An Agony Like No Other
(A Night Like No Other – Part 12)
#148 in Series: “The Life of Christ – in a Harmony of The Gospels”
Scripture References: Matthew 26:36–46, Mark 14:32–42, Luke 22:35–46, John 18:1
We come today to an experience Jesus had, that goes beyond our ability to fully understand…
Last week, we camped out in John 17, and considered the “High Priestly Prayer” of Jesus, where He prayed for Himself, His immediate disciples, and for those who would become His disciples in the future… John goes on to tell us –
John 18:1
When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, in which He entered with His disciples.
It is at this point that Matthew, Mark, and Luke all tell us of the experience Jesus had, when He and the disciples first arrived to the Garden of Gethsemane… We don’t have time to read everything written by these gospel writers, but since Luke gives more detail, we are going to turn to his text for our main text today.
Full Scripture Text – Luke 22:35–46
Luke 22:35–46
35 And He said to them, “When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” They said, “No, nothing.” 36 And He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, ‘And He was numbered with transgressors’; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment.” 38 They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.” 39 And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him. 40 When He arrived at the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, 42 saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” 43 Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. 45 When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, 46 and said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
1. The Agony Predicted for the Disciples
Jesus begins this section by challenging His disciples with the truth that they are about to face a … transition… They have enjoyed the three plus years with Jesus, but they will be transitioning into life without His physical presence… Let’s review the opening statement –
Luke 22:35–38
35 And He said to them, “When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” They said, “No, nothing.” 36 And He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, ‘And He was numbered with transgressors’; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment.” 38 They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.”
This section has received no small amount of scrutiny through the years… It has been used to justify … unwise, if not foolish positions taken by Christians over time… In fact, I want to go ahead and share the David Guzik quote first, before we get into the real meaning of Jesus’ words –
David Guzik – “It seems that the disciples didn’t understand what would happen in the next several hours. Later Christians also did not understand what Jesus meant here. ‘In his notorious papal bull Unam Sanctum, Boniface VIII (A.D. 1302) built on this text his doctrine that the Pope has the right to exercise secular as well as spiritual autocratic rule over mankind – the two swords, he said, are the spiritual sword and the secular sword.’” (Geldenhuys)
It is challenging to accurately grasp the meaning behind what Jesus is saying. I think Steven Cole gets it right when he says –
Steven Cole – “So Jesus told the disciples to sell their robe and buy a sword. And, when they produced two swords, He said, ‘It is enough.’ What did He mean? In light of Jesus’ command to Peter in the garden to put away his sword, and Christ’s non-resistance to the Jewish guards (Lu 22:53), it is obvious that Jesus was speaking symbolically, not literally, when He told them to buy swords. He was referring to the swords as a symbol of preparation for the intense spiritual conflict just ahead. When the disciples took Jesus literally and produced two swords and He replied, ‘It is enough,’ He was dismissing the subject in light of their continuing spiritual dullness. They just didn’t get it.”
There is certainly … spiritual conflict awaiting the disciples on levels they could have not fully understood before they experienced them…
To delve a little deeper, commentator John Martin on “it is enough” writes –
John Martin – “This response has been interpreted in at least four ways:
(1) Some understand the words as a rebuke to the disciples. If that were the case, then Jesus was saying, ‘Enough of this kind of talk!’ (Leon Morris)
(2) Others understand the words to denote the fact that even two swords are enough to show human inadequacy at stopping God’s plan for the death of Christ. Swords could not stop God’s purpose and plan.
(3) Jesus may simply have been saying that two swords were adequate for the 12 of them.
(4) Others see the clause in conjunction with the quotation from Isaiah and understand Jesus to mean that by possessing two swords they would be classified by others as transgressors or criminals. This fourth view seems preferable.” (Bible Knowledge Commentary, Cook Publishing, 1983, p.260)
If Martin is right, then this statement from Jesus is simply to fulfill prophecy made by Isaiah…
The focus in Luke’s report has to do with what Jesus faced… So let’s consider –
2. The Agony Begins for the Messiah
There is an agony, in our text, which no one has ever experienced but our Lord… His is an agony beyond our ability to even comprehend. Jesus endured more than our finite minds can comprehend. Jesus endured more than our feeble hearts can even feel… Jesus has a determination that goes beyond anything we have ever endured in all of human experience!
