What did Jesus do when He was overwhelmed?
In Gethsemane the Son of God was greatly troubled and distressed, sorrowful even to death, and he prayed on through the night while sweat fell like blood. He is not a stranger standing outside your anguish giving advice from a safe distance; Hebrews says his own suffering is exactly why he can help the tempted right now.
This question arose from studying Can I be anxious and still trust God? and Who is Jesus?.
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What the Scripture says
Jesus refused to pretend; he named the anguish out loud
Mark reports that Jesus 'began to be greatly troubled and distressed,' and his own words match: 'My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.' The sinless Son of God felt overwhelm so severe he described himself as dying of sorrow. Being crushed by circumstance was never evidence of failed faith in him, which should retire that accusation against everyone else too.
He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be greatly troubled and distressed. He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch.”
My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me. Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me.
He brought the unbearable to the Father as Father
His prayer opens with the most intimate address a suffering mouth can use: 'Abba, Father.' Then comes an unvarnished request ('Please remove this cup from me') held together with total surrender ('However, not what I desire, but what you desire'). He knew rescue was available ('do you think that I couldn't ask my Father?'), and asked to be spared anyway; yet Gethsemane teaches that honest asking and full trust are not opposites; they belong in one breath.
He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire.”
Or do you think that I couldn’t ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?
When the answer did not come, he prayed again, saying the same words
Jesus returned and 'prayed, saying the same words,' pressing in again when no answer had come; Mark shows him coming back a third time still in prayer as the hour arrives. Repetition here is not failure of eloquence; it is endurance in prayer when heaven seems silent. If the Son of God prayed identical sentences through a sleepless night until the hour arrived, believers who find themselves praying the same desperate prayer tomorrow have excellent company.
He went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him.
Again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words.
He came the third time, and said to them, “Sleep on now, and take your rest. It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
God's answer was strength for the path, not escape from it
Luke reveals what the Father gave: 'An angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him,' after which 'being in agony he prayed more earnestly.' Hebrews says he was actually heard, 'having been heard for his godly fear,' yet the cup did not pass. Sometimes the gracious answer to overwhelming prayer is not removal but reinforcement: grace to stand up, walk forward, and meet the thing itself.
An angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.
He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,
His overwhelm became permanent help for ours
Hebrews draws the conclusion: 'we don't have a high priest who can't be touched with the feeling of our infirmities,' because he 'has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.' At Lazarus's tomb the same man was visibly troubled, and 'Jesus wept.' Your worst night does not impress him or embarrass him; it summons his sympathy, because he has been there and come through it.
For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.
For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They told him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept.
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What does God's peace actually feel like?→“In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.”Why does Peter tell me to cast my anxiety?→“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.”Why does God keep saying 'fear not'?→“Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.”How can I rest when my mind won't stop?→“I laid myself down and slept. I awakened; for Yahweh sustains me.”When the weight won't lift: what happened to Elijah?→“Yahweh’s angel came again the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.””Explore further
Why did Jesus have to die?→Jesus Christ trail“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”Does God really hear my prayers?→Prayer trail“This is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us. And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.”We haven't written this one yet. Take it to your church or small group: the Word answers it wherever it is asked. If we study it here later, all the better.
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Verses to meditate on
He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire.”
For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.
He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,
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