THE BLOOD THAT SET ME FREE - THE COST OF GOD'S LOVE FOR US - FOR THOSE WHO LOVE BIBLE STUDY

JESUS WEPT IN THE GARDEN - NOT FOR HIMSELF - FOR YOU - FOR ME

There is a garden.
Not just any garden. Gethsemane.

Jesus walked into it with a heart heavier than the cross He was about to carry. And He fell to His knees. Not because of nails. Not because of whips. But He did it for us.

He was looking down the tunnel of time and seeing every time we would turn away. Every deliberate sin. Every cold shoulder. Every “not now, Lord.” And the sins that seperate us from Him, broke Him.

The Bible doesn't say He shouted. It says He suffered alone, in grave agony. Luke 22:44 tells us 'Being in agony, He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.'

The Greek word means He was squeezed. Crushed.
That’s how much it hurts God when we leave Him. It squeezes the grieving heart of Jesus.

Did Jesus go off alone in the Garden? Yes.
Luke 22:41 says: "And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed."
Mark 14:35 says: "And going a little farther, He fell on the ground and prayed"
So He did go off a little ways from Peter, James and John to be alone with the Father.
Luke 22:44 — "And being in agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground."

Do you remember another garden moment? Another father. Another son.

“By faith, Abraham... offered up Isaac” — Hebrews 11:17

Abraham and Isaac. Years of waiting. Years of praying. And finally, the promised son.

Sometimes we are called upon to make a great sacrifice. It is nothing compared to what Jesus sacrificed for us.

Hebrews 11:17-19 says Abraham believed God could even raise Isaac from the dead, because he trusted the promise.

I can see Abraham’s heart breaking with every step up that mountain. Not because he didn’t love God. But because he did. I can see Abraham’s heavy heart and breath...his hands shaking, as he drew his knife above his head, to strike. I can see Isaac asking, “Father, where is the lamb?”

God had already promised Abraham a son and descendants years before, we see in Genesis 17. He asked Abraham to trust Him with the promise He had already given at Moriah. When Abraham obeyed, God confirmed the promise again in Genesis 22:16 to 18.
Moriah was about surrender, not earning.

But Abraham loved God more than the promise.
He loved God more than his son. So he lifted the knife... and God said, “Stop!”

Abraham’s tears that day weren’t just grief. They were worship. They were love and gratitude...the deepest love for his God.

They were also tears mixed with joy, that God had spared his only son. He knew it. That's why he trusted. Because obedience costs something. Real love always does. This also reflects what God did for us through His only son, Jesus. And Jesus, knowing the greatest suffering in all the world, He would have to face, did it anyway. Not for Himself. But for us.

Not even thinking of His own pain, but more concerned about our salvation and the depth of that love, providing an escape from hell. It was Jesus who made the way for us, so that we could have eternal life in heaven. It was not ours, but His own blood that paid for our sins -when we couldn't.

Falsely accused, people demanded Jesus be nailed to the cross, suspended between Heaven and Earth on an old, rugged cross.

No one stopped the soldiers from nailing His hands and feet to the cross. Instead, the crowd cheered the soldiers on, not realizing nor understanding heaven's sacrificial plan of salvation.

His mother wept, but Jesus knew what He set to do. That's how much He loves us and He proved it on the cross. Jesus went to the cross like a lamb to the slaughter. He volunteered for our sake - not His. No one will ever know the extent of the full cost to Him. No words exist that describes His suffering. For you. For me. Oh, His innocent blood, that paid for our sins. Oh, Lamb of God, thank you. ♥😪🫂

He was crushed and tortured, so we wouldn't have to be.
His 40 lashings opened up his back, exposing his bones and organs. Because that's how much He loves us. It was a practice back then that they could only inflict 40 lashes.

The horrific purpose of pre-crucifixion torture, was to physically break a prisoner just short of death. The "40 lashes minus one" rule was actually a strict Jewish custom, not a Roman one.

The Jewish Law: Under Deuteronomy 25:3, the maximum number of lashes allowed for a crime was 40. To ensure they never accidentally miscounted and violated God's law, Jewish authorities established a strict buffer limit of 39 lashes. The Apostle Paul mentions receiving this specific synagogue punishment five separate times.

The Roman Practice: Because Jesus was condemned by Pontius Pilate and punished by Roman soldiers, the Romans were not bound by the 40-lash limit. Roman scourgings (verberatio) using the heavy, metal-tipped whip called the cat of nine tails, had no legal maximum. Their only rule of thumb was to brutally humiliate and weaken the victim, so they could barely carry their crossbar (patibulum), stopping just before the prisoner died on the whipping post.

But you know what? They didn't force Him to. He went on His own accord, fully realizing what was ahead of Him. And did it, anyway. For you. For me. He could have called 10,000 angels to His side for rescue. He could have even saved Himself from the cross. But He didn't. Because of you. Because of me. This is why the Bible says:

"Greater love hath NO MAN than this, that a man lay down His life for His friends." -John 15:13

Did you catch that, friend?
When Jesus went to the cross, He knew full well that not all would accept Him or His Plan of Salvation to save them from hell. But He died for them anyway, in hopes they would come to know, accept Him, and invite Him into their hearts and lives as their personal Savior and ultimate Rescuer.

Tell me something. Could you have called your enemies your friend and really mean it from the bottom of your heart? And out of love, even though you knew full well, they would have not accepted you and your love, even if you died to save them, yet they rejected you?

I really doubt that, honestly. I don't feel we would have that kind of compassion and love. In all reality, I could see us saying, 'You don't love me? Well then, you're on your own. Find your own way to heaven!'

We must remember...Jesus left His Heavenly throne, beside His Father, just to save our soul. If we're honest with ourselves, that's what we would have really said. Who would want to die for someone who doesn't even love you nor want anything to do with you? I don't believe anyone on this Earth has that kind of love for anyone - except Jesus. Now you know just a fraction of the depth, power, and strength of God’s love for you.

Church, hear me:
God knows the weight of sin.
He wept over ours, first.
Every time we choose ourselves over Him, it’s like driving another nail.
Not because He can’t forgive -- His blood already did.
But because He loves us, and love grieves when it’s rejected.

What is God asking you to lay down today, that takes prayer
Could it be a certain sinful habit or addiction? Lay it down. Give it to Jesus. Could it be you need salvation? Rescuing? Just ask. He will provide. No fancy prayers. Just you. Coming in all honesty and sincerity - just as you are - to Christ and His saving grace.

The God who is asking, is the God who provides.
The God who wept in the garden, is the God who rose from the grave.

He’s not asking you to give up anything.
He’s asking, so He can give you Himself, freedom in Christ, a brand new start, and eternal life in heaven.That is HIS utmost desire. Jesus never came to condemn. Beloved of God's heart, He only came to save us. John 3:16-17

Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for Gethsemane. I'm thankful, but ever sad that you had to sweat blood for every one of us. Forgive me for the times I’ve deliberately walked away or hurt you.

Give me an Abraham faith ... a faith that says, “Here I am”... even when it hurts. Hold me when life hurts. Remind me You died first. I give You my heart again today. All of it. In Your name, Amen

Reflection:
What is God asking you to lay on the altar right now?
Have you felt the weight of leaving Him? Bring it to Gethsemane. He’s already wept there for you.

I know this: Jesus, is more than enough. He will never fail you and He will never leave you. There's nothing in this world that can separate you from the love of God.