The pressure of Gethsemane

 

"Then He said to them, 'My soul is exceedingly sorrowful [Strongs definition of exceedingly sorrowful is "overcome with sorrow so much as to cause one's death"], even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.' He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, 'O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will'" (Matthew 26:38,39).

 

"And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground" (Luke 22:44).

 

"Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, 'O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done'" (Matthew 26:42).

 

I have always assumed that it was in the Garden of Gethsemane that Jesus took on and bore our sins, and our sin nature. It seems to me that after that the Cross was the only alternative to the suffering He was already bearing. It is very difficult to imagine what kind of suffering crucifixion inflicted, but it is impossible to imagine the pain of bearing that much sin.

 

When drops of blood appeared on Jesus' face, I submit that it was, physically speaking, the result of very high blood pressure. Medical science knows that high blood pressure can cause fainting, strokes and death. Apparently Jesus was so strong that He endured the tremendous pain of our sin, the corporate sin of mankind, without fainting or dying. The result was His blood was released through His skin due to the ultra high blood pressure.

 

A doctor recently told me that pain is one factor that raises blood pressure. Could it be possible that the pain Jesus endured in the Garden by taking our sin exceeded the physical torment of the Cross? What do you think?

 

Isn't it wonderful that we do not have to bear the pain of ANY sin if we simply appropriate His goodness.

 

Larry Chkoreff