He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”
–Luke 22:39-46
The text presents Jesus as a vulnerable man. To be sure, Jesus displayed great power through many miraculous acts. He had given sight to the blind, fed the destitute, and even walked on water; however, on the eve of his engagement with the cross, Jesus kneels and prays: “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but your will be done (v42).” Additionally, “In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground (v44).”
The reader then discovers that while Jesus is dealing with his own anguish, the disciples have fallen asleep due to the amount of grief they are experiencing. In essence, Jesus wanted to feel attached to human sources of… [Read more…] about A Lesson on Divine Grief
