Luke 22:41-44 (NKJV) And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but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.
The cross was the most torturous death for man. The human aspect of Jesus struggled because He knew the kind of death He would be experiencing. Jesus could almost imagine how He would be whipped 39 stripes which would tear off all the flesh from His back without any pain killers! After that He knew He would be placed on a rugged, unpolished cross full of splinters and large nails would be hammered into His wrists and legs. With the cross raised, Jesus would feel the weight of His whole body held up by the nails in his bare flesh dripping with blood. He would feel rejection as the disciples whom He loved would leave Him. At this point, He the Holy Son of God became SIN.
While Jesus struggled with this major mental torment that caused Him to perspire blood, He also had a picture of all the faces of different people (you and I) being made clean by His blood and having a restored relationship with them. This pushed Him to persevere all the way to the cross.
God never intended for us to live in this fallen world where there is rejection, sicknesses, pain, poverty, depression, broken relationships, etc. God intended for us to have an abundant and eternal life.
Romans 8:32 (NKJV) He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
No human parent would ever want to see their own child go through even 1% of what Jesus went through. However, God gave Him up for us all, how much more willingly will He also give us all things.
All you need to do is to respond and accept Jesus and all that He has done for you through His sufferings. He wants you to rule and reign in your life (spirit, soul and body) with Him, feasting daily at His table, face your life challenges with Him, and having the creator God as your covenant partner.
Sermon Series: Good Friday (2006)
你可知道耶稣有多爱你？
由于道德观和价值观的滑落，罪在当今社会是一个轻飘的词，即那些在过去是错误的在今天却成为可以接受的。世风日下，人心不古。除了被许多人视为重罪的显然的谋杀和偷窃行为外，再也没有了一个道德标准可以用来作为衡量人们行为对错的准绳。甚至连离婚这事在如今也被视作正常。
然而，上帝已把良知放在我们的心里，让我们知道无论是行动还是思想，我们都是有罪的！尽管我们可能想根据罪的严重程度对罪进行分类，但在上帝的眼中，我们都是罪人，亏缺了上帝的荣耀，死后且有审判。罪就是罪，这一点毋庸置疑！
路加福音22：41-44 于是离开他们，约有扔一块石头那么远，跪下祷告，
说，父阿，你若愿意，就把这杯撤去。然而不要成就我的意思，只要成就你的意思。有一位天使，从天上显现，加添他的力量。耶稣极其伤痛，祷告更加恳切。汗珠如大血点，滴在地上。
十字架的刑罚对人类来说是最痛苦的死亡，耶稣其人性的那部分在挣扎，因为祂知道自己将要经历怎样的死亡。耶稣几乎可以想象祂将如何在没有止痛药的情况下被鞭子抽打后背39次，每一次的抽打将撕下皮肉！祂又知道祂接下来将被钉在一个木刺遍布的粗糙的十字架上，并且将有长长的钉子钉进祂的手腕和双腿。当十字架立起之时，祂几乎可以感觉到全身的重量就靠钉进手腕和腿上还在滴血的区区的几根钉子来支撑。当祂所爱的门徒离祂而去时，祂将感受到被拒绝。就在这一刻，祂，神的圣子，成为了罪。
在与如此这般巨大的精神折磨挣扎之下，耶稣汗出如血，他的脑海中浮现出各种各样的人（你和我）的面孔，他们因为祂的宝血而得洁净，祂与他们重归于好。这一切使得祂坚持着一路走向了十字架。
上帝从来没有打算让我们生活在这个堕落的世界上，其中充斥着拒绝，疾病，痛苦，贫穷，沮丧，以及破裂的人际关系。上帝旨在让我们拥有一个丰盛和永恒的生命。
罗马书8:32 神既不爱惜自己的儿子为我们众人舍了，岂不也把万物和祂一同白白的赐给我们么？
世上没有任何父母会受得了让自己的孩子经历耶稣所经历到的哪怕1%。然而，上帝却为了我们全体而舍弃了耶稣，由此，我们看到了祂那巴不得把万物都赐给我们的拳拳之心。
而你所要做的只是回应并接受耶稣，接受祂通过自己所受的苦难而为你成就的一切。祂渴望你与祂一起管理并主宰你的生命（灵、魂和体），每日在祂的筵席上与祂同席，与祂一起面对你生命中的挑战，以造物主上帝为你盟约的伙伴。
讲章系列：耶稣受难日（2006）