Spurgeon: March AM
* 03/23/AM
"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.