Pressure reveals flaws. A multi-billion dollar nuclear submarine will eventually crack at its weakest point and implode under the incredible pressure of the ocean's depths.
On a dark Thursday night, Jesus undergoes the greatest pressure ever known to man (Lk 22:39-46). His Father pushes Him to the breaking point.
In these verses, Luke describes a pivotal night in human history. What would happen Friday on a Roman cross could not have happened without Thursday night in a garden called Gethsemane.
Jesus was perfectly obedient to His Dad's will throughout His entire life. At no point did that obedience hang in the balance as it did that dark night.
After Dinner
At the end of His Last Passover seder, Jesus and the Twelve head to the Mount of Olives (v39). This wasn't unusual. As a matter of fact, Luke says this was His routine.
Back in Luke 21:37, the good doctor describes how Christ and His companions slept there.
The Mount of Olives sits just past the brook of the Kidron Valley opposite the temple mount. On its upward slope is an olive grove that contains trees that today are estimated to be more than 1,000 years old.
Tradition holds this to be the place where Jesus and His men went that Thursday night.
Prayer Takes Center Stage
Tradition holds this to be the place where Jesus and His men went that Thursday night.
Prayer Takes Center Stage
When He arrived at "the place" (Gethsemane is not named in Luke), Christ gives them clear instructions. "Pray that you may not enter into temptation” (v40). They are to pray.
He had already warned them at dinner that this was going to be a dreadful few hours.
He told them that one of them would betray Him (Lk 22:21-22) and that Peter would deny Him, not once, but three times (Lk 22:31-34).
Note that Jesus gives that very same warning again after He finishes His night of agony (v46).
Once again, prayer takes center stage in Luke's biography of Christ. Over and over again, we see Jesus' prayer life on vivid display.
There are important moments of prayer throughout the third Gospel, but none more agonizing and painful as the events in the garden. Dr. Luke's description is so raw that at times we're almost embarrassed to be there.
Caution: Temptation Ahead
What exactly does Jesus mean when He encourages them to pray that they "might not enter into temptation?"
The Greek word for “temptation” is πειρασμος/peirasmos. It can mean either a period of trial or testing as well as temptation or enticement.
We may be able to understand entering into temptation as succumbing to its power. We don't fall until we give in to it.
However you slice it, prayer and the reliance on the strength of God is exactly what these men will need in the coming hours, days, and weeks. That's exactly what the Twelve would need, God's power through prayer.
Let’s Get Physical
After Jesus gives the boys His instruction, "He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed" (v41). He didn't go far.
The disciples (probably just Peter, James and John according to the other Gospels), could hear exactly what He was saying and praying. It's interesting that Jesus was not only praying out loud but VERY loud!
He had already warned them at dinner that this was going to be a dreadful few hours.
He told them that one of them would betray Him (Lk 22:21-22) and that Peter would deny Him, not once, but three times (Lk 22:31-34).
Note that Jesus gives that very same warning again after He finishes His night of agony (v46).
Once again, prayer takes center stage in Luke's biography of Christ. Over and over again, we see Jesus' prayer life on vivid display.
There are important moments of prayer throughout the third Gospel, but none more agonizing and painful as the events in the garden. Dr. Luke's description is so raw that at times we're almost embarrassed to be there.
Caution: Temptation Ahead
What exactly does Jesus mean when He encourages them to pray that they "might not enter into temptation?"
The Greek word for “temptation” is πειρασμος/peirasmos. It can mean either a period of trial or testing as well as temptation or enticement.
We may be able to understand entering into temptation as succumbing to its power. We don't fall until we give in to it.
However you slice it, prayer and the reliance on the strength of God is exactly what these men will need in the coming hours, days, and weeks. That's exactly what the Twelve would need, God's power through prayer.
Let’s Get Physical
After Jesus gives the boys His instruction, "He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed" (v41). He didn't go far.
The disciples (probably just Peter, James and John according to the other Gospels), could hear exactly what He was saying and praying. It's interesting that Jesus was not only praying out loud but VERY loud!
And His posture was one of submission. Kneeling is not required to pray, but it is one of the biblical descriptions of how prayer is physical. Don't forget to involve your body in prayer.
The Cruel Cup
Jesus then Himself prays, or should we say, pleads with His Dad. He begs Him to "remove this cup" if there is any other way (v42).
Throughout the OT, the cup symbolizes God's wrath. The prophets often speak of Israel or one of God's enemies suffering punishment as chugging His cup of righteous wrath (Ezek 23:31-34; Hab 2:16).
This time, the Father has placed this awful cup before His one and only Son. In order to die a substitutionary death for the sin of all mankind, He must face the full brunt of God's horrific wrath.
That includes the bloody torture at the hands of the Romans. He must become sin. He must face the rejection of His Father. He must taste death in the dregs of that cup. This is the cruel cup that Jesus must drink.
The Cosmic Cage Match
At this point, we must ask ourselves, what will Jesus choose? Our eternity and salvation hangs in the balance on His decision.
Some will say that there was never any doubt in what would happen. But Jesus was both fully God and fully man. A little something something theologians call the Hypostatic Union.
The Cruel Cup
Jesus then Himself prays, or should we say, pleads with His Dad. He begs Him to "remove this cup" if there is any other way (v42).
Throughout the OT, the cup symbolizes God's wrath. The prophets often speak of Israel or one of God's enemies suffering punishment as chugging His cup of righteous wrath (Ezek 23:31-34; Hab 2:16).
