7. JESUS WAS GREATLY BRUISED BY HIS HORRENDOUS CONFLICTS IN GETHSEMANAE.

a. The horrific words used to describe Christ's awful depression, anguish and agony of soul in Gethsemane.

We read in Mt.26v37-39., v37. And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to show grief and distress of mind and was deeply depressed. v38. Then He said to them, My soul is very sad and deeply grieved, so that I am almost dying of sorrow. Stay here and keep awake and keep watch with Me. v39. And going a little farther, He threw Himself upon the ground on His face and prayed saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire. AMP

We read in Luke.22v41-44., v41. And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, v42. saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." v43. Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. v44. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. NKJV

In Lk.22v44., "agony," is "agonia" 74, it is used to speak of, an intense struggle for victory, of extreme and prolonged efforts in wrestling, then of severe mental and emotional conflicts, anguish and agony. Vincent states, "Agony occurs only here. It is used by medical writers, and the fact of a sweat accompanying an agony is also mentioned by them." End of quote.

Adam Clark writes, "The word "agonia" (grk 74) (agony) points out the utmost anguish and grief of soul, and is of the same import with "ademonein" (grk 85) in Matthew and Mark." End of quote.

b. Christ's agonising praying was so physically destructive that God had to send an angel to strengthen Him.

The conflict was so great that it became too much for Christ's physical frame, and an angel had to appear from Heaven to strengthen Jesus. His praying was so intense that it nearly killed Him. In Luke.22v44. "being in an agony," "genomenos" 1096, en agonia" 74, the aorist participle suggests a "growing intensity" in our Lord's spiritual conflict, literally translated, it carries the thought, "having become in an agony:" Jesus progressed from His first prayer and severe spiritual conflict recorded in Lk.22v41., where it states that He "began to pray," and entered into an even greater spiritual conflict and overwhelming distress, and even more earnest prayer. "He prayed more earnestly," is "ektenesteron (1617) proseucheto." The adverb "ektenesteron," means "very fervently," so it means that "He prayed very fervently and even more earnestly."

The verb "ekteino," means literally, "stretched out," from "ek," out, and "teino," to stretch, and literally means extended, stretched out, and then, intense, fervent or earnest. Vincent says, it signifies "intense strain," feeling "on the rack." The pressures in Gethsemane made Jesus feel as if He was on a rack, and resulted in Him praying to the Father with most fervent and earnest "strong cryings and tears." Heb.5v7. The Amplified Bible translates Luke.22v44., "And being in an agony [of mind], He prayed [all the] more earnestly and intently, and His sweat became like great clots of blood dropping down upon the ground."

In 1Pet.1v22., Peter uses the adverb "ektenos," 1619, which means intensely, fervently, earnestly, to direct us to love fellow Christians with a fervent love from the heart, "ek kardias ektenos." In 1Pet.4v8., Peter uses the related adjective "ektenes" 1618, to speak of the necessity for fervent love between Christians. The adjective "ektenos" occurs in Acts,12v5., in the Majority Text and T.R., it is inaccurately translated in the A.V., as "without ceasing," it means earnest, stretched out, and fervent; it literally means, "prayer was arising earnestly," the Christians praying for Peter, prayed well. but they could not believe Rhoda when she insisted that Peter was at the door, they found out that she was correct. They did some great heart felt praying without really believing. God is very generous and kind, and graciously listens to our fumbling efforts at prayer, when we pray in love.

c. Great sorrow was followed by even greater sorrow and heavy depression. Mt.26v37,38.

Matthew 26:37,38. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. v38. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

Jesus took with him Peter, James and John; the same disciples that had beheld His glory in the Mount of transfiguration. Now they beheld an even greater glory, the extent to which divine love is prepared to agonise and suffer to redeem sinful mankind. In.Mt.26v37., Matthew uses, "lupeisthai" 3076, "kai" "ademonein" 85. for "sorrowful and very heavy." "Lupeisthai" is the present passive infinitive of "lupeo," the passive means to be grieved, distressed and sorrowful. "Lupeo" is used to speak in Mt.19v22., of the sorrow of the rich young ruler, when he felt that he could not leave his riches and follow Jesus, Jesus left all the riches of Heaven for the awful pains of Gethsemane, the Cross, and Hades. See also. Mt.26v22. John.21v17. Peter was grieved.

Barnes writes about "very heavy," "ademonein" 65. "The word in the original is much stronger than the one translated "sorrowful." It means, to be pressed down or overwhelmed with great anguish. This was produced, doubtless, by a foresight of his great sufferings on the cross in making an atonement for the sins of people." End of quote.

"Ademonein" 85, is the present active infinitive of "ademoneo" 85, to be full of anguish and sorrow, to be in great distress, to be very heavy, depressed and dejected. It is a much stronger word than the word rendered "sorrowful," "lupeisthai." Scholars tell us that "ademoneo" is the strongest of the three Greek words that are used in the New Testament for depression. (See Strong, 85, 916, 3076.) "Ademoneo" only occurs in Mt.26v37. Mk.14v33. and Phil.2v26. How great is the love of Jesus for us that He should suffer such great inner pain and depression for us. Do you suffer from depression? Jesus has been there before you, at the very worst possible level. He understands your pain, and He is risen with healing in His wings. He can and will deliver you.

d. The great suffering of Jesus, which is seen in the parallel texts in Mt.26v37. and Mk.14v33.

As we have seen in Mt.26v37., Matthew uses "lupeisthai" 3076, "kai" "ademonein" 85, for "sorrowful and sore troubled." Whereas, in Mark's parallel text, Mk.14v33., Mark uses, for "greatly amazed and sore troubled," "ekthambeisthai" 1568, "kai" 2532, "ademonein" 85. "Ekthambeisthai," is the present passive infinitive of "ekthambeo," 1568, it means to astonish utterly, to terrify, to throw into terror or amazement, to be thoroughly amazed, to be struck with terror. "Ekthambeo," occurs four times in the New Testament, and only in Mark's Gospel, Mk9v15. 14v33. 16v5,6.

In Mk.9v15., "ekthambeo" is applied to the amazed reaction of the multitudes who saw Jesus after His transfiguration.

We read, "And straightway all the multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him." "Were greatly amazed," is the aorist passive, "exethambethesan," 1568. The after glow and glory of the transfiguration was obviously still resting on Jesus, and the sight of it filled the onlookers with fear and amazement.

In Mk.16v5,6., "ekthambeo," is used to describe the amazed fear of the women at the tomb when they saw the angels.

We read in Mark.16v5-6. "And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted." "They were affrighted," is "exethambethesan" 1568., the "ex" 1537, intensifies the verb, and reveals that they were utterly amazed and terrified, Luke.24v5. has "affrighted," "emphobon" 1719, which means, afraid, startled, terrified. "A young man," is "neaniskon," 3495, Matthew says the young man was in reality an angel, and that he effortlessly rolled away the very great stone (Mk.16v4.) that sealed the entrance to the tomb, and sat upon it. The angel had a face like lightening, and brilliant white garments, his presence was so awe inspiring, that the soldiers guarding the tomb shook with terror, and became like dead men. Mt.28v1-12. Luke speaks of "two men with shining garments," obviously angels, speaking to the women. The apostles stubbornly refused to believe what the angels and Jesus had said to the women. They thought that the women were having some kind of hallucination, and rejected their genuine visitation by the risen Christ.Lk.24v1-12. Mk.16v5-8.

The Living Bible translates Mk.14v33., "He took Peter, James, and John with him and began to be filled with horror and deepest distress." The American Standard Version translates Mk.14v33."And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly amazed, and sore troubled. The Amplified Bible translation, "Struck with terror and amazement and deeply troubled and depressed," are an accurate translation of the Greek words, "ekthambeisthai 1568 kai ademonein" 85. Scholars tell us that the two verbs describe an extreme state of bewilderment, fear, uncertainty and anxiety, which are not seen anywhere else in such a forceful and telling way as here. Rawlinson translates them, "shuddering awe, amazement, deep distress," Swete translates them, "'amazed awe... overpowering mental distress." "Weymouth, translates them, "full of terror and distress."

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus Himself feels and faces the most distressing and terrible fear and amazement, as He directly confronts Satan and His massed powers of darkness. Jesus strives with all of His being to win the battle over the powers of evil, and His humanity, and heroically and resolutely decided to go on, regardless of the cost, to purchase our salvation. Satan did his utmost to turn Jesus from His goal of our salvation, but Jesus conquered Satan and triumphed over him, in spite of all the horrendous physical and emotional suffering, spiritual conflict, and mental pressure and pain. Col.2v15. Heb.2v14. 1Jn.3v8-10.

We read in Mark 10:32-34. "And they were on the way, going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus was going before them: and they were amazed; and they that followed were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, v33. Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: v34. And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again." "Afraid," is "ethambounto" the imperfect tense of "thambeo," 2284, it describes the continual amazed fear in the twelve apostles. when they saw the look on the face of Jesus as He walked in advance of them towards Jerusalem, with a gravity, earnestness, and determination that warned of great danger ahead. The apostles read correctly how Jesus looked, and were filled with a sense of foreboding, amazement and fear. The terrors of Gethsemane, His Passion, and Hades, were gripping Jesus, but the grace of God given to Him in the Mount of Transfiguration sustained Jesus and impelled and carried Him forward. Heb.2v9. " But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." (KJV). God's great grace carried Jesus forward, as it does us.

We read in Mk.10v32., "And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them the things that were to happen to him." Jesus had already told them three times, Mk.8v31. 9v13. and 9v31., about the terrible sufferings that awaited Him in Jerusalem. Here He tries once more to get them to listen to His warnings. But they again refuse to listen to and accept Christ's warnings of His sufferings and death. We read in Lk.18v34., "They understood none of these things." Mark and Matthew sadly reveal that the minds of James and John were totally taken up with their own selfish plans and ambitions, even while Jesus was giving the details of his approaching death and resurrection to them. They were totally ignorant of the great pressure on Jesus, and selfishly ask, "Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory." Jesus told them that positions of honour in the kingdom have to be earned, usually by baptisms of suffering. Jesus was under tremendous pressure from these forthcoming events, He was thinking about His suffering and death in the near future, they were thinking about sitting on thrones, in the near future. They were totally ignorant of the signs of the times and prophecy, like much of the Church today. Jesus again took the twelve, and began to tell them about His sufferings and death, but they refused to listen to Him.

e. Adam Clarke's enlightening commentary on Mt.26v37,38.

"[Began to be sorrowful] "Lupeisthai"(grk 3076), from "luo" (grk 3089), to dissolve, (intense) sorrow, such as dissolves the natural vigour, and threatens to separate soul and body. [And very heavy.] Overwhelmed with anguish-"ademonein"(grk 85). This word is used by the Greeks to denote the most extreme anguish which the soul can feel-- excruciating anxiety and torture of spirit." End of quote.

On Mt.26v38. Adam Clark writes. "[My soul is exceeding sorrowful (or, is surrounded with exceeding sorrow), even unto death.] This latter word explains the two former: My soul is so dissolved in sorrow, my spirit is filled with such agony and anguish, that, if speedy succour be not given to my body, death must be the speedy consequence."

"---Luke observes, Luke.22v43-44., that there appeared unto him an angel from heaven strengthening him; and that, being in an agony, his sweat was like great drops of blood falling to the ground. How (intense) must this anguish have been, when it forced the very blood through the coats of the veins, and enlarged the pores in such a preternatural manner as to cause them to empty it out in large successive drops! In my opinion, the principal part of the redemption price was paid in this unprecedented and indescribable agony."

"Bloody sweats are mentioned by many authors; but none was ever such as this -- where a person in perfect health -----, and in the full rigour of life, about thirty-three years of age, suddenly, through mental pressure, without any fear of death, sweat great drops of blood; and these continued, during his wrestling with God to fall to the ground. ---- His agony and distress can receive no consistent explanation but on this ground-- He suffered, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. O glorious truth! O infinitely meritorious suffering! And O! above all, the eternal love, that caused him to undergo such sufferings for the sake of sinners!" End of Adam Clarke quote.

f. The sorrow, pain and anguish of Gethsemane were so severe that it nearly killed Jesus.

In Mk.14v34. (and Mt.26v38.) Jesus said to His apostles, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." "Exceeding sorrowful, is a translation of the adjective "perilupos" 4036, which literally means, encircled and surrounded with exceeding sorrows, deeply grieved all around, intensely sad. Thayer says it can mean, "overcome with sorrow so much as to cause one's death." Swete says, it is "a sorrow which well-nigh kills." "To death," is "heos thanatou," "to the point of dying." "Perilupos" 4036," is used in Mt.26v38. and Mk14v34., of Jesus being "exceeding sorrowful" in Gethsemane. Perilupos" is used in Mt.14v9.of wicked king Herod's extreme, but fruitless grief, over the execution of John the Baptist. It is used in Mt.17v23., of the disciples being surrounded with sorrows, when Jesus told them that He was to suffer and die, it appears that at last they believed Him, but the thought of it was too uncomfortable for them to retain, and they soon put it out of their minds again. "Perilupos" is used in Lk.18v23,24. of the great sorrow of the rich young ruler, who was so dependant and emotionally attached to his wealth, that he felt unable to give his riches away and follow Jesus.

Here in Gethsemane Jesus Himself is assaulted by feelings of amazement and fear as He battles with the flesh and the Devil over the sufferings of the Cross, and in particular over His suffering the pains of Hades, when His soul was made an offering for our sins. Heb.5v7. Is.53v10. Acts.2v23-31. Rom.10v7. Eph.4v8-10. 1Pet.3v18-22. 4v6. Jesus triumphed gloriously over the terrible pressures that came against Him and won a total victory over the world, the flesh and the Devil, and despised the shame of the Cross. Let no one be in any doubt, the battle over the Cross and Hades was fought and won in Gethsemane, but there could not have been a more severe test of our Lord's resolve and character. The horror of it all besieged and overwhelmed Him, and He is amazed at the severity of the spiritual assault upon Himself. As Swete states, "Long as He had foreseen the Passion, when it came clearly into view its terror exceeded His anticipations." "He learned obedience from the things that He suffered." Heb.5v8. Peter was an eyewitness of the events in Gethsemane, and Mark's Gospel is, according to Papias 135 A.D., the recollections of the ministry of Jesus that Peter told to Mark. Peter saw the horrific pressures that were on Jesus, and used the strongest possible words to describe the horror of what he saw happening to his dear Lord.

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