The God-Man’s Great Grief at Gethsemane

Matthew 26:36-46

All of us suffer. We all experience grief and agony. Our agony can be physical - Christians encounter accidents, experience illnesses, and feel pain. And sometimes pain can be so intense that even the strongest analgesic can’t dull it. Or it can dull the pain so much, that all other senses are dulled. Morphine dulls pain but enough of it knocks one out completely. Our agony can also be emotional. When there is loss, disappointment, bereavement, and other life changing circumstances - Christians feel the sense of intense grief. And sometimes that grief is so agonizing that we wish for the dulling of our senses.

God the Son went through agony. He suffered. And he suffered in several ways. He suffered physically at the hands of man. Christ was crucified - it was the most cruel death devised at that time. He suffereded emotionally - his friends left him and he was all alone. But Christ also suffer spiritually - the whole weight of God’s judgment against sin would be put on him. While countless people have been crucified, and countless people abandoned, no one has ever faced the suffering that Christ went through because of the justice of God.

Today, we look at Lord’s Day 15, at the suffering of the God-Man, Jesus Christ. Christ was a made a man to suffer for men. That was part of his humiliation. To deliver his people, he had to represent us and identify with us. Only then, could he suffer and die for us to take the punishment for our sins. Yes, he suffered all his life, as question 37 says, but especially at the end. On the Passover - Thursday night to Friday afternoon, he suffered. He suffered in Gethsemane - at the Mount of Olives where he had to battle inwardly to submit himself to God. He suffered in Gabbatha - in the upper city before Pilate, being whipped and beaten outwardly in the body, and sentenced to die on the cross. And he suffered spiritually at Golgotha - outside Jerusalem, where he bore the weight of God’s wrath against sin. Great was his grief in Gethsemane, Gabbatha, and Golgotha. Today, we want to see this great grief of the God-Man at Gethsemane in three ways - firstly, the God-Man’s great grief anticipating physical and spiritual suffering; secondly, the God-Man’s great grief anticipating abandonment; and thirdly, the God-Man’s great grief anticipating betrayal.

Firstly, the God-Man’s great grief anticipating physical and spiritual suffering. We see in verse 37 that his grief was great. Our Lord said that he was sorrowful and very heavy. Verse 38 tells us his soul was exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. This tells us that Jesus’ grief was great. This word “exceeding” in the phrase “exceeding sorrowful” is also used in the transfiguration. In Matthew 17:6, after the great booming voice from the cloud proclaimed that Christ was the beloved son, the disciples were terrified - it says, “And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.” They were not just afraid, but exceeding afraid. There was shock. This means that Jesus’ grief in the garden was not just sorrow, it was great sorrow. It was a sorrow that was mixed with shock.

The extent of this grief or sorrow is seen in the parallel passage of Luke 22:44, which tell us that “being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” When a person comes under great emotional stress, tiny vessels in the sweat glands can break. It happens when the person is in shock. Medically, it’s called hematidrosis, where capillaries that feed the sweat glands rupture during extreme physical or emotional stress. This happens when severe fight-or-flight response causes hemorrhage. And Christ was in such a state because he knew he would suffer both physically and spiritually. Christ was to suffer greatly for the sins of his people. Isaiah 53:5 prophesied that Christ would suffer for our sins. He suffered both physically and spiritually. But before he was at Gabbatha and Golgotha, he was at Gethsemane. Incidentally, Gethsemane means “oil press.” The garden was filled with olive trees, and next to the garden was an olive press, which was used to grind the harvested olives and press them until the oil came out. Christ was pressed in that garden.

We know the physical sufferings of Christ well. At Gabbatha, he’d faced the brutality of the soldiers. He was blindfolded and struck by the guards. The next morning, he was taken to see Pilate. The Roman soldier whipped him with a flagellum. This is a whip with leather thongs with two small metal balls at the ends. Bits of bone and glass would be attached to the thongs. The thongs would cut the skin, followed by the tissues. A lot of blood; and the balls of lead would bruise flesh and break bone. At Golgotha, he’d face crucifixion. Nails would be driven through the wrists of the criminal. Then a nail is driven through each foot. The victim would sag down. There’d be pain in his wrists. He’d push himself up. His weight is now on the nail on his feet. More pain. His arms and legs would be tired from pushing and hanging. He will have great cramps. After hours of pain, twisting, cramps, and trouble breathing, there’d be massive heart failure. That was at Golgotha. These would be the physical sufferings of Christ.

