The Glory in Jesus’ Agony
I wanted to share something beautiful with you as we reach the tail end of Holy Week.
Jesus’ Agony in Gethsemane
Jesus prays in the garden of Gethsemane and prays a very interesting prayer.
Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” Matthew 26:38
He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me, yet not what I want but what you want.”. Mark 14:36
In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. Luke 22:44
The Medical Picture of Christ’s Agony
There is a medical condition call hematidrosis, also known as "blood sweat." Its a very rare condition in which a human sweats blood through their forehead, nails, and other skin surfaces. The blood loss itself is minimal, but the cause of the condition is the part that is most interesting.
Hematidrosis is caused by "extreme physical or emotional stress." Severe mental anxiety causes the Flight or Flight Response to activate so strongly, that the capillaries next to sweat glands rupture and hemmorrhage. It's been suggested that acute fear and extreme stress can cause blood sweat.
There is Deep Significance
Naturally, there is argument about whether this was a literal instance of blood sweat, but one thing remains clear. Jesus was stressed.
Let's look at what Jesus is saying and doing. He is fully aware of the plan of God. He must be. He was there when the Godhead created the plan. Meaning he knows what is coming next and he is looking to what they have planned with anxiety and dreadful anticipation.
Look at the words that the Bible uses to describe his experience. “I feel as if I am dying. Jesus was in great pain.”
And just like any human would ask, Jesus asks God the father for a very simple thing.
"Remove this cup from me"
Or in layman's terms
"Don't make me suffer."
This is the glory of Jesus’ agony!
Christ was in such a state of sadness, stress, and anxiety (some translate his words to say that he is swallowed up with sorrow), that his physical body began to show the external signs of his internal state.
Comfort in Christ’s Understanding
This dark moment in the garden is proof positive that God knows our pain!
God is not so far removed that He is not aware of our struggles and our worries.
Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help. - Hebrews 4:15-16
Friend, if this week (or any future one) you are plagued by doubt, anxiety, depression, other mental symptoms, and yes, even mental illness diagnosis, you can bring it to the Saviour!
Like the old hymn says, JESUS KNOWS ALL ABOUT OUR STRUGGLES
God UNDERSTANDS our trauma. The person and work of Jesus Christ means that when we pray about your next steps in therapy, about how to better take care of our mind, even when we come to Him ashamed of how our mind is betraying us, we are not praying to a God who is unfamiliar with our pain!
This one, if its not for any one else, its for us!
C. Lilley
