Turning the page…
Turning the page…
Glory · Anxiety & Peace
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.
https://glorystudy.com/questions/what-did-jesus-do-when-he-was-overwhelmed · Scripture quoted from the World English Bible
Mark 14:32-50
As you read: Jesus naming his anguish, praying three times with honest request plus full surrender, and rising to meet the betrayer.
32They came to a place which was named Gethsemane. He said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I pray.”
33He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be greatly troubled and distressed.
34He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch.”
35He went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him.
36He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire.”
37He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you watch one hour?
38Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
39Again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words.
40Again he returned, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they didn’t know what to answer him.
41He 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.
42Arise, let us be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand.”
43Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came—and with him a multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.
44Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I will kiss, that is he. Seize him, and lead him away safely.”
45When he had come, immediately he came to him, and said, “Rabbi! Rabbi!” and kissed him.
46They laid their hands on him, and seized him.
47But a certain one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
48Jesus answered them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to seize me?
49I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me. But this is so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.”
50They all left him, and fled.
Psalms 55:1-8, 16-17, 22
As you read: The language of being overwhelmed (4-8), and where the psalmist lands: casting his burden on the LORD.
1Listen to my prayer, God. Don’t hide yourself from my supplication.
2Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and moan,
3Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me.
4My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me.
5Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me.
6I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest.
7Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness.” Selah.
8“I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm.”
16As for me, I will call on God. Yahweh will save me.
17Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.
22Cast your burden on Yahweh, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.
Hebrews 4:14-16
As you read: The high priest who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and the throne we approach because of it.
14Having then a great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold tightly to our confession.
15For 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.
16Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need.
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.””Mark 14:33-34
“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.”Psalms 55:4-5
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.””Mark 14:36
“Or do you think that I couldn’t ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?”Matthew 26:53
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.”Mark 14:35
“Again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words.”Mark 14:39
“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.”Mark 14:41
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.”Luke 22:43-44
“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,”Hebrews 5:7
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.”Hebrews 4:15
“For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.”Hebrews 2:18
“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.”John 11:33-35