Hematohidrosis

“And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”  Luke 22:44 NIV

Prior to being arrested Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to pray.  He was in anguish over what He was about to do.  I do not know how to accurately pronounce this word, but it is what you call the condition in which capillary blood vessels that feed the sweat glands break down and blood is mixed with tears.  It can be caused by experiencing extreme stress, like a natural disaster, confronting an assailant, or maybe like the stress you might feel when you know you are about to be nailed to a cross. 

Most of my life I have known that Jesus is the son of God.  Holy.  Majesty, or any description you can think of to describe Jesus in His glory.  Lion of Judah is my favorite.  Our words do not really do Him justice.  He is the miracle maker.  He beat death itself.  But…

Jesus was also human.  I seem to be thinking more about His physical limitations for some reason.  He needed help to carry the cross.  He got tired.  His back probably hurt from Him working as a carpenter.  His hands would have been calloused and hard, but nails being driven through them would be unimaginable.  He knew what was coming.  He did it anyway.

If you have ever been on one side of a hospital operating room door waiting for news about the love of your life, you know what I mean.  Prayers are more fervent.  Distracted thoughts stay further from the top of your mind.  Focus becomes more specific.  Nothing else matters.  We have probably all faced this type of situation. 

However, none of us has faced being crucified. None of us has faced taking on the sin of humanity.  All of it.  I pray multiple times a day asking Him to forgive me for something.  A lot of times it is the same confession as it was yesterday or even earlier today.  He forgives me again because I have accepted Him as my Savior.  But I imagine there are times when He is thinking maybe I could move past this thing He already washed away. 

Do you think about the physical pain and fatigue Jesus endured?  My back hurts when I get off the couch.  I have faced nothing like what He willingly endured for me - and you. 

Do you ever think about the spiritual pain Jesus endured that day?  I sometimes wonder if He is listening when I do not get immediate answers, and I rarely get immediate answers.  I could be more patient.

Challenge:  Pray.  Pray more.  If you get weary, go pray for rest.  Then rest and get back to it.  Maybe I can use my pain as an invitation to pray to the Savior who has endured His own.

Rick Claiborn