Jesus sweated blood during his final earthly prayer for you
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| The Road to Emmaus appearance, based on Luke 24:13-32, painted by Joseph von Führich, 1830. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The writer of Hebrews penned these words, “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death” (Hebrews 5:7 NIV).
It’s an expression of Jesus that puzzles us. We’ve never seen his face like this.
- Jesus smiling, yes.
- Jesus weeping, absolutely.
- Jesus stern, even that.
But Jesus anguished? Cheeks streaked with tears? Face flooded in sweat? Rivulets of blood dripping from his chin?
Jesus was more than anxious; he was afraid. How remarkable that Jesus felt such fear. But how kind that he told us about it. We tend to do the opposite. Gloss over our fears. Cover them up. Keep our sweaty palms in our pockets, our nausea and dry mouths a secret. Not so with Jesus. We see no mask of strength. But we do hear a request for strength.
“Father, if you are willing, take away this cup of suffering.” The first one to hear his fear is his Father. He could have gone to his mother or confided in his disciples. He could have assembled a prayer meeting. All would have been appropriate, but none was his priority.
How did Jesus endure the terror of the crucifixion? He went first to the Father with his tears. He modeled the words ofPsalm 56:3: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (NLT).
Do the same with yours. Don’t avoid life’s Gardens of Gethsemane. Enter them. Just don’t enter them alone. And while there, be honest. Pounding the ground is permitted. Tears are allowed. And if you sweat blood, you won’t be the first. Do what Jesus did; open your heart.
