Christ's Deep Anguish

In March of 2004 I attended a meeting held at a Seminary concerning efforts to train future Pastors and Church leaders. I was surprised at how the movie “The Passion of the Christ” kept coming up. It again struck me how the comments so often focused on the violence and physical suffering to the point one individual called Mel Gibson a “sadist.”

The film gives us an idea of the physical suffering and encourages us to reflect on that. However, it portrays what was undoubtedly worse to Christ, the spiritual suffering, quite dimly. Frankly, I do not know how any human could comprehend let alone portray that spirtual suffering. Yet, Christians need to think about that too!

The Gospels give some insight into it, first in the accounts of Jesus’ prayer in the Garden. Mark and Matthew give us his comment, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” Mark precedes that with this observation, “he began to be deeply distressed and troubled” {Mark 14:33, 34}. David McKenna writes concerning these verses, “A more literal translation is, ’He began to be terrified and disoriented.’ Sheer terror strikes at His soul as He faces for the first time the reality of unbridled evil. … The combined weight of sin and loneliness is almost more than He can stand,” The Communicator’s Commentary, vol. II Mark, p. 293

This suffering got so severe that Luke tells us, “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” {Luke 22:44} This can be an indicator of extreme emotional stress.

While Jesus’ knowledge of the physical suffering to come would be stressful, I do not think that was what prompted him to ask God the Father “take this cup from me.” I think it was the knowledge of the intense spiritual suffering to come later on the cross. This time in the Garden was a time of intense spiritual warfare and anguish. The issue being: would Jesus go through with the plan now that he was face to face with it? This stress was so severe that Luke records that, “An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.” {Luke 22:43}.

At this moment, Jesus Christ is in utter physical, emotional, and maybe even spiritual terror. He seems right on the edge. I get that thought from his statements, sweating blood, needing an angel to help, and especially his request to “take this cup from me.” As I read and reread the Gospel accounts at no other point does Christ seem so devastated. By contrast during the trials, scourging, and crucifixion he seems almost serene.

What made the difference? His decision, “not my will, but yours be done.” {Luke 22:42} That decision and his time in deep prayer with the Father enabled him to turn the corner and face the traumatic hours waiting him.

While we need to meditate on this theme, there is something else for us to think about as well. Jesus Christ faced and overcame a terrible ordeal / temptation. You and I face ordeals and temptations. They are nowhere near as severe as Christ’s were. However, unlike Jesus we too often succumb to ours. Unfortunately, we fail often enough that we sometimes no longer consider them sins. One example would be gossip. Instead of only talking to the person involved we talk to every one else! Then we talk to others about what we heard.

Instead of giving in to this and other sins, all of us need to follow Christ’s example. Take it to God the Father in prayer, commit it to him, and then in his strength do his will.

Written by Rev. Daniel B. Baker March 2004



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