Friday, November, 16, 2012 - the Gethsemane prayer

Friday, November, 16, 2012
The Gethsemane prayer

Have you ever suffered from hematidrosis? On Wikipedia, hematidrosis
is defined as a "very rare condition in which a human sweats blood."
Wikipedia also states that hematidrosis occurs "when a person is
suffering from extreme levels of stress, for example, facing his or
her own death." I don't know about you, but I have never agonized to
the point where I have sweat blood. Sure, I have had moments of deep
distress, but never have I experienced anguish that caused blood
sweat. Jesus, on the other hand, experienced "sorrow to the point of
death," (Mark 14:34) and sweat blood while praying to the Father in
the garden of Gethsemane. Why was Jesus so distressed and troubled?

Well, one obvious answer we can gather from today's reading was that
Jesus knew His disciple, Judas Iscariot, had just betrayed Him and was
about to hand Him over to the officers of the chief priests. Then, in
the trial before the Sanhedrin, Jesus knew the chief priests would
condemn Him to death. Soon, Jesus would be crucified and He knew it;
but the work of the cross did not start on the cross; it started in
the garden of Gethsemane. It was in Gethsemane that Jesus first felt
the burden of the world's sins. God, in human flesh, sweating blood,
naturally said, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me,"
(Luke 22:42), but strengthened by the Spirit, Jesus said, "yet not my
will, but yours be done." I'm still in awe of how God humbled himself
to human flesh for our sake. God allowed His own Son to experience as
a man, unimaginable betrayal and abandonment, deep anguish that caused
blood sweat, sorrow to the point of death, the worst flogging
possible, and death itself – all so we could have victory over sin,
life's struggles, and death in the flesh.

In Gethsemane, Jesus felt the burdened cup He had to drink for our
sins, but in His love for us, He said, "My Father, if it is not
possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your
will be done." (Matthew 26:42) I can only imagine all the people (you,
me, and literally every person that has and will ever exist) that
Jesus had on His heart, when He was sweating blood over us – a couple
of those people are as follows:

1. The repentant woman who just a few days earlier had anointed Jesus'
feet with expensive perfume, ultimately preparing his body for burial.
Jesus no doubt remembered her love for Him and how she wet his feet
with her tears, wiped them with her hair, and kissed them just before
pouring perfume on them. A woman with great sin, but also with a great
repentant heart – Jesus knew what He was dying for

2. Peter, who denied Jesus three times in today's reading to save his
own skin. Peter was probably the closest with Jesus out of all the
apostles and yet even he, denied Jesus in His worst hours. Just
earlier, Peter had told Jesus, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to
prison and to death." (John 13:37) Jesus knew Peter would fall away;
"I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny
three times that you know me;" (John 13:38) But Jesus also knew that
after His own resurrection, Peter would be strengthened, encourage the
apostles, and give his own life for the Gospel. Yes, Jesus knew why He
had to die.

But even beyond all those who have and will turn to Jesus' great
sacrificial love, I know much of Jesus' anguished blood sweat was for
those who would never choose Him. I can't imagine the pain God must
feel about those that have and will, reject His Son. Let's praise our
Savior today for the blood He sweat for us – we thank you Lord, we
praise you Lord. Let us never lose sight of the anguish and pain you
withstood for our sake. Today Lord, we glorify your name. In Jesus
Name. Amen.

God Bless,
Anthony