Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”
– Luke 22:39-46 NKJV
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For Jesus, the agony of the cross began hours before He was led away from the garden. He struggled with the stress and pain in His mind and soul, knowing what was ahead, yet He remained faithful. I have never been in such a place of mental and spiritual anguish that I sweat drops of blood, but having recently come through a trying time, I can say that I do have a new appreciation for what Jesus must have gone through the night before His physical suffering began. Now, on Easter morning, I can honestly say I am thankful for the fellowship of His suffering and most of all, the power of His resurrection, which has given me new life in Christ Jesus.
He Lives!
. . . that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings . . .
Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? “He is not here, but is risen!
– Luke 24:5-6 NKJV