Blood, Sweat, and Tears

As we move through “Holy Week” we remember today that Jesus met with his disciples to observe the Passover meal. In doing so He started another practice that we call an ordinance at LIFEchurch. It is one of two ordinances that we observe, The Lord’s Supper and water baptism. Jesus was preparing them for what was coming although I am not so sure they really got it that night. It was probably after it was over that all these things began to take on meaning for them. He shared with them the bread and the cup.

Then Jesus went with them to the garden of Gethsemane to pray. It was there that He prayed the familiar prayer, “Father, let this cup pass from me, but nevertheless not my will, but your will be done.” What a difficult time it must have been. Luke describes it for us. “Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’ He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” Luke 22:39-44 (NIV)

Luke is the only writer that mentions this phenomenon of “sweat like drops of blood.” That is interesting since he (Luke) was the doctor among them. There is a medical term for this condition. When the body is under great stress oneof two things happens. The stress is evident in the fact that God sent an angel to strengthen Jesus. Luke said He was in “anguish.” This was a moment when emotionally and physically He totally exhausted Himself. Under this kind of stress a man will either just faint, pass out or the capillaries of the blood vessels (many of them just under skin) will burst throughout the body causing blood to leak through the pores of the skin where sweat would normally come. This is what happened to Jesus on that night. This was not just a metaphor that Luke was using to describe the pressure of the moment. As a doctor he saw and understood what was happening. Jesus bodied became covered in blood as He prayed.

John describes the moment the soldiers arrived in the garden on that Thursday evening to arrest Jesus. He says that when Jesus identified Himself “they drew back and fell to the ground.” (John 18:6) I believe there was a practical reason that happened. When Jesus stepped into the muted light of their torches what they saw was a man covered in blood already. They were shocked at His appearance. Just as His clothes would have been absorbing sweat normally, in this case they absorbed blood. His faced was covered in blood as that is the place with more of the capillaries near the surface than any where else on the body.

The blood shed of Jesus sacrifice did not wait for the beating or being nailed to cross. It began in the agony of surrender on His face before His father crying out for strength and mercy.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am so humbled by Your incredible love and commitment to me. As I review all this coming to Easter, my heart is broken that I have failed so many times in so many ways, but at the same time my hear swells with indescribable hope that because You love me that much there is nothing in life that I cannot face, no trial that I cannot overcome, no sin that I cannot rise above, no failure so great that it places me outside Your reach of love and forgiveness. Thank You, Jesus. I love You, Jesus. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger