earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops
of blood falling down to the ground.
Luke 22:44
Just as I am certain the artist did not intend any disrespect to the Holy Scriptures by this portrait of Jesus, I don't intend any toward the artist. However, if this (and others similar to it, painted throughout the centuries) is supposed to portray Jesus at prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane in the hours preceding His trial and subsequent crucifixion, it is not based on Holy Scripture. This is not a portrait of a man sweating, as it were, great drops of blood. May we take a moment to examine what is actually recorded in the Bible as fact?
Jesus had already wept over the refusal of the people to accept the message He had brought: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Matthew 23:37.
He already knew Judas, one of the men allowed into the "inner circle", was about to betray Him: Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. Matthew 26:2.
Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. Matthew 26:21-23, 25.He knew He was about to be denied by Peter--one who truly did love Him, but was so impetuous. Peter--like so many of us today: mouth in motion before mind in gear. Who is there among us who cannot identify with ole' Peter? Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee... Matthew 26:33-35. I have no doubt that Peter sincerely meant what he said as he vowed his loyalty to the Lord, but fear later overtook him.
Jesus knew He was going to have to endure physical suffering. Oh yes, He did. There are those who would have you believe simply because He was divine, that He didn't "really" suffer, or that He never questioned His Father in Heaven. He didn't question His Father to be defiant, but He had been made flesh and blood--to put it simply, He knew it was going to hurt!
The difference between Him and us is, He did accept His Father's Will--even knowing that it was going to be physical torture for His human body. Yet, still He submitted His Will to that of the Father's! Everything He did was to Glorify His Father In Heaven.
Then saith he...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? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:38-41.Did you see it? Look again: "...the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak".
Before we go any further, let me point something very IMPORTANT out to you: NOTHING Jesus did (does) was (is) accidental or happenstance. Our God is not a casual God--everything He does is for a reason, whether we know that reason or not. This very scripture here, ...the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak, points out to us that while Jesus is God, He understood the mortal side of us. Do you fully realize that not only did He NOT have to do any of this, He could just as easily NOT felt the pain?
The Bible tells us that He could have called legions of angels to set Him free. Can't you just imagine that with your mind's eye? Don't you think the halls of Heaven were aware of what was taking place? Thousands of angels with winnowing wings, standing on tiptoe, ready to respond.
But that call wouldn't come. That summons would not be issued. Down the road, 2,000 years, a rebellious woman's only hope would be in Him carrying out the Will of His Father. Her son's only hope would be in His completion of the Plan of Salvation.
Down through the ages, for countless others willing to accept Him as the Lord of their lives, the only eternal hope they had was in His submission to His Father's Will. Each from the paths they had chosen, each with their own failures and degrees of despair, their only true Hope has been, and continues to be, in Him.
Oh yes, He knew! He knew! He knew what it was going to take:
And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Luke 22:39-44.Yes, this portrait is a lovely depiction of Jesus, but let's don't forget the facts. Was it because it was Jesus and He was different from us that He sweat "as it were great drops of blood"? No. I firmly believe it was the intensity with which He prayed--the purest sincerity of His heart and mind, that could allow Him to pray with that intensity. But it wasn't just because He was "different"...no, He was GOD in HUMAN form--He knew pain.
The Bible says, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us... John 1:14.
Jesus, I thank You, I thank You with all of my heart, that You were willing to complete the Plan of Salvation. I can't imagine, it just boggles the mind that You, in all Your perfection, without spot or blemish, would do so for me. I know who I was, what I did, how I rejected You for so long, yet You loved me, You forgave me, You made me a new creature and gave me a new life. You, Perfect You, without sin, took my sins and made me clean.
I love You, Jesus. I worship You. I lift Your Name, for You are Worthy of all praise and honor and glory. Yes, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, sacrificed for me. Help me to always remember, not just today, not just this week, not just this year, but for as long as I live, all that You have done for me, that I may ever declare: You are My Salvation, My Rock, My Redeemer, that You may be lifted up to the world. Amen and Amen.
"Who Is This?" Copyright © 1998 by Patricia Sikes.
All Rights Reserved.
If you have been blessed, give God the Glory!
Please sign our guestbook; let us know you enjoyed
"Who Is This?"
Thank you so much for visiting He Is Able!
ALL material on He Is Able is protected by copyright.
