Why Did Jesus Pray "Remove This Cup” In The Garden Of Gethsemane?

Luke, the physician, includes a fascinating medical observation about what Jesus underwent when He prayed the third time.

"...Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." "And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22:43-44 ESV)

The Greek word translated as "remove" is 'paraphero' which means to bear along or aside to carry off. Matthew and Mark use the Greek word 'parerchomai' which is translated as "pass" and means to come near or aside and pass by (Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:35). The wording of His prayer indicates that the ordeal is in His immediate presence and not in the future.

Luke noted that an angel came to render aid to Jesus during His ordeal. The Greek word for "strengthening" is 'enischuo' and is a medical term found only twice in Scripture, meaning to invigorate powerfully, to be made strong again (transitively or reflexively)[See also Acts 9:17-19]. The word is used in the context of doctors administering first aid like CPR or surgery to heal a sick or injured patient.

Jesus stated that His body was at the point of death as blood was bursting out of His skin, so an angel was sent to render first aid that He would not die prematurely (Mark 14:34). This thought is supported by Jesus saying to the Disciples, because He just had first-hand experience, "The spirit indeed is willing (Gk: ‘prothumos’ = eager and enthusiastic), but the flesh (Gk: 'sarx' = human body) is weak (Gk: ‘asthenes' = physically infirm, sick") (Mark 14:38 ESV).

The great sweat drops of blood is a medical condition known as hematidrosis, (also hematohidrosis, or hemidrosis), which occurs when someone is under such extreme physical, mental stress, and pressure that the body goes into a fight or flight response that could cause their capillaries to rupture and blood getting into the sweat glands. If the rupturing is severe enough, internal bleeding can result in death.

The Greek word translated as "agony" is 'agonia' and is found only once in the Bible. It comes from the word 'agon,' a place of assembly for a contest, fight, or race. It was used among the Greeks as an alternative to 'agonia' for the contests or games which took place there and to indicate maximum concentration, intense emotions, physical struggle, and strain.

The Greek word 'agonizomai' also comes from it and means to struggle to compete for a prize or contend with another to accomplish something.

The Greek word translated as "great drops" is 'thrombos' and is used in the sense of thickening like a blood clot.

The Passover Cup and God's Wrath

Earlier that day, Jesus shared the Passover meal with the Disciples, where they would have deeply drunk the equivalent of four cups of wine from one large communal cup before passing it on to the next person at the table. If it became empty, it would be filled again before passing to the next person.