praying in anguish

I have always been fascinated by Jesus ‘sweating blood’

³⁹ Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” ⁴¹ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” ⁴³An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴ And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (Luke 22, NIV 2011)

There are medical explanations for the phenomenon. I understand that it is a sign of someone under incredible stress. What has fascinated me is not the medical explanation for the event but two complementary thoughts.

One is that it was in praying that Jesus sweated blood. Even after he had been strengthened by an angel! He had willingly submitted to the awful, terrible events that he knew lay ahead – the ‘cup’ from which he had to drink. He prayed in the same way that he taught his followers: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

I’ve never been that passionate in my praying that I have worked up much of a sweat, never mind sweating blood. Jesus knew that to face what lay ahead of him he had to lay it before his Father in prayer.

The second thought is that these were the first drops of blood that he shed for you and me. In the Last Supper he took the cup after supper and declared that it was “the New Covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:20) Even before the flogging, the crown of thorns, the crucifixion and the spear thrust into his side, Jesus began pouring out his blood for us – in prayer. His resolve was strengthened, his commitment to us affirmed in that moment.

It is an incredible privilege that our prayers are heard in the throne room of the Universe. Jesus’ praying in Gethsemane, the ‘place of the olive press’, when he was under intense pressure, reminds me that I can take it for granted and take it too lightly. I can never be too passionate about praying!