J.C. Ryle – “The verses before us contain St. Luke’s account of our Lord’s agony in the garden. It is a passage of Scripture which we should always approach with peculiar reverence. The history which it records is one of the ‘deep things of God.’ While we read it, the words of Exodus should come across our minds, ‘Put off thy shoes from off thy feet; the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.’ (Ex 3:5)”
● A familiar place
Luke 22:39a
And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives;
Jesus often went to the Mount of Olives with His disciples… In fact, throughout Passion Week, the week leading up to the cross, Jesus was –
Luke 21:37
Now during the day He was teaching in the temple, but at evening He would go out and spend the night on the mount that is called Olivet.
– teaching in the temple by day, and resting on the mountain by night!...
You might think that Mount Olivet was a rather large area… But to be more precise, Matthew and Mark both tell us that specifically this is The Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36, Mark 14:32).
Consequently, Jesus knew … that it would be easy for Judas to find Him there … when it came time.
● A faithful following
Luke 22:39b
And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him.
The disciples were always with Jesus… right up to the time that it would become … “every man for himself”!... A decision that will be hard to get over later…
● An intervening appeal
Luke 22:40
When He arrived at the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
Jesus appeals to the disciples to … think deeper about what is going on, than the immediate circumstances… He knows what is coming. He has been telling the disciples what is coming, and He wants them to be … prepared – and … well defended!
Jesus instructs the disciples to … do battle on the right plain! He does not want the disciples to succumb to the … evil that is about to be unleashed! He does not want them to become overpowered by the evil one!... And how does one … avoid being overcome?... Get vertical! Pray! Pray to the One Who is able to keep one from stumbling!
Matthew 26:41
Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Listen… you cannot beat the devil with your own flesh!
James 4:7–8
7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Your victory over evil is found in your submission to the Lord!... Surrender to Him – is the path to victory!
● An earnest plea
Luke 22:41–42
41 And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, 42 saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
Jesus’ plea turns from the disciples to the Father!... He just appealed to the disciples to pray, and now Jesus … gets on His face before the Father!
We begin to get a glimpse into the agony that Jesus is experiencing… He has no doubt as to what the Father’s will is! This is why He came! There is no doubt in Jesus’ heart, or voice about His Own willingness to obey the Father’s will!
The Father’s will is for Jesus, The Lamb of God, to die as a substitute for those whom He will redeem!... Jesus is fully cognizant of this fact, and is fully surrendered to the Father’s will for this, so … what is Jesus asking?...
He’s asking for the same thing you would be asking for if you had any idea what He was about to face!... Jesus is God in the flesh – but He is also … flesh!... Jesus, the Man, is simply requesting that if there is any other way… because Jesus knows … He knows what is in that cup!...
There are a few places in the Old Testament where “a cup” is used to picture, in a rather vivid way, the … judgment of God – specifically, the wrath of God being poured out in judgment upon sin!... The justice of God against that which is wrong!
Psalm 75:8
For a cup is in the hand of the Lord, and the wine foams; It is well mixed, and He pours out of this; Surely all the wicked of the earth must drain and drink down its dregs.
Isaiah 51:17
Rouse yourself! Rouse yourself! Arise, O Jerusalem, You who have drunk from the Lord’s hand the cup of His anger; The chalice of reeling you have drained to the dregs.
Jeremiah 25:15
For thus the Lord, the God of Israel, says to me, “Take this cup of the wine of wrath from My hand and cause all the nations to whom I send you to drink it.”
The dreaded cup Jesus was about to drink, is not death – but judgment!... Jesus will drink in, and absorb all the wrath of the Holy God against sin!... In doing so, Jesus is about to become the very object of God’s wrath … all on behalf, and instead of, those who deserve it!!
C.H. Spurgeon – “I am never afraid of exaggeration, when I speak of what my Lord endured. All hell was distilled into that cup, of which our God and Savior Jesus Christ was made to drink.”
● A supernatural encouragement
Luke 22:43
Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.
Nothing more is said about the appearance of an angel than this… perhaps we couldn’t handle it!... The point is, Jesus was in need of … strength and comfort that only the Father could provide, and He sends a supernatural messenger to provide that!...
The strength that Jesus receives … enables Him … to be about to endure what happens next, which is –
● An agonizing experience
Luke 22:44
And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.
Agony calls for more fervent praying… Jesus experienced greater agony than we can imagine, and His prayer life became even more focused and intense – and again, I’m sure it’s beyond our ability to comprehend…
A hint to the intensity is seen in how His body responded… He sweated like … no one else! People have the idea that blood droplets appeared on His forehead, which it may have, but the text says the sweat became “like drops of blood”…
One commentator says: “Luke did not say that Jesus’ sweat was blood, but that it was like blood; either in the way that it poured off His brow, or because it was tinged with blood from the burst capillaries and dilated pores on His brow.” (Guzik)
The point is … this is an agonizing experience, like no one has ever experienced!
