“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.”
Who said that? And what happened next? You can (dare I say, ‘should’?) read the rest here. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026:36-46&version=NIV
Strange as it may sound, I am deeply encouraged that Jesus spoke these words, the intensity and emotion of which English words apparently fail to fully grasp, in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew that the time had come for him to drink the cup, and he asked his Father if it be possible, to let it pass from him. So very human, yet so very submitted to the will of the Father.
What cup? What’s in this cup he doesn’t want to drInk? Some say death, others point to Ezekiel 23:32 and say ‘wrath,’ others say the emotional separation from the Trinity, all agree on ‘suffering.’
All well and true, but today I discovered a new (to me) thought on the passage which gospel-girded me with new hope. I want to post a super-long quote here, but so-called blog ‘best-practice’ suggests I’ve already asked you to read too much, so I’ll just post a paragraph (okay,two) with the link to the entire sermon for all interested:-)! I’d love to know your response to this close-up on Jesus’ despondency. How does reading this story affect your hope in God?
Comment here or on the Living Story Facebook Page?
“Thus it appears to me that what He feared was that dreadful depression of mind which had suddenly come upon Him so that His soul was very heavy. He prayed His Father that that cup might pass away—and so it did—for I do not see in all the Savior’s griefs afterwards that singular overwhelming depression He endured when in the garden.”
Now, perhaps some of you may think that if this cup only meant depression of the spirits and dismay of the soul it was nothing of much significance, or at least it weakens the spell of those words and deeds which twine around Gethsemane. Permit me to beg your pardon. I know personally that there is nothing on earth that the human frame can suffer to be compared with despondency and prostration of mind. Such is the dolefulness and gloom of a heavy soul, yes, a soul exceedingly heavy even unto death that I could imagine the pangs of dissolution to be lighter!
In our last hour joy may lighten up the heart, and the sunshine of Heaven within may bear up the soul when all outside is dark. But when the iron enters into a man’s soul he is unmanned, indeed! In the cheerlessness of such exhausted spirits the mind is confused. Well can I understand the saying that is written, “I am a worm and no man,” of one that is a prey to such melancholy. Oh that cup! When there is not a promise that can give you comfort. When everything in the world looks dark. When your very mercies frighten you and rise like hideous specters and portents of evil before your view.” Spurgeon, sermon on Matt 26 http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols10-12/chs693.pdf
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