Morning
Time: 11:37 AM PST
"His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground."
--Luke 22:44
The mental pressure arising from our Lord's struggle with temptation, so
forced his frame to an unnatural excitement, that his pores sent forth great
drops of blood which fell down to the ground. This proves how tremendous must
have been the weight of sin when it was able to crush the Saviour so that he
distilled great drops of blood! This demonstrates the mighty power of his
love. It is a very pretty observation of old Isaac Ambrose that the gum
which exudes from the tree without cutting is always the best. This precious
camphire-tree yielded most sweet spices when it was wounded under the knotty
whips, and when it was pierced by the nails on the cross; but see, it giveth
forth its best spice when there is no whip, no nail, no wound. This sets forth
the voluntariness of Christ's sufferings, since without a lance the blood
flowed freely. No need to put on the leech, or apply the knife; it flows
spontaneously. No need for the rulers to cry, "Spring up, O well;" of itself it
flows in crimson torrents. If men suffer great pain of mind apparently the blood
rushes to the heart. The cheeks are pale; a fainting fit comes on; the blood has
gone inward as if to nourish the inner man while passing through its trial. But
see our Saviour in His agony; he is so utterly oblivious of self, that instead
of his agony driving his blood to the heart to nourish himself, it drives it
outward to bedew the earth. The agony of Christ, inasmuch as it pours him out
upon the ground, pictures the fulness of the offering which he made for men.
Do we not perceive how intense must have been the wrestling through which he
passed, and will we not hear its voice to us? "Ye have not yet resisted
unto blood, striving against sin." Behold the great Apostle and High Priest of
our profession, and sweat even to blood rather than yield to the great tempter
of your souls.