Paid In Full: An In-depth Look at the Defining Moments of Christ's Passion Read Online Free
Author: Rick Renner
Tags: *Updated*
the ground. This word ektenes presents the picture of a person who is pushed to the limit and can’t be stretched much more. He is on the brink of all he can possibly endure.
Jesus’ emotional state was so intense that it says “…his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” The “sweat” is the Greek word idros. The word “drops” is the Greek word thrombos, a medical word that points to blood that is unusually thickly clotted . When these two words are joined, they depict a medical condition called hematidrosis — a condition that occurs only in individuals who are in a highly emotional state.
Because the mind is under such great mental and emotional pressure, it sends signals of stress throughout the human body. These signals become so strong that the body reacts as if it were under actual physical pressure. As a result, the first and second layer of skin separate, causing a vacuum to form between them. Thickly clotted blood seeps from this vacuum, oozing through the pores of the skin. Once the blood seeps through, it mingles with the sufferer’s sweat that pours from his skin as a result of his intense inner struggle. In the end, the blood and sweat mix together in droplets and flow down the victim’s face to the ground.
This was the worst spiritual combat Jesus had ever endured up to this time. And where were His disciples when He needed them? They were sleeping ! Jesus needed His closest friends — yet they couldn’t even pray for one hour! So God provided strength for Him in another way, which we will see in the next chapter.
Have you ever felt a need for help but found your friends couldn’t be counted on? Did you find your friends sleeping on the job when you felt a deep need for help and support? Were you in a situation that caused you to feel intense agony and that pushed you to the limit? Are you in that kind of situation right now?
Maybe you’ve never sweat blood, but more than likely, you have struggled in your soul at one time or another because of problems with your marriage, your children, your relationships, your ministry, or your finances. If you’ve ever felt like you were constantly living in a “pressure cooker,” you know that continuous pressure is hard to deal with — especially if you have no one to lean on for strength, encouragement, and help.
If you are experiencing one of those times right now, Jesus understands because He faced the same situation in the Garden of Gethsemane. Hebrews 2:18 says, “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” Because of what Jesus experienced, He is able to understand everything you are thinking and feeling.
I encourage you to set aside a few minutes to pray before you take one more step or make one more decision today. Talk to Jesus about the situations you are facing. He empathizes completely, and He will give you the strength you need to come through every one of life’s “pressure cookers” victoriously.
Intense emotional stress produces mental and physical distress. Jesus not only suffered on every level, He persevered through pain more difficult than you can conceive. Therefore, He not only completely understands everything you could possibly go through, He even empathizes with you. Have you ever thought about that before?
Jesus experienced the full range of human emotion and emotional strain. He knows exactly what it’s like to feel pressure bearing down on Him from every side. Because Jesus understands stress, He can be trusted to understand and to help you no matter what you may be facing. What are the areas in your life where you are experiencing stress? Invite Jesus into that area and trust Him to help you. He will.
Sometimes it’s easier to talk with someone who has already been through what you’re experiencing. But do you still hurt after talking to your parents, your friends, your spouse, or your pastor? It’s time for you to
Jesus’ emotional state was so intense that it says “…his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” The “sweat” is the Greek word idros. The word “drops” is the Greek word thrombos, a medical word that points to blood that is unusually thickly clotted . When these two words are joined, they depict a medical condition called hematidrosis — a condition that occurs only in individuals who are in a highly emotional state.
Because the mind is under such great mental and emotional pressure, it sends signals of stress throughout the human body. These signals become so strong that the body reacts as if it were under actual physical pressure. As a result, the first and second layer of skin separate, causing a vacuum to form between them. Thickly clotted blood seeps from this vacuum, oozing through the pores of the skin. Once the blood seeps through, it mingles with the sufferer’s sweat that pours from his skin as a result of his intense inner struggle. In the end, the blood and sweat mix together in droplets and flow down the victim’s face to the ground.
This was the worst spiritual combat Jesus had ever endured up to this time. And where were His disciples when He needed them? They were sleeping ! Jesus needed His closest friends — yet they couldn’t even pray for one hour! So God provided strength for Him in another way, which we will see in the next chapter.
Have you ever felt a need for help but found your friends couldn’t be counted on? Did you find your friends sleeping on the job when you felt a deep need for help and support? Were you in a situation that caused you to feel intense agony and that pushed you to the limit? Are you in that kind of situation right now?
Maybe you’ve never sweat blood, but more than likely, you have struggled in your soul at one time or another because of problems with your marriage, your children, your relationships, your ministry, or your finances. If you’ve ever felt like you were constantly living in a “pressure cooker,” you know that continuous pressure is hard to deal with — especially if you have no one to lean on for strength, encouragement, and help.
If you are experiencing one of those times right now, Jesus understands because He faced the same situation in the Garden of Gethsemane. Hebrews 2:18 says, “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” Because of what Jesus experienced, He is able to understand everything you are thinking and feeling.
I encourage you to set aside a few minutes to pray before you take one more step or make one more decision today. Talk to Jesus about the situations you are facing. He empathizes completely, and He will give you the strength you need to come through every one of life’s “pressure cookers” victoriously.
Intense emotional stress produces mental and physical distress. Jesus not only suffered on every level, He persevered through pain more difficult than you can conceive. Therefore, He not only completely understands everything you could possibly go through, He even empathizes with you. Have you ever thought about that before?
Jesus experienced the full range of human emotion and emotional strain. He knows exactly what it’s like to feel pressure bearing down on Him from every side. Because Jesus understands stress, He can be trusted to understand and to help you no matter what you may be facing. What are the areas in your life where you are experiencing stress? Invite Jesus into that area and trust Him to help you. He will.
Sometimes it’s easier to talk with someone who has already been through what you’re experiencing. But do you still hurt after talking to your parents, your friends, your spouse, or your pastor? It’s time for you to
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