Deeply Distressed
Deeply Distressed
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.
Matthew 26:36-37
This next section of Jesus’ life, I believe, is where his humanity was truly front and center. We don’t see a man who stands tall in the face of violence and pain. We don’t see a man who can, even while hungry, outwit the devil in the desert. No, we see someone who is deeply distressed. We see someone afraid and in anguish. We see someone trying to bargain with God.
But just like Job, we also see someone pushed to the every limit and yet still staying true to God and his purpose. At his lowest point Jesus prevailed and not because he was the Son of God, but because of the relationship he was able to create with his Father during the time he was a man.
That’s what makes Jesus our example. As a human being he was able to overcome through his relationship with the Father and his connection through the Holy Spirit.
There is another lesson here that we also need to understand. Jesus was desperate for help from his friends. He asked, and after almost even begged that they stay up and pray for him. How he longed for their prayers to strengthen him and perhaps for a brief moment while still awake they did.
But in the end, all of his faith and trust had to be on God. That is our reality as well. We all know the benefits and strength we get from family and friends when they help us on our spiritual journey. I’m sure all of you can think of someone who was vital in your growth as a Christian. All of that help is great but in the end, humans cannot ultimately do what only God can do for you. At some point, people will either fail you or simply not be there. At some point, your complete and utter dependence has to be put on God.
Jesus was in deep distress. We too will face these moments, but unlike Jesus we will have another helper. While Jesus could only depend on the Father and Spirit, we can also depend on Jesus himself. We can depend on the part of God which has felt our pains and worries.
And so, we don’t have any excuse to fail. If we follow His footsteps and build that same relationship, we not only can have what Jesus had while a human, but also a loving, compassionate God who has walked in our shoes.
God bless,
Pr. Steven Couto