FROM THE TABLE TO THE GARDEN

Lessons in Faith, Prayer, and Obedient Offering

Keith O’Connor

Woodland Church

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

(Luke 22:14-20, NLT) “When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.” He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you”

1.  THE TABLE

a.  Covenant and Communion

(Luke 22:15, NLT) “But now, the time came. Jesus sat down at the table with His disciples, and He said to them, I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you, before my suffering begins”

b.  This was not the beginning of the end, this was the beginning of the beginning

(Hebrews 12:2, NLT) “Jesus looked forward to dealing with our sin once and for all, We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne”

(Luke 22:16, NLT) “For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God”

(Luke 22:17-18, NLT) “Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”

(Luke 22:20, NLT) “After supper he took another cup of wine”

(Jeremiah 31:31-34) “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant…I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts…For I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more”

c.  The Table Reveals the New Covenant (Fulfillment)

d.  The Table Calls Us to Remember (Memorial)

e.  The Table Proclaims the Gospel (Witness)

f.  The Table Invites a Living Encounter (Spirit-Empowered)

g.  The Table Celebrates Forgiveness (Victory)

Because of the cross:

• Sin is forgiven
• Shame is gone
• Victory is secured – once for all, and now lived out in us

2.  THE GARDEN

a.  Trust and Obedient Offering

(Luke 22:39, NLT) “Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives”

b.  Prepare by Prayer

(Luke 22:40, NLT) “Pray that you will not give in to temptation”

c.  The Weight of the Moment

(Luke 22:41) “Jesus walked away from His Disciples and He knelt down and prayed”

d.  Obedient to God’s Will

(Luke 22:42, NLT) “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but Yours be done”

e.  God Meets Us in Our Deepest Agony

(Luke 22:44, NLT) “He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood”

f.  While Jesus Prays, the Disciples Sleep

(Luke 22:45-46, NLT) “At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.”

Growthwork

1.  God’s timing is perfect

2.  Prayer is essential for spiritual dependence

3.  God strengthens us in weakness