience that you no longer resist His will in anything.
Your cross is anything God has required, which cuts across your will. There you need to say “no” to your will; and do God’s Will for your life. This is to bear your cross.

This is a very personal thing, between you and your Lord; for He says, “if any man will”. It is not any Church, any group, any family, even; but any man.
The personal aspect is important. The necessity of it dates back to our beginnings:
We were not consulted in our creation: Where we were born, in what family, or when we were born, and the person we were born as.

We just were, and that was that.
As Christians, we are to come to the place in our experience that we don’t just acknowledge God’s Creative Right, but we submit to it.
We will be the creature before the Creator.
Letting His choice for us, be our best.

For some of us, we must acknowledge, we have been having a fit with God about ourselves, in some realm, since we knew God.
Maybe it was our family: Why put me with these people?
Maybe it was our abilities: Couldn’t you at least make me GREAT in something?
Maybe it was our looks: My nose is too big; my eyes not blue enough; You could have made me prettier than “them”.

Whatever it is; we are not satisfied with our circumstances, or (often) ourselves.

So, here is a GOOD place to follow Jesus:
Matthew 11:25-26 “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.”
Jesus came to do the Father’s Will, and never tried to do otherwise; even to His shame and death.

Jesus said He came to give life, and to give it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
If you are a Christian, He offers this abundant life within the life He gave you in your beginning; and in what He gives you now as His servant.
In this abundant life there is joy of spirit, peace of heart, courage in peril, love of others, and a personal relationship with the One Who loved and saved you. (More personal than any other relationship you will ever have: for He knows everything about you, and loves you.)

Would you be a follower of Jesus?
Then come after Him, by denying yourself, picking up your cross and following Jesus into your abundant life. Not without troubles, but always with His presence and power by the Holy Spirit to help.

The Fountain of Life
Psalm 36:9 “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.”

Have you drank from the fountain of Life?

Well, if you have, then that living force ought to be turning into a “river of living water” within you.

You see, God’s power is living. It is not a dead, or stagnant thing. He does not save, then desert, and say in effect, “Go ahead and make your way through a hostile world; you will get to heaven alright, but you have to fight you way there by yourself.”
NO! Christ Jesus has promised never to leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus saves to the uttermost.

That means: He saves from the love of sin. This is conviction by the Holy Spirit of the wretchedness of it.
He saves from the guilt of sin. We are born again, and become clean through His sacrifice and resurrection.
He saves from the power of sin. Called Sanctification: it is a setting aside to God of all ourselves, little by little, till we are willing subjects of His Kingdom here, and now, in all our circumstances.
He saves from the presence of sin, when we go to Heaven.

John 7:37-38. “In the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
Now when you get water flowing, what does it do?
It keeps flowing, one way or the other: when it flows downhill, and it meets a rock in its path, it just flows around it.
This is the way of the Living Water, which is the Holy Spirit within you giving light (John 14:26) and life, by the graces of joy, peace, consolation, strength, and love. (Galatians 5:22-23)

But what if there is a dam to the living water? Then it builds up until it flows over.
Living water cannot be stagnant, it will find a way around, over, or through any obstacle it meets. (Yes, in us as well.)

It is, of course, better if there are no hinderances to the flow of life to us, and through us by the Holy Spirit. (He will get His help through to us, but how often the enjoyment of it is quenched by some hinderance within us. Some hardened place within our hearts: a root of bitterness, or hurt feelings, which will not respond to the gentle influences of the Spirit, as we should.)
Ezekiel 36:26-27: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statues (here is the working of the force of that Living Water), and ye shall keep my judgements, and do them.”

Perhaps, something hinders your enjoyment of the Lord to you? Some error of hearing His Words, or anger, or hurt.
Then seek the Lord, for He is willing and able to see that it is put right. Are you willing to give it up?
The Holy Spirit will help with that as well, if you will come to Him and seek it.

Let the Living Waters flow out of your inner most being, and yield to the Lord: He is the Fountain of Life: and in His Light you will see light.