● A repeated exchange
Luke 22:45–46
45 When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, 46 and said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
We learn from Matthew and Mark that this was repeated about three times! Jesus kept waking the disciples up to encourage them to pray!...
We also need to recognize something that Luke carefully mentions… They were “sleeping from sorrow”… The short of it is, sorrow – the heaviness of all that Jesus has been telling them – has worn them out!
This is one of those scenes that I’m sure … embarrassed the disciples… They have sought to be faithful followers, but … when things became intensely difficult for Jesus, they were not there for Him…
You might think it’s not fair to paint them in a bad light here… Who blames them for becoming so tired that they fell asleep?...
Have you ever had a matter so intense on your heart that you … stayed up all night? I have!...
Have you witnessed such a burden in your spouse, or children, or other close family member or friend that … you found yourself staying up praying for them? I have… I’m not saying I’m better than these disciples – but just acknowledging that the sharing of another’s burden is something you do when you love them deeply… These disciples loved the Lord… they just failed to realize the depth of agony their greatest Friend was experiencing, and did not … stay up with Him.
Does Jesus scold them for not … supporting Him? NO! He is actually concerned for them, knowing that prayer is what they need in order to not be overcome by the trial that is about to confront them!...
If there is anything we need to take away from our glimpse into this scene … it is that we each need to have intense times with the Lord, seeking Him, for His grace and enablement for us in our obedience to Him for His will, for His glory … and for our victory in Christ! We need that prayer life that is forged in the crucible of life’s challenges…
How’s your prayer life?
Questions to Consider in Community Group:
- What does it mean that the disciples were to “get a sword”? If Peter was told (later that night) to put his sword away, then why was Jesus telling them to sell a coat if necessary and buy one?
- What does it really mean to be in agony? Is it physical, emotional, or spiritual, or any or all? (How can we distinguish?)
- What should a person do when they are so troubled? (What did Jesus do?)
- What do we understand by Jesus asking of The Father to “let this cup pass”? What was in that cup? (How do we know?)
- Why do you suppose the disciples couldn’t stay awake when they were asked?
- What is meant by the word “temptation”, and how can prayer help protect one from it?
- What are your thoughts about any of the quotes shared below?
Quotes from Commentators and Theologians
Steven Cole – “So Jesus told the disciples to sell their robe and buy a sword. And, when they produced two swords, He said, ‘It is enough.’ What did He mean? In light of Jesus’ command to Peter in the garden to put away his sword, and Christ’s non-resistance to the Jewish guards (Lu 22:53), it is obvious that Jesus was speaking symbolically, not literally, when He told them to buy swords. He was referring to the swords as a symbol of preparation for the intense spiritual conflict just ahead. When the disciples took Jesus literally and produced two swords and He replied, ‘It is enough,’ He was dismissing the subject in light of their continuing spiritual dullness. They just didn’t get it.”
John Martin on “it is enough” – “This response has been interpreted in at least four ways: (1) Some understand the words as a rebuke to the disciples. If that were the case, then Jesus was saying, ‘Enough of this kind of talk!’ (Leon Morris) (2) Others understand the words to denote the fact that even two swords are enough to show human inadequacy at stopping God’s plan for the death of Christ. Swords could not stop God’s purpose and plan. (3) Jesus may simply have been saying that two swords were adequate for the 12 of them. (4) Others see the clause in conjunction with the quotation from Isaiah and understand Jesus to mean that by possessing two swords they would be classified by others as transgressors or criminals. This fourth view seems preferable.” (Bible Knowledge Commentary, Cook Publishing, 1983, p.260)
David Guzik – “It seems that the disciples didn’t understand what would happen in the next several hours. Later Christians also did not understand what Jesus meant here. ‘In his notorious papal bull Unam Sanctum, Boniface VIII (A.D. 1302) built on this text his doctrine that the Pope has the right to exercise secular as well as spiritual autocratic rule over mankind – the two swords, he said, are the spiritual sword and the secular sword.’” (Geldenhuys)
J.C. Ryle – “The verses before us contain St. Luke’s account of our Lord’s agony in the garden. It is a passage of Scripture which we should always approach with peculiar reverence. The history which it records is one of the ‘deep things of God.’ While we read it, the words of Exodus should come across our minds, ‘Put off thy shoes from off thy feet; the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.’ (Ex 3:5)”
C.H. Spurgeon – “I am never afraid of exaggeration, when I speak of what my Lord endured. All hell was distilled into that cup, of which our God and Savior Jesus Christ was made to drink.”