Jesus knew all these things would happen to him. Growing up, Jesus would have seen crucifixions – he would have seen the suffering of the people. But more than that, he knew Isaiah 53. He also knew Psalm 22:14 which reads – “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.” And furthermore, after the Passover meal, Jesus crossed over from Jerusalem to the Garden of Gethsemane; he would’ve walked across the Kidron Valley, where all the sacrificial blood flowed. Passover was on the 14th day of the month Nisan of the lunar calendar. And in the middle of the lunar month, there’d be a full moon. He saw the blood of all the sacrificed lambs flowing from the temple. He knew the physical suffering that would come.

But these sacrificed lambs reminded him that his physical suffering would be nothing compared to the spiritual suffering. He would die for the sins of his people; and to suffer for sin is more terrifying than any physical agony. He prayed in verse 39 – “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” In fact, he prayed this three times. This showed his human desperation. The fact that he used the word “cup” showed he knew the spiritual sufferings. This “cup” was the cup of judgment. In Psalm 75:8, the psalmist says, “For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.” God, in the psalm, said he’d make the wicked drink his cup of judgment. It’s a metaphor for punishment and a death sentence. In the past, death sentences could be carried by drinking poison - like Socrates was made to drink a cup of hemlock. So the cup of wrath symbolized judgment against sin.

Jesus knew he was about to drink from God’s cup of anger and hatred. The Bible tells us that God is angry with sinners. Psalm 11:5-6 tells us, “The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.” Because God hates sinners, he will judge them. But because God is merciful to sinners, he spares them. But their sins must still be punished. So he sends Jesus his Son to be punished in place of sinners. And when Jesus takes their sin, God turns his hatred to his Son. All our sins were placed on him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin.”

So much hatred did God have for sin, that he transferred that hatred to Christ. Just as sinners would drink from that cup of God’s wrath, Christ drank it. Just as sinners would’ve been rejected by God, Christ was rejected by God. The weight of all of God’s anger on sinners would be poured out on Christ. No wonder Christ was in great grief at the thought of such suffering - both physically and spiritually. Question 37 says - “Christ bore in body and soul the wrath of God against the sin of the whole human race.”

But the God-Man was also in great grief anticipating abandonment. This is the second point. To be alone at this time of suffering was unthinkable. When we suffer, we want sympathy. But Christ had no one. His friends and Father would abandon him. This happened already in the Garden of Gethsemane. His three closest disciples - his friends - had fallen asleep. And this was strange. Their fatigue was unusual. The reason for this is because people celebrated Passover by staying up late. Not only would there be the Passover meal, but thereafter, but tradition tells us that they would read the whole book of Song of Songs. His disciples were used to it. But this time they couldn’t. When he needed them most, they couldn’t even pray with him. In verse 38, he told them in the garden to watch or to stay awake with him. As in to watch and pray. They knew the meaning, because Jesus repeated himself in verse 41 after they fell asleep - “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Yes, this was directed at them. But it was also directed at himself. Jesus needed to pray - and he needed his friends to pray for him. He needed to fight his flesh. He didn’t want to go through suffering, but he had to. And he needed his friends to pray for him, that he might make the right decision. But here, they abandoned him. In verse 40, you see he was very disappointed – “What, could ye not watch with me one hour?” Notice that Jesus went to pray 3 times. And he prayed the same prayer 3 times - “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Humanly, he didn’t want to drink of that cup. But he knew it was the Father’s will for him. And when he needed prayer most during this intense time to submit himself to God, his friends wouldn’t stay awake to pray. Now, these were his closest friends - not all the 11 disciples - but his 3 inner circle. These were the ones he took to another mountain about 6 months prior where he transfigured before their very eyes. Only they had the privilege of seeing him and hearing the booming voice from heaven. And he also told them that he’d die. His friends should’ve known his heart. And even on the way to Gethsemane, Jesus had reiterated that he’d die. He had told them he was very grieved. Seeing them sleep like this would only have reminded him of their future abandonment. He had also predicted that Peter would deny him three times before the dawn of the next day. If Peter couldn’t pass the test now, he would certainly abandon Jesus later. This is why he knew he’d have to bear it alone. In verse 45, he accepted that. He told them after he prayed the third time - “sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”

