Jesus Sorrowful and Very Heavy - Matthew 26:37

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus came, “unto a place called Gethsemane, and said unto the disciples, Sit you here, while I go and pray yonder”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse thirty-seven of his book, Matthew writes how Jesus, “took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful” where we read:

And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

The verse reads, “And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, ...” Matthew began words, “and he took” which means “and Jesus joined, associated and received” “with him” or “alongside Jesus” “Peter” which refers to “one of twelve disciples whose name means a rock or a stone” “and the two sons” or “and the two offspring and and male children” “of Zebedee” or “belonging to a fisherman of Galilee who was the father of the apostles James the Great and John and the husband of Salome whose name means my gift”. Matthew shared how Jesus brought “Zebedee's two sons” along with “Peter” further into the “garden of Gethsemane” with Him.

The verse continues, “... and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.” Matthew added the words, “and began” which means “started and commenced” “to be sorrowful” or “to be grieved and affected with sadness” “and very heavy” which means “and troubled, in great distress and anguish”. Matthew shared how Jesus started to be “greatly grieved and in anguish”.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we notice how Jesus took three of His disciples, Peter, James and John, with Him deeper into the garden of Gethsemane. This is when the “grief and great heaviness” of what He was about to do came upon Him. Jesus was bound for extreme physical torture, ridicule and mockery as well as crucifixion upon the cross, and all His to pay for the sins of mankind so they might live with Him for all eternity. Let everyone reading these words attempt to understand Jesus' “deep grief” on their behalf and yield their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus says, “my soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.