This time, the Father has placed this awful cup before His one and only Son. In order to die a substitutionary death for the sin of all mankind, He must face the full brunt of God's horrific wrath.
That includes the bloody torture at the hands of the Romans. He must become sin. He must face the rejection of His Father. He must taste death in the dregs of that cup. This is the cruel cup that Jesus must drink.
The Cosmic Cage Match
At this point, we must ask ourselves, what will Jesus choose? Our eternity and salvation hangs in the balance on His decision.
Some will say that there was never any doubt in what would happen. But Jesus was both fully God and fully man. A little something something theologians call the Hypostatic Union.
This was cosmic cage match and our eternities hung in the balance. What happened here in Gethsemane seems to be a renewal of Jesus' temptation by Satan in the desert.
Remember how that one ended? The devil "departed from Him until an opportune time" (Lk 4:13). That time had come. The evil one was back. Big time.
How difficult is this moment? Luke says that an angel shows up to help Him (just as in the desert!). Jesus was in utter agony during this prayer (v44).
Dr. Luke describes how Christ literally sweated blood. This is a very rare medical condition called hematosis which occurs during times unbelievable stress. This was a prayer like no other.
Doing What Dad Says
Jesus willingly agrees to do what His Father has for Him. It was His entire mission.
Throughout His entire three-and-a-half year ministry, the Son of God continually pointed out that He was here to do His Dad's business.
I’m pretty sure this is exactly the moment the writer of Hebrews describes when when he says, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Heb 4:15).
Remember how that one ended? The devil "departed from Him until an opportune time" (Lk 4:13). That time had come. The evil one was back. Big time.
How difficult is this moment? Luke says that an angel shows up to help Him (just as in the desert!). Jesus was in utter agony during this prayer (v44).
Dr. Luke describes how Christ literally sweated blood. This is a very rare medical condition called hematosis which occurs during times unbelievable stress. This was a prayer like no other.
Doing What Dad Says
Jesus willingly agrees to do what His Father has for Him. It was His entire mission.
Throughout His entire three-and-a-half year ministry, the Son of God continually pointed out that He was here to do His Dad's business.
I’m pretty sure this is exactly the moment the writer of Hebrews describes when when he says, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Heb 4:15).
And I think he confirmed that just a few verses later. "In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death...Although He was was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered..." (Heb 5:7-8).
When God Squeezed Christ
Jesus was not only perfect, He was perfectly obedient. His perfect obedience is a HUGE part of our imputed righteousness. Without it, we have nothing.
When God Squeezed Christ
Jesus was not only perfect, He was perfectly obedient. His perfect obedience is a HUGE part of our imputed righteousness. Without it, we have nothing.
It’s interesting that this all happened in Gethsemane. This is an Aramaic word that means “olive press.” It’s where they squeezed the olives to make oil.
On Passion Week Thursday, it’s here that God squeezed Christ. When He did, what came out? Our Lord poured out love for His Dad and love for us expressed as total obedience.
On Passion Week Thursday, it’s here that God squeezed Christ. When He did, what came out? Our Lord poured out love for His Dad and love for us expressed as total obedience.
When We’re under Pressure
Squeeze an olive, out comes the oil. Squeeze an orange, out comes the juice.
What about you and me? When we’re under pressure, what comes out? The goal is that when you and I get squeezed, out comes Christ.
What about you and me? When we’re under pressure, what comes out? The goal is that when you and I get squeezed, out comes Christ.
But that’s not always the case, is it? Too often stress releases my anger, my fear, and my frustration. That’s where His grace comes rushing in.
When I place my faith in Jesus, I’m trusting in His total and perfect obedience. As Paul tells Timothy, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful” (2Tim 2:13).
When I place my faith in Jesus, I’m trusting in His total and perfect obedience. As Paul tells Timothy, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful” (2Tim 2:13).
Our Savior lived the perfect life that I’ve failed to live. He died the death for my sin that I should have died. He rose to a glorious new life that I certainly don’t deserve.
In what folks call the Great Exchange, God had His sinless Son take our sin and disobedience so that we would receive His perfection (2Cor 5:21).
In what folks call the Great Exchange, God had His sinless Son take our sin and disobedience so that we would receive His perfection (2Cor 5:21).
The Ultimate Stress Test
When engineers want to test something, they put it under pressure. They stress things in order to see what they will do in the most adverse conditions. They want to know the breaking point.
©2017
Jay Jennings
Jay great writing! Just so you know, hematosis is the process of blood formation but hematidrosis is the unusual process of sweating blood. JFYI.
ReplyDeleteJay there is evidence that the "last supper" (Jesus' last meal in the upper room with HIS chosen) was not the Passover meal (the Seder) because Jesus was slain at the same time as the Passover lamb thus becoming our Passover lamb. Investigate and see if you agree. Jesus said HE would be in the tomb for 3 days and 3 nights. Jewish days start st sundown and to get 3 nights HE had to be crucified on Wednesday or Thursday of HIS passion week. We will not know in this life what exactly happened when but Jesus definitely was the Passover Lamb and HE gave up his spirit at the same time the Passover Lamb animal was being slain.
ReplyDeleteIn one of your writings you were talking about when Jesus sent two of HIS Apostles to prepare the upper room. We are told in Luke 22:8: 8Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare for us to eat the Passover.” From John we know it was Preparation Day and on that day the Jews removed all traces and specks of yeast from their homes.
I really appreciate your writings and exegesis Jay. You are a great writer and your exegeses are fun to read. Keep up God's work.
Keep writing these, love reading them!
ReplyDelete