Beyond Physical Pain

What is the most stressed you’ve ever been? Did your whole body get tense? Did you scream? Did you eventually get sick? All human reactions to stress. Here’s one more: Did you sweat blood?

As we are in the Easter season and the joy of the resurrection, we first think of Jesus’ pain on Good Friday. But it’s worth knowing that his greatest pain was not physical. And there were only two points when he lost his composure.

The first was in the Garden of Gethsemane immediately prior to his arrest and crucifixion, where Jesus prayed intensely. So what did the Father do? Sent an angel to strengthen him to pray even more intensely. No physical pain—but excruciating spiritual pain. With the sin of the world about to be put upon him, Jesus was “in anguish” and prayed still “more earnestly” until “his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:43–44). Jesus sweated blood so profusely that it was dripping.

This is called hematidrosis, when capillaries rupture and bleed into sweat glands. It happens only under the most extreme stress or blunt injury. Few people—if any—survive when it’s from stress. Jesus was one tough guy.

The second point was on the cross when the Father turned his back on Jesus because of the sin of the world carried as the sacrificial lamb for humanity. After Gethsemane Jesus strongly and silently endured every scornful beating, ever lash of the whip gouging his flesh, every thorn pressing into his skull, and every spike piercing his wrists and feet. He withstood it all. He was a very tough guy.

But because he bore the sin of the world as the sacrificial lamb of God, and the Father has no part in sin, Mark 15:33–34 implies that the Father turned his back. The spiritual pain of this was far worse than any of the physical pain. And Jesus cried out, “My God! My God! why have you forsaken me?”

Jesus quietly and confidently endured all the physical torture. His greatest pain was psychological-emotional-spiritual.

If the greatest stress is to take on sin and the greatest pain is sin and separation from God, the greatest healing is forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

Think about that.

As we approach Good Friday, may you be blessed by knowing and feeling this deep in your heart. And as we celebrate Resurrection Sunday, may you be a blessing to someone whose heart is joined with the heart of Christ.

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Photo Credit: EveryStockPhoto.com | Waiting for the Word