Agony In Gethsemane Series

Agony in Gethsemane

Mark 14: 32-42

As we continue to follow Jesus on this faithful night, His impending betrayal and crucifixion are drawing closer with each passing moment. Supper had ended, and along with the eleven, Jesus made His way from Jerusalem toward the Garden of Gethsemane. As they made their way Jesus spoke with them about things to come and offered the high priestly prayer, John 17: 1-26.

The struggle our Lord faced in Gethsemane is one we know well, but we cannot begin to imagine the difficulty of these moments. It is here that Jesus began to suffer in agony under the load of sin that He would soon bear in full on Calvary. His agony was so intense that Luke’s gospel describes His sweat becoming as great drops of blood. In a few hours’ time He will have been betrayed, brought before the Sanhedrin, Pilate, and Herod. He will be condemned to death, scourged mercilessly, and crucified on the cross.

This passage offers insight to the agonies Jesus faced in His final hours before the cross. I want to examine the aspects of that faithful night as we consider: Agony in Gethsemane.

I. The Intensity of the Moment – These were very intense moments as Jesus struggled and suffered under the burden of sin. Notice:

A. The Lord’s Affliction (33b-34a) – And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; [34] And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: These words are very expressive, describing the agony He faced. Jesus began to be sore amazed. This phrase means “utter and extreme fright, horror, terror, bewilderment, or amazement.” We can’t begin to imagine what Jesus felt in His humanity as He began to look toward Calvary and the suffering He would endure. The physical torment is beyond comprehension, not to mention the agony of the holy, sinless Savior bearing the sins of the world. All that He was about to face was contrary to His very nature and deity.

Also, we find that Jesus became very heavy. This is a phrase that also is very expressive. It means “to be extremely troubled and distressed.” A closer look at the original root word reveals another touching aspect. It has the idea of “being away from home and out of one’s usual surroundings.” Jesus had never known separation from God the Father. There had never been a time when that precious, holy fellowship had been broken. There had never been a time when the sinless Son felt the effects of sin. Jesus was certainly facing a situation that He had never felt before. He began to feel the weight of sin and the separation it brings. There can be no doubt His deity was repulsed by what He felt. He reveals His anguish in V.34a. Jesus endured that heavy affliction for sinners such as you and me!

B. The Lord’s Separation (35) – And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He brought the eleven to the Garden, taking Peter, James, and John to a special place within. Even the closest of the “inner circle” could only go so far. This was a burden that Jesus had to bear alone. He was the only One worthy to drink the cup. He was the only One who could atone for man’s sin. Jesus went to bear the agonies of His suffering alone.

We all know how it feels to face a trial or burden. We have all had times in life when it seemed as if our world was falling apart. It is in those times that we desire the comfort and companionship of a loved one. Jesus endured it alone!

Matthew records that He went a little further. When men had gone as far as they could go, Jesus went a little further. In fact, Jesus went all the way. He went a little further for you and me. He willingly bore the burden of sin within Himself. There were none to help bear the burden. Jesus did that for us! Aren’t you glad that He went a little further for you? Had He not, we would have no hope.

C. The Lord’s Conversation (36) – And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. As Jesus suffered there in the Garden, He began to talk with the Father. There are a few things we notice. We see:

1. His Relationship – Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee. What a beautiful record of our Lord’s conversation with the Father. He first addressed Him as Abba. This is the Aramaic word for “papa” or “daddy.” This was what a small child called his father from day to day. It was the address of a child’s love and dependency.