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Gethsename: The Testing


The Lord God takes us to Gethsemane spiritually. There we are must face the test of our faith, our obedience, and vigilance. Jesus Christ went to Gethsemane which is located on Mount Olivet, a mountain overlooking Jerusalem. On the other side of the Mount of Olives is Bethany where Lazarus, Mary, and Martha live. There in the forest of olive trees our Lord and Savior, God Himself faced a great trial.

It was a test for God and man. There Jesus said while he wept blood, "Father if it be possible take this cup from me, but not my will, but your will be done." (Matthew 26:39, Luke 22:42, ). The temptation to not stand the testing, to not go to Calvary was before our Lord and likewise, the Disciples were facing a test. Jesus said to Peter, James, and John, "Keep watch and pray, so that you will not fall into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41, Mark 14:36).

We have to remember that Jesus was both God and Man. He had physical body with flesh and all the pressures that comes with organic matter. Jesus was sinless, but on the night at Gethsemane the greatest test of the flesh upon Him called to be saved, to escape the suffering and agonizing death to come. Jesus was so distressed and resisting his flesh, the nature of the body desire to preserve and survive, that he sweated blood! "He prayed for fervently, and his agony was so that his sweat fell like great drops of blood." (Luke 22:44).

I think Jesus seated blood because he was so resisting sin and spirits (evil) that his body bled. I believe that he sweated blood because he was fighting against the intense natural desire in the brains and body to stay alive and He knew had to give His life as propitiation for us. The blood Jesus sweated was because He had to resist the urge to sin; to sin by not dying on the cross and leaving us stuck as sinners unable to be saved by His blood on the cross. Thank Jesus that He prevailed and did not give into the temptation to "let his cup pass," and instead was "obedient unto death, death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:8). In fact, we should sing praises that God at Gethsemane did not give up on us, but decided to give His life as a sacrifice for our sins on the cross! Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus who are perfect and never sinned, that you died for our sins!

At Gethsemane there is model for us as Christians to follow. We are going to have Gethsemane moments and we must withstand the temptations that will come. There is a scripture in Bible that says, "You have not resisted sin to the point of shedding your own blood in striving against sin." (Hebrews 12:4). I believe shedding your own blood is doing exactly what Jesus did at Gethsemane, that you strive and struggle so against sin that your own body sweats blood. Then finally the shedding of blood is to die, to be willing to be crucified and let people harm you physically for your faith. To get through Gethsemane we must "keep watch and pray." Prayer is the pathway through it. It is what our Lord Jesus did in his distress; He got down and prayed in that hard hour of temptation, and coming of the mob and His inevitable Crucifixion.
 
Have you resisted sin unto shedding your own blood? Have you be willing in the distress of your own soul and body sweat blood rather than give into the sinful desire and temptation of the evil one? Not many have and even our God and Savior Jesus shows us it is not an easy ordeal, but one where you must "pray" and "submit to God, and resist the devil." (James 4:7). We have to be obedient to our Heavenly Father and God Incarnate Jesus Christ. When the testing comes, remember that our God, Savior, Lord, and King Jesus Christ went through the great testing Himself and prevailed! Let our Lord be model and comfort to us as we face the gauntlet of Gethsemane in our own lives. Amen.  

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