Bible Studies
Drops of blood, falling down upon the ground
Lord’s Supper Thoughts
Tim Wallace
Drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.
Luke’s account of the garden scene where Jesus goes to pray with His disciples--just prior to His arrest, mock trial, scourging, and crucifixion is striking. Luke in chapter 22 records, 44And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.” It is not clear if Luke is simply making an observation or diagnosing a medical phenomenon we now know as hematohidrosis. I find it interesting that Luke (the physician) is the only gospel writer to include this in his account.
There was no doubt that our Lord was in great emotional stress, knowing what He was about to endure!
Hematohidrisis has been observed in cases where individual who were about to die, like those who had be convicted of a capital offense and was about to be executed. Was it fear of dying that caused our Lord so much anguish? I doubt it. Though He was human He also was God, knowing all things and thus He knew He would die and rise again and go on to be with His Father.
Not in anyway to diminish the pain, agony, and suffering our Lord endured, you may recall Isaiah’s prophecy.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him --
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man
and his form marred beyond human likeness-- Isaiah 52:14 (NIV)
Or the humiliation of being crucified on a cross… see Galatians 3:13
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"—
As horrific as all of these things were, I think there was a greater anguish our Lord was contemplating there in the garden. What could it possible be? I believe it was His death on the cross… Not His physical death but His spiritual death, His separation from His Father He would have to suffer as a guilt (sin) offering for mankind that He could not bare to think about.
45 Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?" Matt 27:45-46 (NASB77)
Our Lord experienced separation from His Father there on the cross at Calvary so we can be united with Him for eternity! There are no words that can describe the true sacrifice our Lord made for me…Only Drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.
Giving:
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1 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, 2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. 3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability they gave of their own accord, 4 begging us with much entreaty for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, 5 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
2 Cor. 8:1-5 (NASB77)
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