Luke 22:40-46 - Strengthened By An Angel

Today,we're continuing to look at the mysteries of Gethsemane in Luke 22:40-46. Jesus is preparing for that hour, the hour that He willlay down His life on the cross for the sins of the world. Literally, when Satandoes everything he can to keep Him from the cross. But what the devil means for badand evil, the Bible tells us, God often means for good.   The first Adam, who should never have sinned, sinned andbrought sin into the world. But the second Adam, Jesus Christ, as 1 Corinthianschapter 15 tells us, is the only One who is able to take away the sins of theworld, as John chapter 1 states. HereJesus is in the garden, and this passage, unique to Luke's gospel, says that anangel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. Jesus is praying,He's facing a tremendous trial—mentally, emotionally, physically,spiritually—it's overwhelming. Yet Jesus, the Son of God, has an angel helpHim, strengthen Him. I can't help but meditate and think about this but admit Idon't understand it totally. Jesus was all God; yet at the same time, He wasall human, and His humanity needed strengthening as He faced the cross, thecruelties, and the slander. He came to His own, but His own received Him not.He was rejected, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He said alreadythat He was overwhelmed with sorrow.  Tomorrowwe are going to talk about the prayer where He prays and then the sweat and theblood seem to flow from Him. But today, Jesus is there at the cross, goingthrough this ordeal of great sorrow. He's pouring out His soul to the Father, "NotMy will, but Thy will be done. Take this cup from Me." He's facingthat trial, that temptation that we face as human beings to do our will, to dowhat we want to do. But Jesus was committed to the will of God. He always wascommitted. "I came to do Thy will, O My Father." I love how even thisprayer begins with "Father." Jesus often referred to God asFather, and you find that one of the most popular words in the gospel of Johnis "Father." Interestingly,as a side note, John doesn't mention this prayer in the garden of Gethsemane.He mentions the high priestly prayer on the way to the garden somewhere. MaybeJohn chapter 17 is a prayer that Jesus prayed in the garden, but John doesn'ttell us that because after that prayer, it says they left the upper room andwent to the garden nearby, in John 18, and then he goes directly into Judascoming to betray Jesus.  Luketells us that Jesus has an angel come and strengthen Him in the gardenof Gethsemane. Jesus needed that strengthening, and you and I need to bestrengthened. God has many different ways to do this. We need the strength ofother Christians praying for us. We need the strength, comfort, andencouragement of fellowship with other Christians in the church. We definitelydo. But there are times that no one can help us but God Himself, and God cansend ministering spirits, angels, that will take us through that trial, thathard suffering, whatever it is.  I'llnever forget a time when I was in the depths of despair in my life, and I knowthat night I was strengthened by an angel. I don't want to go into the detailsof that, but it was definitely an angel who spoke to me, encouraged me, and Iknew that I heard him say that there were more with me than there were againstme. That's what he told me, and I'm telling you, my friend, God will strengthenyou, and if He needs to do it miraculously with an angel, He will.  That'show He did it with Jesus, and I'm thinking if Jesus needed it, I need it too attimes. I’ve learned by experience that whenever I am obedient to the will ofthe Father and yield my life to Him and the Holy Spirit, in some wonderful andmiraculous way at the moment I receive His energy and grace for the challengeI’m facing!    Itrust you will continue to meditate on these things and be in awe of your greatGod and Savior Jesus Christ and Father in heaven.