Even in Pain

⁴²"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." ⁴³An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

⁴⁵When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ~luke 22

I think it's interesting how after being strengthened by the angel of God, the next verse says "being in anguish". And so it shows how having strength does not mean you won't feel anguish.

And I looked up sweating blood. I couldn't find many case reports of it, except a few. They say it's really rare, and that it happens most often when people are experiencing extreme levels of stress. "multiple blood vessels which are present in a net-like form around the sweat gland constrict under pressure of stress. As the anxiety increases, the blood vessels dilate to the point of rupture. The blood goes into the sweat glands, which push it along with sweat to the surface, presenting as droplets of blood mixed with sweat."

O what pain that Jesus went through. and not just physical pain.

Pain that combines with compassion (and not bitterness). For even in pain, Jesus, on the cross said: "Father, forgive them". And in pain empathizing: "for they do not know what they are doing".

None of us know what we're doing, really. That's why we mess up a lot; we come to the wrong conclusions; we judge people; we harbor sinful feelings and say hurtful things. all because we're messed up ourselves. and now we are called to be perfect as He is perfect. and we are righteous by faith. and there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. and love covers over a multitude of sins.

Thus, let us be united as one in Christ; let us be gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.