The ground of our Heart
Luke 8:5 “A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.”

Today we are going to talk about the ground of our hearts. All ground is not the same.
Some, is prepared ground: cultivated, ready for the seed and growth.
Some is hard, for it has been traveled on. The feet of many have walked over it, so it is hard and unable to receive the seed, without a lot of work.

Which ground are we?
Let us consider the Lord’s parable:

Luke 8:5 “A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.”

Here is one of the hard ground hearers. They have been beside the field, but are not part of it. There has been no making the ground ready for the Word. When the word of God comes in the seed, the ground does not receive it. The Word sits on top of the heart.
Luke 8:11-12 “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.
Those by the wayside are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.”

In other words, the heart hears the word, but pays no attention to the serious warnings about sin , or the Gospel of good news.
The devil is very glad for these people. He has no trouble taking the word from their hearts, and making it disappear in their memories. They have had a life where everything that has happen to them, makes them hard against the world, people, circumstances. Nothing will make them yield. They are defiant against all, though they may appear very smooth. These are the people who hear the Word, but nothing changes, because the Word of God can not sink into their hearts so they could believe, and be saved.

Luke 8:6 “And some fell upon rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.”
This is the ground that has stones in it. Since it is part of the field, it gets seed, and it springs up! But then the roots come against the stones and become unable to grow. They soon die.

Luke 8:13 “They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation, fall away.”
This ground is the hearts of those who, having heard of the Gospel of Salvation, are overjoyed! Their minds are understanding the Word, and all it’s promises, and are ready to go forward in the Christian Life. Or so they think.
Until there are problems, and temptations.(These are things which say, “You want me. I am really great, greater than what God is giving you). And as Christians we have the same problems and temptations, as everyone else. The difference is in the presence of the Holy Spirit within us for guidance; and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) encouraging us through the difficulties.

But when the decisions to stand with God come, the Stoney ground hearers, give up. Their minds had received it, making their hearts joyful. But now it was time, for the hearts affection for Christ Jesus, to hold fast. But there was no real affection for Christ; only joy at the promises the Word gave, for themselves.

Luke 8:7 “And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.”
Here is the ground which is cultivated, but not all the weeds and thorns were out of it, when it was. They are there, though not seen, when the seed is sown. When the seed springs up, so do the thorns.

Luke 8:14 “And that which fell among thorns are they, which when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with the cares, and riches, and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”
These are the hearts which have hidden resentments, lusts or worries. They are ready to receive an answer for their problems. So when the Word of God comes, promising a NEW LIFE, they jump at it.
They are so anxious to get started with this life, that they “go forth”, eager to tell others of a change in life.
But then, their hidden resentments, or lusts, or worries come to the front, again; and they wonder why they are not different?
The truth is they have never received Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. They have received the word about the new life–yes, but not the person of the Savior. And when you receive Christ, His Holy Spirit comes to live and empower us .
Our old life, or flesh is to be subjected to Christ.

Galatians 5:16-17, 24 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”

Therefore the old life choked out the Word, and they never truly had that new life promised: in Christ Jesus.

Luke 8:8 “And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bear fruit one hundred fold. And when he had said these things he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
The ground which is good ground, bears fruit. It too, had been prepared by cultivation, but the difference being: fruit.
And the reason for the difference is:

Luke 8:15 “And that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

An honest heart.

We are what we are by circumstances, birth, place, and the people around us, who have shaped us.
But when the Word of God comes, and we receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, then all that we are, comes under the rule of Christ. We are to get honest about our past hates, likes, loves, and circumstances; giving all these things to Christ.
And in honesty, we are to do what He wants us to do. Seek to yield to the peace of the Holy Spirit, the patience, and long-suffering for others, that He wants us to do.
The “keeping” of the Word, is holding on to Him in love. And what He has given us by His Spirit, and in His Word, and believing He will see to us.
We bring forth the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23). And that helps us grow and bring forth more fruit…the fruit of a Christian, which is another Christian.

