It is also important to remember that when Jesus came to earth, being born through a virgin, He was then 100% man while still remaining 100% God. And He knew His mission! He knew what was soon going to happen as He prayed fervently in the garden of Gethsemane.
Ultimately His purpose for coming to earth was to die on the cross and pay for everyone's sins, being resurrected after three days. Jesus knew there was going to be a lot of physical pain. But there was also going to be a lot of emotional pain as His disciples were going to forsake and betray Him. And the biggest torment of all was going to be the spiritual pain as this (sinless) Holy Being was soon going to take on ALL sins, from all time, of the entire world!!!
So here we see that while Jesus was praying with an anguish we will never comprehend, an angel came to strengthen Him...
(Luke 22:39-46) And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him. 40 When He arrived at the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, 42 saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” 43 Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. 45 When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, 46 and said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
From this we see:
- angels serve God (Luke 22:43)
- angels are able to strengthen us (Luke 22:43)
- Jesus knows that we will be tempted, so He encourages us to PRAY, as He was doing in the garden of Gethsemane (Luke:22:40,46)
- we need to pray that we do not act on temptations (Luke 22:40, 46)
Personal experience: in the past, a lot of my athletic training has involved weightlifting. I've always found it so amazing how "encouraging" a spotter can be. For example: while struggling to bench press a heavy weight - all a spotter has to do is use two fingertips to lightly touch the bar in a lifting motion - and the weight suddenly can feel "tons" lighter. It's also comforting to just know that someone is right there in case you run into trouble!
So, just as a spotter is there to encourage and help weights feel lighter, as well as protect the athlete in case things become really dangerous - this MIGHT BE how angels are able to strengthen and protect us.
Today's takeaway: I've also often found it interesting that the angels would minister to Jesus. I mean, Jesus is God. So why would God need to be ministered to?
Yet, God also gives us an opportunity to serve Him! And He finds great joy in that! And as we serve in and with this joy - we also help strengthen each other...
- angels are able to strengthen us (Luke 22:43)
- Jesus knows that we will be tempted, so He encourages us to PRAY, as He was doing in the garden of Gethsemane (Luke:22:40,46)
- we need to pray that we do not act on temptations (Luke 22:40, 46)
Personal experience: in the past, a lot of my athletic training has involved weightlifting. I've always found it so amazing how "encouraging" a spotter can be. For example: while struggling to bench press a heavy weight - all a spotter has to do is use two fingertips to lightly touch the bar in a lifting motion - and the weight suddenly can feel "tons" lighter. It's also comforting to just know that someone is right there in case you run into trouble!
So, just as a spotter is there to encourage and help weights feel lighter, as well as protect the athlete in case things become really dangerous - this MIGHT BE how angels are able to strengthen and protect us.
Today's takeaway: I've also often found it interesting that the angels would minister to Jesus. I mean, Jesus is God. So why would God need to be ministered to?
Yet, God also gives us an opportunity to serve Him! And He finds great joy in that! And as we serve in and with this joy - we also help strengthen each other...
(1 Timothy 1:11-17) according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
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