Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if
there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me,
wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the days of his fierce
anger.--Lamentation i. 12.
These words are in some degree applicable to the mournful prophet
Jeremiah, but it will do no violence to consider them as referring
to Jesus, and to him they apply with tenfold force. Let us not
pass him by unnoticed, but let us "behold, and see if there be
any sorrow like unto his sorrow," who, by way of distinction, is
called "the Man of Sorrows." We see Jesus, attended by three of his
disciples, enter the garden of Gethsemane; we behold him withdraw
from them about a stone's-throw, and, kneeling down, pour out his
soul in prayer to God. Let us draw nigh to witness the scene, but
let us approach with awe and reverence, for methinks we are about
to tread on hallowed ground. Let the frame of our minds be solemn
and attentive, whilst we view a scene so mysterious and sublime. We
observe Jesus on his knees, begin to be sore amazed and very heavy:
yea, his soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; and in the
bitterness of his spirit, we hear him cry out, "Father, if thou be
willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but
thine, be done." Being in an agony, he prays the more earnestly.
Thrice we hear him present the same petition. His agony becomes so
extreme, that he sweats great drops of blood, and so profusely,
that it even falls upon the ground. Struck at a sight so mysterious
and solemn, we turn towards the disciples for an explanation; but
lo, they are fallen into a deep sleep, although requested by their
Master to watch and pray. Desirous to ascertain the cause, we survey
the wondrous scene, but find no external marks of punishment. True,
the sufferings of the cross he viewed as near, but they were not
yet commenced; nor can we discover any one afflicting him. The
only visible object we perceive is an angel from heaven; but his
was an errand of love, for he strengthened him. It is therefore
quite clear, that it was from sorrow of soul, and not pains of
body, Jesus then suffered. We eagerly inquire what powers could
have had such influence over him, as to occasion so great anguish
of spirit? We are told, the powers of heaven and hell;[64] and we
immediately request to be informed, why the holy, harmless, and
undefiled Jesus, is thus the object of God's displeasure, and the
sport of Satan. We are directed to consult the records of truth for
an explanation of the scene. We examine, and find that Jesus had
voluntarily come forth, and offered himself as the surety of his
people, having placed himself in their room, and the curses of the
law taken hold upon him, his soul endured all the horrors of the
tremendous load of our guilt imputed to him. Would you behold the
awful consequences of sin; then go, visit Gethsemane, and see Jesus
prostrate in the garden. Mark the extreme anguish of his spirit.
What language is sufficiently strong to express the agonies of
his soul in that awful hour, when the conflict of his mind forced
through all the pores of his sacred body a bloody sweat; not merely
a drop or two, but so copiously as to fall upon the ground, and
that in the open air, in a night of such extreme cold, that, in the
crowded hall of the High Priest's palace, the servants found it
necessary to make a fire to warm themselves. We may well tremble and
stand amazed at a sight so awful and mysterious as the soul-agonies
of the God-Man Christ Jesus. "Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass
by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto his sorrow,
which was done unto him, wherewith the Lord afflicted him in the
day of his fierce anger." Yes, the hand of Jehovah was in it, he
then stood up to punish the sins of his people, in the person of
their surety. It was also the hour and power of darkness, and
Satan then poured forth all his malice, and exerted all his fury,
to worry and destroy this Lamb of God; although Jesus declared,
the prince of this world had nothing in him, (_i. e._) no corrupt
principles or evil passions as materials on which to work; yet was
the soul of Jesus assaulted by all the malicious artifices of hell.
It is more than probable, that the great adversary overpowered the
three disciples with drowsiness, and caused them to fall into a
deep sleep, in order to keep every source of creature-comfort from
Jesus during this season of conflict and sorrow. In the garden of
Eden, did Satan gain his first triumph over apostate man; but in
Gethsemane's garden, did Jesus, as the representative and surety of
man, give that decisive overthrow to the power of sin and Satan,
which shook to its centre the throne of that arch-fiend.
[64] Luke xxii. 53.