This is true example of the humanity of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His body was so stressed, knowing what was about to happen to him that “His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” This is a known physiological response to extreme stress, and although rare, the exact cause is still not fully understood, it’s thought to be linked to the body’s “fight or flight” response during extreme stress, which can cause capillaries to rupture and blood to seep into the sweat glands. He was literally in agony as it states in the passage.

Imagine for just a minute the knowledge he had when he walked the earth. He knew everything, and everyone. Why? Because He is the son of the most high God! He knows you and he knows me. He knows everything about us. And He knew what was about to befall Him.

When Jesus prayed saying “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” He was literally asking His Father to save Him from what was to be a brutal death. In my own humanity, I would not have the strength to allow that to happen to my own son, but I’m not God the creator of the universe.

The Father heard him, we know this given the fact that He sent an angel from heaven to strengthen Him. But God knew that it had to be done in order to save all of humanity from permanent separation from God. Because it is only through Jesus’ death, and resurrection that we would have an opportunity to live forever in heaven. All we have to do is believe in Jesus. The Bible tells us in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

So, how can we be spurred on to do what we know that we’re being asked to do by God? A good acronym that I learned years ago from one of my former pastors, Mike Fabarez is ATAPAT. It means Any Time, Any Place, Any Thing. It’s a good way to remember that when we’re agonizing over something that we know God wants us to do, and that we always keep in mind when Jesus said “Not My will, but Yours, be done.”

Let’s pray. Lord please help me to always be willing to do the things that I know that You are telling me to do. To go at anytime, to any place, and to do anything that You want me to do. In the name our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Ted Morton, Chaplain, Calvary Chapel San Clemente