The Agony of Gethsemane - Mark 14.26, 32-42; Matt 26.30, 36-46; Luke 22.39-46; John 18.1

　

They cross over the brook Kidron heading towards the Mt. of Olives. They reach Gethsemane which was an area that grew olive trees whose oil was used at the temple. The word Gethsemane means, “Oil press.” Jesus will be severely pressed this night.

He leaves eight disciples behind as a first watch and takes Peter, John, and James a bit further on. He leaves them as a second watch and goes a bit further ahead to agonize in prayer. The nature of his agony is described:

1. He was greatly amazed (Mk 14.33b). The word amazed means “to be utterly surprised--to be stunned with astonishment”.

2. He was sore troubled (Mk 14.33b), meaning that he was “feeling very heavy”, as if a heavy weight was pressing on him.
3. His soul is exceedingly sorrowful (Mk 14.34). The term means “to be pressed upon” emphasizing the extreme pressure Yeshua was under at this point.

4. He was exceedingly sorrowful even unto death (Mk 14.34). In other words, the sorrow was so great, the pressure so severe, the trouble so heavy, that there was a real danger of a total collapse of his physical frame.

5. He was in agony (Lk 22.44). The word agony means “conflict”. He was in agony in the sense of “being in conflict”.

6. He began sweating blood (Lk 22.44). Hematidrosis, means such agony that blood sweats out of your skin.

What is this agony over? Isaiah 49.1-13

1. He was agonizing over Israel’s rejection of his Messianic claims and their failure to respond. He will become a light unto the Gentiles and mostly Gentiles will believe in him (some Jews). Once the time of the Gentiles are fulfilled the body will be complete and all Israel will believe (only 1/3 as 2/3 will perish in the tribulation, Zach 13.7-9).

2. He was agonizing over the cup (Mk 14.37). After praying for an hour Jesus tells the disciples to keep watching so that they will not fall into temptation. He prays again for the cup to pass, then a 3^rd time. What did he mean by cup?

3. Physical death, asking that he won’t have to die physically? This is not a good interpretation because God became man in order that he could die for our sins. In John 10.17 he predicted he would die. He would be a false prophet if he didn’t die. See: Luke 19.10; Philippians 2.8; Heb 10.5-9.

4. Does he mean premature death? Dying before he gets to the cross? Yeshua is in full control of his death. In Luke 22.46 he “dismisses his spirit” which means he choose the moment of his death. In John 10.18-19 Jesus declared, “that no one takes my life from me--I lay it down myself.”

5. The wrath of God and spiritual death is what he meant. Nowhere was it prophesied that Jesus would die spiritually--atonement comes by the shedding of innocent blood, Lev 17.11. Spiritual death would be an agonizing thing for Jesus to experience because since his incarnation he was spiritually alive towards the Father and in constant fellowship with God.

When we are born we are spiritually dead until our rebirth--not so with Yeshua. Sin will be placed upon him on the cross and the Father will turn away from him. This caused Jesus tremendous agony. He will endure the wrath of God and spiritual death on the cross. This was essential for his priesthood. Heb 4.14-16


This agonizing prayer by Jesus in Gethsemane teaches us two important things:
1.
He prayed to God and made his desire known (this cup pass), but left the answer to God’s will.

2. If you ask for something and don’t receive it that does not necessarily mean you lack faith. Sometimes God knows what is better for us down the road for spiritual growth. Father knows best--we may not get what we desire.

Jesus now tells the disciples to wake up and pray--his hour for betrayal has come.

Source: The Life of Messiah from a Jewish Perspective by Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum.