In this series we examine the emotions Jesus Christ felt when He was on earth, limited to a time in history, a geographical place, and a human body that needed water, food and sleep. We will examine how He managed His emotions; and why His emotional experiences enable Him to understand everything you and I feel. He is our help in time of trouble.

Remember:

Your emotions are God-given, you are entitled to them.

Your emotions are personal. No one can tell you how you should feel.

Your emotions must be managed or they will control you.

You are not responsible for someone else’s emotions.

Definition

Agony =extreme and generally prolonged pain; intense physical or mental suffering.

Although all four gospel writers record the events in the Garden of Gethsemane after the Last Supper, only Luke – the doctor – documents the agony Jesus experienced.

Why do you think that is?

Situation

Luke 22:⁴¹ And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

⁴²Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

⁴³And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

⁴⁴And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

The clinical term for bloody sweat is “hematohidrosis.” Multiple blood vessels surround the sweat glands in a net-like form. Great stress can cause the vessels to constrict. Then as the anxiety passes the blood vessels dilate to the point of rupture, causing the blood to go into the sweat glands. As the sweat glands are producing a lot of sweat, the blood is pushed to the surface – coming out as droplets of blood mixed with sweat.

How much stress do you think Jesus felt?

Do you think there would be physical pain from ruptured blood vessels?

Questions for Reflection

Why do you think Jesus withdrew from the others to pray?

Sometimes is it easier to tell God alone what is on your heart?

Do you think mental agony hurts more or less than physical pain?

What is your experience with agony?

Have you talked with Jesus about your agony?

Notice the Lord’s words – if Thou be willing. What does that mean to you?

What was the cup?

Notice the Lord’s words – nevertheless, not My will but Thine

What did He do about the agony?

What does Jesus experiencing agony mean for you in your circumstances?

Jesus is our great High Priest

Hebrews 4:¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

¹⁶Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Where is our great High Priest?  in Heaven, He passed to there

Who is our great High Priest? Jesus, the Son of God

What is special about our great High Priest?

He can be moved with the feeling of our infirmities

He was tempted like we are but did not sin!

Our High Priest sits on a throne of grace not judgement!

Our High Priest invites us to come boldly for grace and mercy

Grace is God giving us what we do not deserve

Mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve

Isn’t Jesus a great High Priest?

When you consider the emotion of Jesus, can you relate how He must have felt to what you feel in your situation?  Can you see how this experience of Jesus enables Him to fully understand how you feel?

Focus

Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Encouragement

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will        accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run being yoked to Emmanuel!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when together you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti