Gethsemane - when our eternity balanced on a knife's edge

Over the course of the past three weekends, we have ventured to the theater to witness the poignant unfolding of Season 5 of The Chosen. Yesterday marked the culmination of this series, centering predominantly on the profound moments of The Last Supper, the harrowing act of betrayal, and Jesus' spiritual turmoil in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is a sobering realization that many of us, as believers, may not fully grasp the depth of the emotional and mental struggle He endured. Jesus, in every aspect, was akin to us; this must surely encompass His fear of suffering and His deeply human instinct for self-preservation. As the divine Son of God, He had foreseen the tribulations awaiting Him since the dawn of creation, yet now, as His earthly existence drew to a close, the chilling knowledge of the hours ahead compelled Him to beseech the Father, "let this cup pass from me." The scriptures offer but a glimpse into the turmoil He faced, devoting only a few passages to illustrate the profound emotional depths of His anguish.

As I sat enveloped in the dim light of the theater, observing the portrayal of Jesus in the Garden, imploring His Father to discover a means—any means—to fulfill His plan of redemption for humanity, I was profoundly moved by the precariousness of our collective fate, my own fate, teetering on the edge that dark night preceding His crucifixion. He was engulfed in terror, pleading with God, even expressing, I don't think I can go through with this, only to ultimately yield Himself to the Father's will.

The sole indication of the gravity of His suffering during those intense moments of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane is encapsulated in the Gospel of Luke, which recounts Him sweating great drops of blood. This condition, known as hematidrosis, is a rare medical phenomenon wherein individuals sweat blood due to the rupture of small blood vessels surrounding sweat glands under extreme stress. Luke, the physician, vividly depicts Jesus as being in such anguish that “his sweat became like drops of blood, running down to the ground” (Luke 22:44). This scriptural account not only highlights the profound physical and emotional suffering Jesus endured but also aligns with the medical understanding of hematidrosis. Though this condition is exceedingly rare, it has been documented in instances involving significant psychological distress, such as the fear of imminent death.

Many of us can relate to experiencing mental anguish over decisions that carry life-and-death consequences. However, the monumental distinction in Jesus' case is that He possessed the power to utter a "no," opting instead for total surrender to the Father's will, the machinations of Satan, and the cruelty of humanity. His "no" would have wielded a power beyond our comprehension. Even the mere contemplation of such a rejection could have halted our redemption in its tracks.

Have you ever reflected on the immense difficulty He faced while being beaten, spat upon, scourged, mocked, and jeered? Throughout this torment, Satan likely tempted Him through the Pharisees to abandon the cross and save Himself. As the Word of God, it would have taken but a single utterance of "NO"—whether spoken aloud or merely thought—to summon all of heaven's angels to His aid, rescuing Him from the cross and condemning us all to an eternity of separation from God. Many of us, placed in similar circumstances, would have cried out in desperation, yet we would lack the power to effect any change.

The sheer willpower exhibited by the Son of God to set aside His own desires in order to secure our salvation must have reverberated throughout heaven. In Hebrews 12:1-4, we are reminded: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.”

The Bible rightly admonishes us in Hebrews 2:3: "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" It is no trivial matter to dismiss the sacrifice of Jesus and the precious blood He shed. How would you feel towards those who scorned the horrific death of your only child to save them? Hebrews 10:29 further warns: “How much worse punishment, do you think, will he be judged worthy of, who has trodden underfoot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?”

We owe Jesus more than a mere debt of gratitude; we owe Him our very selves—our complete surrender and unwavering trust. His sacrifice has more than justified this profound commitment. This Easter, let us reflect on the magnitude of His love, considering how close He may have come to uttering "no," yet instead chose to endure the agony of the cross for our redemption. Ultimately, God will gather a family who, through their own free will, have embraced His mercy and grace, and upon our transition to heaven or resurrection, we shall be free from sin forever.

Personally, I express my gratitude to God each day for opening my once-blind eyes and bestowing upon me the precious gift of faith at the tender age of 17. I was like a lost lamb, unaware of my own plight, yet He sought me out and found me, for which I shall be eternally thankful!

Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul.

Thank you, Lord, for making me whole.

Thank you, Lord, for giving to me,

They great salvation so rich and free.