Gethsemane- Part 1

Most of us have been in intense times of stress and strain. However, very few of us have been in such anguish that we have actually sweat drops of blood.

He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. Luke 22: 41-44 (New Living Translation, NLT)

Jesus knew the torture that awaited Him. He knew that not only would He die the the most barbaric death, but He would be separated from the Father and would actually descend into hell to pay the penalty for all sin. we can certainly see why He would be so anguished.

There is actually a medical term for what Jesus experienced in the garden. it is called hematidrosis, which is an actual physical phenomenon that can occur when a person is subjected to extreme pressure and stress. According to Wikipedia, the strain causes the body to react physically and the capillary blood vessels that lead into the sweat glands burst, causing them to release blood. It is known to happen in the skin of the forehead, nails, and navel.

The word Gethsemane actually refers to an oil press, which was so appropriate for Jesus’ situation. The amount of pressure Jesus went through and the emotions He experienced were astronomical. It was so strong that He even asked the Father if there was any other way to accomplish His mission. Obviously, there was no other way, because know that He went through with it. However, the Father, in His compassion and love, sent an angel to comfort and strengthen Jesus. The ministry of that angel enabled Him to do what had to be done to free humanity from the grip of sin, satan, and death.

What great love God has for us that He sacrificed His Son for us. We cannot fully understand or comprehend everything Jesus actually went through for our redemption, but thank God, He did it. He shed His sinless blood for us, starting when He sweat great drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane.