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Awesome Struggle in Gethsemane
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yearning to hear some words of comfort. He longed to know that
they were praying for Him and for themselves. How dark seemed
the evil of sin! Terrible was the temptation to let the human race
bear its own guilt, while He stood innocent before God. If He could
only know that His disciples appreciated this, it would strengthen
Him.
But He “found them sleeping.” If He had found them seeking
refuge in God so that satanic agencies would not be victorious over
them, He would have been comforted. But they had not heeded
His warning, “Watch and pray.” They had not intended to forsake
their Lord, but they seemed paralyzed by a stupor that they could
have shaken off if they had continued pleading with God. When the
Savior needed their prayers the most, they were asleep.
The disciples woke up when Jesus spoke to them, but they hardly
knew Him, His face was so changed by anguish. Addressing Peter,
Jesus said, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one
hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit
indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Jesus feared that they would
not be able to endure the test of His betrayal and death.
Again the Son of God came under superhuman agony, and faint-
ing and exhausted, He staggered back to the place of His former
struggle. His suffering was even greater than before. “His sweat
became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” The
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cypress and palm trees were the silent witnesses of His anguish.
From their leafy branches heavy dew dropped on His stricken form,
as if nature wept over its Author wrestling alone with the powers of
darkness.
A short time before, Jesus had stood like a mighty cedar, with-
standing the storm of opposition that exhausted its fury on Him.
Now He was like a reed beaten and bent by the angry storm. Like
Someone who was already glorified, He had claimed to be one with
God. Now His voice rose on the still evening air, and it was full of
human anguish, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from
Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
Again Jesus felt a longing for some words from His disciples
that would break the spell of darkness that nearly overpowered Him.
But their eyes were heavy, “and they did not know what to answer
Him.” They saw His face marked with the bloody sweat of agony,