Which ground are we? Jesus said, He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

Sanctification is not imitating Christ; but Living by Christ’s Life.

Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Sanctification is the setting ourselves aside to God.
Sanctification does not require us to fulfill the will of God as He makes it known to us, without the power to do so.
That would be like the Egyptian taskmasters which required Israel to make bricks without straw. (Exodus 5:9-11)

Instead, Sanctification is the growing life of Christ, in our life; whereby we experience by His Holy Spirit, the holiness, patience, love, peace, and power over the enemy of our souls; that is in Christ.

When Paul said:
Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life that I live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

This is what he meant. That the life he used to live as the self-righteous Pharisee was over. He saw himself dead in Christ’s death.
“Good riddance” was probably his thought, for the life he had before, did not bring him closer to God, though he worked hard at it.
He also saw that now he lived by Christ’s life. That the life of Christ was so powerful that, not only himself, but everyone who trusted in Christ, could have His character formed in them.

For some time after being born again, I prayed about sanctification.
I had thought this must be some sort of holiness experience, which we have at some altar; or with some crisis experience in our lives.
Years ago, a man was teaching a Sunday School class about:
Matthew 16:24-25 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

And, if no one else got the message; I did.
This was the means of being sanctified.

I was to deny myself.
We think, that when we talk of denying ourself, we mean: just not doing what we want. We think it means denying things in our life.

When Jesus speaks of “denying ourself”, He means denying our intention to rule our life. And denying every way it shows up in our lives.
It is not just things we deny, but ourselves we deny.

If I wanted to follow the Lord, then I must co-operate with God, when He shows me His will. I must put aside my thoughts in the matter and do what He commands.
I must be honest about my attitude toward what He shows me, and ask for the power to change.
But again, Christ does not demand that we do His Will, without His enablement.

Christ has given us His Holy Spirit, not only to indwell us, but to give us the grace and power we need.
That power comes from our Risen and Glorified Christ. He has all spiritual blessings for me in Him, in Heaven.
Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”
Ephesians 2:6 “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”
They are there in Christ, for us.
But how do we get them down here into us, especially in these circumstances?

Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”

Notice, it is “in earth”, in us.

This is the means whereby we receive into our lives what Christ has for us.
As we yield to His authority in our lives, we become ambassadors of His Kingdom, and authority, here.

Sanctification is the setting aside of ourselves to God, for sacred use.
It is the practical work of having Christ’s Kingdom come within our hearts, and lives.

Where He rules, there is peace, joy, patience, and all the characteristics of Christ, in our lives.

The Seven sayings of Christ on the Cross

Luke 23:33:
“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.”

Christ is now brought to the place of His greatest suffering. The beatings are past but the shame and desertion by God; death, and burial ahead.
But how does He meet them?

Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

The first thing He says on the Cross is: “Father, forgive them.”
He forgave them first. They did not ask for it; but He, as the greatest King, forgave the greatest debt, and He did it first.
The “them”, were those chief priests who tried Him and took Him to Pilate, the Jews who cried “Crucify Him”, and those who stood and mocked Him, even in His miserable suffering.
The people who refused to believe in Him, and the Gentiles, who under Pilate, beat and lead Him away; nailing Him to the Cross.(The Romans harshest type of death.)

As the mocking continues, the malefactors enter in. But then one speaks up for Christ:
Luke 23:40-42 “But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
And we indeed justly;…but this man hath done nothing amiss.
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”

Here, one is saved, by belief in the Lord; and one is not. For the second thing Jesus said on the cross was another word of forgiveness, and also blessing:

Luke 23:43 “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be. With me in paradise.”
Then, looking down Jesus saw His mother, and John, the beloved disciple, who was the only one who had followed Him from the Garden to the Cross. He, alone of the disciples, stood at the foot of the cross, ready to be arrested, if necessary, to stay close to Jesus.

So Jesus speaks the third sayings:

John 19:26 “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!”