Losing your friends is bad enough - and resigning yourself to that - but imagine, being abandoned by your Father. This was the cup of suffering that Christ anticipated. Not only would there be judgment on him, but because there was, God would not be friend to him. From the sixth to the ninth hour on the cross, God would abandon his Son. The skies turned pitch black. And this is strange because it was 12 noon to 3 pm. But there was total darkness. This was not an eclipse. Passover always happens during a full moon, and it’s impossible for there to be a natural eclipse of the sun. Solar eclipses only happen when there’s a new moon. So therefore, this can only mean that God had turned his back upon his Son. As it were, that he no longer desired to see his Son. And that’s when Christ cried out – “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” The reason for this was because Jesus was cursed. Question 39 says that our Lord took upon himself the curse which lay on me, for a crucified one was cursed by God. Here’s a mystery of Christology. We know that God the Father could never abandon God the Son - that would mean there’d be a break in the Trinity. But here, God had to judge Christ the Man. So while God the Son in his divinity could never be separated from God the Father, God the Son in his humanity was abandoned by God the Father. And that’s a mystery we’d never be able to fully understand. But that abandonment was palpable. Christ felt it - the sky was darkened. He refused to take that analgesic - that cheap wine on a stick - so that he would go through the suffering. He didn’t want to dull his senses. But how did Christ face this judgment so resolutely? It was because he overcame temptation at Gethsemane. And it wasn’t easy. That was the cause of his great suffering - if he hadn’t overcome it, he wouldn’t have gone to the cross.

That’s the third point to look at - the God-Man’s great grief anticipating betrayal. There were 2 sources of betrayal. Christ had been with his disciples for 3 years. In those 3 years, he had fellowship with them. Some abandoned him, but one would betray him. Christ entrusted himself to Judas. He was the treasurer of the group - this showed the trust that the group put on him. Let’s not doubt that Judas was a close friend. Psalm 41:9 – “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.” At the last supper, where did Judas sit? Next to Jesus, where Jesus could give him a piece of bread dipped in wine. This was a symbol of honor. Judas was at his left while John, who put his head on Jesus’, would’ve been on his right. So however we want to say it, there was a friendship and a trust. But Judas betrayed him. And Christ knew it was coming very soon. In verse 45, he told his disciples - “behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” And in verse 46, he said, “he is at hand that doth betray me.”

However, what gave him the greatest suffering and grief was likely the fear of being betrayed by his own flesh. Jesus wanted them to pray with him. But they couldn’t, because they were tired. Jesus used a very interesting statement – he said in verse 41 – “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” There is great irony here. Who was the one who was really struggling with the weakness of the flesh? It was our Lord in his human nature. He was the one who prayed thrice that God would take the cup away from him. Jesus didn’t want to go through physical and spiritual agony, abandonment, and betrayal. He was struggling to be obedient. This would be the greatest test our Lord would face. Jesus was struggling to do the will of God – that’s why he kept praying – not as I will but as thou wilt!

Yes, he was tempted before – Jesus told his disciples that people would arrest him and put him to death. Peter said it would never happen. Christ answered – “Get thee behind me Satan.” Satan was tempting Jesus, suggesting he didn’t have to die. Jesus knew he had to die. He was facing the greatest temptation of his life. No one wants to have pain. Christ, as a man, did not want it. He feared his flesh would betray him. His disciples wouldn’t even pray for him to support him. He was all-alone. Jesus summed up his condition when he said – the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. He was torn. He was fearful. But in the end, the Lord triumphed. Jesus struggled, but he triumphed despite his exceeding shocking sorrow. His spirit overcame his weakness. The disciples were asked to support him spiritually, their flesh triumphed over their spirit.

Dear brethren, while we think about Christ’s death every 2 months at the supper, what can we gain in particular from this passage? As the catechism says, we know he bore the weight of God’s wrath for us, being judged and cursed so we can be delivered from both. But the main lesson for us today was his willingness and submission to go through suffering. You see, before Christ got to Golgotha and even before Gabbatha, before his physical and deep spiritual suffering, he had to be prepared at Gethsemane. There, he prepared himself. There, he submitted himself. This is why he knows all of our suffering. He can empathize. Today, there are some of us going through suffering according to the will of God. Take heart that our savior has suffered more than you - and can understand what you’re going through and can comfort you if you go to him. Hebrews 4:15 says that “we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” That’s why we can go to him in time of suffering.

And he also knows our unwillingness to go through suffering. We want to escape it. We want to give up. He submitted according to the will of God. He was betrayed. He was abandoned. All according to the will of God. And we are his servants - why should we expect any less? He knows there are some of you who want to escape. But you can’t. Follow his example. Pray and submit yourself to the Father. And he will prepare you to go through this hour of suffering.

1. The God-Man’s Great Grief Anticipating Physical and Spiritual Suffering

A. His great shock

B. Physical suffering at the hands of man

C. Spiritual suffering at the hand of God

2. The God-Man’s Great Grief Anticipating Abandonment

A. Abandoned by friends

B. Abandoned by father

3. The God-Man’s Great Grief Anticipating Betrayal

A. Betrayal by friend

B. Betrayal by flesh