“…who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered” (Hebrews 5:8–9).
Not only has Jesus been tempted in all points as we are (Hebrews 4:15), He also knows the uttermost depths of human weakness and vulnerability. He experienced the extreme challenge of wrestling His will into submission to God’s. In His agony, He sweated great drops of blood (Luke 22:44).
This passage does everything within the confines of human language to depict the intensity of Jesus’ sense of weakness and vulnerability.
“He offered up prayers…” He made definite requests of His Father.
“He offered up prayers and supplications…” He made specific entreaties, seeking protection from an impending, overwhelming calamity.
“He offered up prayers and supplications with vehement cries…” His prayers were not mumbled platitudes in whispered tones. The intensity of His agony is seen in the robust and forceful outcries which came straight from His heart and soul.
“He offered up prayers and supplications with vehement cries and tears…” What His tongue was unable to communicate, His eyes did. Grief and weakness were poured out in the downpour of His tears.
Few things are as distressing as the realization of abject human weakness and extreme vulnerability.
In the shadow of the cross, Jesus has been there and done that.
