Mankind experiences agonizing life events. Making a decision to take a loved one off of life support or coping with a child’s death are examples. An unfaithful spouse leaves us in agony. When faced with extremes such as these, we hope and pray the situation will either not come to pass or can be avoided. Regardless of how many people support us, we feel alone, afraid, and often break down in uncontrollable weeping. Agony - the struggle against a major, painful event. Jesus, gave up His deity to become fully man, and experienced tremendous suffering and agony. He can relate to any suffering we face.
Jesus was fully aware God’s plan was for Him to be the ultimate sacrifice for mankind’s sin. The sinless would pay for all mankind’s sin. Jesus lovingly accepted the mission so our salvation was possible. He told His disciples several times that His death was necessary. It was not until Jesus was crucified and arose from the dead that His mission was understood by His disciples.
Jesus was tormented in the garden for several reasons. (1) He struggled with His impending death. As fully man, He understood the physical torture He would face. (2) He knew He would be betrayed. It pained Him that Judas would betray Him with a kiss because a kiss was a common greeting among friends. (3) He was disappointed by His disciples. Jesus asked them to stay and remain alert. It pained Jesus that they did not stay awake and watch with Him. Jesus warned Peter to remain alert so that temptation would not overpower him. (4) Jesus understood that when God placed the sin of mankind upon Him He would not only experience physical death but would be separated from the Father, Abba. We too can be separated from God for eternity if we do not accept the free gift that Jesus earned for us on the cross.
Even though Jesus was in ultimate agony, He surrendered to the will of the Father. When Jesus asked that the cup of separation and agony be taken away, He was not rebelling. He reaffirmed His understanding His mission by praying what was to happen was God’s will and not His.
We learn many things from the ministry of Jesus. When we read God’s Word, Jesus clearly teaches us why He came to earth in the flesh and why He had to die. Even as death was quickly approaching, He still used the night in the garden of Gethsemane to instruct us. Temptations are all around us. Just as Jesus told Peter, be alert or temptation will overcome you. When we are faithful to pray, read God’s Word, and to walk closely with Him, the temptations will continue to come however we will recognize them for what they are because we are alert. When God the Father deems it time, Jesus will return to earth to take His people home with Him. The Bible says that no man knows the hour but the Father. Jesus will come like a thief in the night and in the twinkling of an eye His righteous ones will be removed from this earth. The Bible lays out for us the signs of the end times. It is up to us to remain diligent, faithful and alert for His coming.
This commentary was difficult to put into words. I do not pretend to know what Jesus went through. I do not know what all happened in the garden that night. I cannot imagine what spiritual battles took place in the garden. The Bible tells us what God wants us to know about that night in His Word. But, I wonder if satan was there trying to get Jesus to save Himself instead of dying as the ultimate sacrifice. One of my favorite sports announcers was Jim McKay. He hosted the ABC Wide World of Sports telecast. He was known for his introduction to the show: "The thrill of victory....and the agony of defeat". I think that quote applies to the night in Gethsemane because I am thrilled at the victory of Jesus that night! By His accepting the cup, I am provided salvation. I think the agony of defeat was felt by satan that night. Satan knew that night he had lost the spiritual battle and Jesus was the victor! Thanks be to Abba the Father for providing the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. Thanks be to Jesus, Son of God, Son of man, for willingly accepting the cup that night in Gethsemane.
Papa Joe Mac's Commentary:
Mankind experiences agonizing life events. Making a decision to take a loved one off of life support or coping with a child’s death are examples. An unfaithful spouse leaves us in agony. When faced with extremes such as these, we hope and pray the situation will either not come to pass or can be avoided. Regardless of how many people support us, we feel alone, afraid, and often break down in uncontrollable weeping. Agony - the struggle against a major, painful event. Jesus, gave up His deity to become fully man, and experienced tremendous suffering and agony. He can relate to any suffering we face.
Jesus was fully aware God’s plan was for Him to be the ultimate sacrifice for mankind’s sin. The sinless would pay for all mankind’s sin. Jesus lovingly accepted the mission so our salvation was possible. He told His disciples several times that His death was necessary. It was not until Jesus was crucified and arose from the dead that His mission was understood by His disciples.
Jesus was tormented in the garden for several reasons. (1) He struggled with His impending death. As fully man, He understood the physical torture He would face. (2) He knew He would be betrayed. It pained Him that Judas would betray Him with a kiss because a kiss was a common greeting among friends. (3) He was disappointed by His disciples. Jesus asked them to stay and remain alert. It pained Jesus that they did not stay awake and watch with Him. Jesus warned Peter to remain alert so that temptation would not overpower him. (4) Jesus understood that when God placed the sin of mankind upon Him He would not only experience physical death but would be separated from the Father, Abba. We too can be separated from God for eternity if we do not accept the free gift that Jesus earned for us on the cross.
Even though Jesus was in ultimate agony, He surrendered to the will of the Father. When Jesus asked that the cup of separation and agony be taken away, He was not rebelling. He reaffirmed His understanding His mission by praying what was to happen was God’s will and not His.
We learn many things from the ministry of Jesus. When we read God’s Word, Jesus clearly teaches us why He came to earth in the flesh and why He had to die. Even as death was quickly approaching, He still used the night in the garden of Gethsemane to instruct us. Temptations are all around us. Just as Jesus told Peter, be alert or temptation will overcome you. When we are faithful to pray, read God’s Word, and to walk closely with Him, the temptations will continue to come however we will recognize them for what they are because we are alert. When God the Father deems it time, Jesus will return to earth to take His people home with Him. The Bible says that no man knows the hour but the Father. Jesus will come like a thief in the night and in the twinkling of an eye His righteous ones will be removed from this earth. The Bible lays out for us the signs of the end times. It is up to us to remain diligent, faithful and alert for His coming.
This commentary was difficult to put into words. I do not pretend to know what Jesus went through. I do not know what all happened in the garden that night. I cannot imagine what spiritual battles took place in the garden. The Bible tells us what God wants us to know about that night in His Word. But, I wonder if satan was there trying to get Jesus to save Himself instead of dying as the ultimate sacrifice. One of my favorite sports announcers was Jim McKay. He hosted the ABC Wide World of Sports telecast. He was known for his introduction to the show: "The thrill of victory....and the agony of defeat". I think that quote applies to the night in Gethsemane because I am thrilled at the victory of Jesus that night! By His accepting the cup, I am provided salvation. I think the agony of defeat was felt by satan that night. Satan knew that night he had lost the spiritual battle and Jesus was the victor! Thanks be to Abba the Father for providing the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. Thanks be to Jesus, Son of God, Son of man, for willingly accepting the cup that night in Gethsemane.