Did Jesus Sweat Blood – Luke 22:44

Ryan Paige

Luke 22:44 talks about Jesus’ moment while he was in the garden about to face his
crucifixion. The comparison of his anguish has raised the question of did Jesus sweat blood
while he was praying in the garden of Gethsemane before facing his demise? Luke 22:44
describes the sweat coming as in great drops of blood. This is a simile demonstrating a
description of the stress and anguish that Jesus faced while about to be betrayed into the hands of
sinners. Psalms 22:1 gives an example of Jesus’ thoughts while he was enduring what was to
come. Jesus didn’t sweat blood. The stress of what he was about to endure was so great for him.
He showed his human side, according to John 12;27, in asking the cup to be passed from him,
but according to Heb 5:7, Christ demonstrated his obedience to God by following God’s plan to
redeem the world from sin. This is an continual example to us today. Many times we are faced
with things that we don’t want to do, go through, or deal with, but we must be obedient to God’s
Will for our lives in order to overcome the obstacles we’re faced with. God will not place
anything on us that we cannot bear. The same was with Christ. It has been God’s plan all along,
since the Garden of Eden. We must realize that God’s purpose is for our good and growth in
Him.

Just like we are at times, Jesus didn’t want to go through the agony, pain, and sting of
death and the torture that he would endure in order to be the Ultimate sacrifice to save us and
allow us to have a close relationship with God again. Psalms 69:19-21 demonstrates an
illustration of Jesus’ possible thoughts during his trial in the garden of Gethesemane. The stress
of this was so great that it caused a physical reaction in Jesus’ human body. Many times we are
faced with this same chemical reaction when we are dealing with many of the stresses in the
world. It has a mental and physical reaction to our bodies. We have dread just like Jesus did, and
we don’t want to have to endure the storm that is on the horizon. Some of the physical changes
that occur are clammy hands and skin, sweating profusely, pains in our bodies, and other such.
No one likes to go through storms, but they’re necessary to help us grow as people and
Christians. God never promised us that we wouldn’t go through trials, but the good thing is that
when we’re obedient, God is with us and will give us the strength to go through the trials we
face. We must look at them as God’s way of molding us into the Christians He wants us to be
and to have a closer relationship with God.

Jesus knew his purpose for coming here his whole life here and we know what our
mission is here on earth as well. Despite knowing his purpose, it didn’t stop his feeling of agony
and the stress he endured when the moment was at hand. This is one of the main reasons that
Jesus is our example for how we should live here on earth and we are to be like him constantly.
With Jesus’ death, it brings even more hope for us that we can accomplish and make it through
whatever obstacles come. Jesus overcame death and gave us the ability through his example to
overcome the obstacles we face by being obedient to God’s Will for us. There will be things we
will not want to go through or endure because it’s natural for us to avoid pain and draw towards
pleasure. It’s important that we see the big picture with our spiritual eyes and know that God is
with us despite what we go through. Trouble doesn’t last always and pain is only temporary.
It’s just a necessary thing in order to endure for the big picture. In the Day of Judgment, we all
know that all the trials we have been through, are going through now, or will even face, will be
very much well worth it, when we hear God tell us, “Well Done Thou Good and Faithful
Servant.” Jesus knew he would conquer death, but it doesn’t take away from the stress and
agony he felt and knew he was about to endure. Did Jesus sweat blood? No, his stress was so
great and the agony and dread he faced was so great that the sweat coming from his brow was as
great as blood drops.