John 19:27 “Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”

Here, Jesus sees to His mother, committing her into the hands of John, the beloved disciple.
She was to look on him as the son she lost.
He was to look on her as his mother, and take care of her, seeing to her in her old age.
This he did, and it is said, that she went with him on his preaching tours; that her bones are buried in the wall of Ephesus.

Six hours the sun had shone down upon all of this suffering.
Luke 23:44-45 “And it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.”

The sun “was darkened”: The awful agony of the sin bearer, fulfilling the suffering of the wrath of God on our sin, was “darkened”. No one but God and Christ, could enter into this propitiation.
God darkened the sun, to show that this was not for view; no one would understand such suffering, and so, no one could truly view it in it’s terror. This suffering went on until He paid the price for all His.

In this time, Jesus spoke the fourth saying:
Matthew 27: 46 ” And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani ? That is to say, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
God forsaking Him was because of our sin; for God can not look upon sin, without wrath. And Jesus was “‘made sin for us”. (2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.”)

The price paid, Jesus spoke the fifth saying:

John 19:28 “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.”

They had offered him wine mingled with myrrh to deaden the pain, earlier; but He refused it. He would feel every moment of pain, that He would be able to pay the full debt of our sin.
Mark 15:23 “And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.”
But this time, they gave him vinegar.
John 19:29 “Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.”

Then, He spoke the sixth and seventh sayings:
John 19:30 ” When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

Luke 23:46 “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, (That is He cried for all who would hear, to hear “It is finished”) he said, Father, into they hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”

Jesus, having finished the work of Expiation, cried out; but then he gave his spirit unto the Father, in the last solemn moment before death.

Christ was our High Priest, who offered Himself as the Sacrifice for sin, for us. In every saying there was love, offered again and again, for those who would receive it.
He drained every drop of suffering for us. And died, was buried, and rose again to give us His Eternal Life.

Have you Settled Things with God?

In the garden of Getheseme, Christ Jesus “settled” with God that He would finish the work.
Matthew 26:38-40 “Then saith he (Jesus) unto them, my soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.
And he cometh unto the disciples and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?”

The life He lived was not a easy one. Holy and undefiled, He lived in a world which was corrupt, perverted, and in bondage.

But in the garden, Jesus was to face the hardest battle. Alone, He struggled with the upcoming pain, and humiliation (imagine having the power to destroy, or even change the mind of those who arrested and tried Him; yet having to be silent in defense.)

John 19:10-11 “Then sayest Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.”

He struggled with the fact that Judas betrayed Him, and His disciples couldn’t stay awake.
He struggled with the fact that the very people He came in love to; had rejected Him and His Word about the Kingdom of God.
He struggled, knowing the beatings, both by Romans, and Israelites, He would be subject to; the crown of thorns being pushed into His head in cruel mockery. He was a King, but refused to show it.
He struggled most: with the awful fact that on the cross He would be deserted by His Father, who had always been with Him.
For all our wicked sin, was placed upon Him; as our substitute. All God’s wrath, which should have been placed upon our heads for our sins, was placed on His.

Yet at Gethesemne, He settled the matter. He had come to do these very things, so He had to do them; but it was settled there, that He would do them. For they were the Father’s Will. And that is what He wanted.
And He did all His Father’s Will, even unto death.

So we must “settle it”, that we will stand in the place God has for us, and do His Will.

1Peter 5:10 “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

He will help us, by His grace; which is the unmerited favor of power. He is the God of ALL grace, so He has enough for us.
He can help us in suffering: to endure, making us “perfect”, which means complete.
He can stablish, giving us the firm foundation of His love, and peace in all the circumstances of our lives.(And how much we need His peace in our days!)
He can strengthen us, for out of weakness we can be made strong, to will and to do His will.
He can “settle” us; which is to make the way for the rest of our lives into a path that is plainly seen and give us power to walk in it.

Christ settled things in the Garden; the fear and amazement was there. All that came after, was just the doing.

We, too, can settle things with God; so that we can do His Will, without fear, by grace; in confidence, that He will be with us, and empower us by His grace for all that we face.