Luke 22:43

"And there appeared to Him an Angel from heaven, strengthening Him." This too is for our consolation, namely: that we might learn the strengthening power of prayer and, having learned it, turn to it in times of misfortune. At the same time, the prophecy of …

To make known unto us the power of prayer that we may exercise it in adversity, our Lord when praying is comforted by an Angel. (Matt. 4:11.) But some say that the Angel appeared, glorifying Him, saying, O Lord, Thine is the power, for Thou art able to vanquish death, and to deliver weak mankind. Now that the preceding prayer was of His human nature, not His divine, as the Arians say, is argued from what is said of His sweat, which follows, And his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Or this is proverbially said of one who has sweated intensely, that He sweated blood; the Evangelist then wishing to show that He was moistened with large drops of sweat, takes drops of blood for an example. But afterwards finding His disciples asleep for sorrow, He upbraids them, at the same time reminding them to pray; for it follows, And when he rose from prayer and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping. That is, that they should not be overcome by temptation, for not to be led into temptation is not to be overwhelmed by it. Or He simply bids us pray that our life may be quiet, and we be not cast into trouble of any kind. For it is of the devil and presumptuous, for a man to throw himself into temptation. Therefore James said not, "Cast yourselves into temptation," but, When ye are fallen, count it all joy, (Jam. 1:2.) making a voluntary act out of an involuntary.

And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven,....

Yet this was not all: he probably said something to him to strengthen him; put him in mind that his sufferings were in order to his Father's glory, to his own glory, and to the salvation of those that were given him, represented to him the joy set before him, the seed he should see; with these and the like suggestions he encouraged him to go on cheerfully; and what is comforting is strengthening.

See the Mat. 26:30-46 notes; Mark 14:26-42 notes. Luk 22:43 Strengthening him - His human nature, to sustain the great burden that was upon his soul. Some have supposed from this that he was not divine as well as human; for if he was “God,” how could an angel give any strength or comfort? and why did not the divine nature “alone” sustain the human? But the fact that he was “divine” does not affect the case at all.

I SUPPOSE that this incident happened immediately after our Lord's first prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. His pleading became so fervent, so intense, that it forced from Him a bloody sweat. He was, evidently, in a great agony of fear as He prayed and wrestled even unto blood. We are told, by the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews, that He "was heard in that He feared." It is probable that this angel came in answer to that prayer.

The verses before us contain Luke's account of our Lord's agony in the garden. It is a passage of Scripture which we should always approach with particular reverence. The history which it records is one of the "deep things of God." While we read it, the words of Exodus should come across our minds, "Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals — for you are standing on holy ground." (Exodus 3:5.) We see, firstly, in this passage — an example of what believers ought to do in time of trouble.

The verses before us contain Luke's account of our Lord's agony in the garden. It is a passage of Scripture which we should always approach with particular reverence. The history which it records is one of the "deep things of God." While we read it, the words of Exodus should come across our minds, "Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals — for you are standing on holy ground." (Exodus 3:5.) We see, firstly, in this passage — an example of what believers ought to do in time of trouble. The great Head of the Church Himself supplies the pattern . We are told that when He came to the Mount of Olives, the night before He was crucified, "He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed." It is a striking fact, that both the Old and New Testaments give one and the same remedy for bearing trouble. What does the book of Psalms say? "Call upon Me in the time of trouble — and I will deliver you." (Psalm 50:15.) What does the apostle James say? "Are any of your afflicted? Let him pray." (James 5:13.) Prayer is the remedy which Jacob used — when he feared his brother Esau. Prayer is the remedy which Job used — when property and children were suddenly taken from him. Prayer is the remedy which Hezekiah used — when Sennacherib's threatening letter arrived. And prayer is the remedy which the Son of God Himself was not ashamed to use in the days of His flesh. In the hour of His mysterious agony, He "prayed." If we want comfort in affliction — then let us take care that we use our Master's remedy. Whatever other means of relief we use — let us pray. The first Friend we should turn to — ought to be God. The first message we should send — ought to be to the throne of grace. No depression of spirits must prevent us. No crushing weight of sorrow, must make us speechless.

I SUPPOSE that this incident happened immediately after our Lord's first prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. His pleading became so fervent, so intense, that it forced from Him a bloody sweat. He was, evidently, in a great agony of fear as He prayed and wrestled even unto blood. We are told, by the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews, that He "was heard in that He feared." It is probable that this angel came in answer to that prayer. This was the Father's reply to the cry of His fainting Son who was enduring an infinity of sorrow because of His people's sin and who must, therefore, be Divinely upheld as to His Manhood, lest He should be utterly crushed beneath the terrible weight that was pressing upon His holy soul. Scarcely had our Savior prayed before the answer to His petition came. It reminds us of Daniel's supplication and of the angelic messenger who was caused to fly so swiftly that as soon as the prayer had left the Prophet's lips, Gabriel stood there with the reply to it! So, Brothers and Sisters, whenever your times of trial come, always take yourselves to your knees. Whatever shape your trouble may take—if, to you, it should even seem to be a faint representation of your Lord's agony in Gethsemane—put yourselves into the same posture as that in which He sustained the great shock that came upon Him. Kneel down and cry to your Father who is in Heaven, who is able to save you from death, who will prevent the trial from utterly destroying you, who will give you strength that you may be able to endure it and will bring you through it to the praise of the glory of His Grace. That is the first lesson for us to learn from our Lord's experience in Gethsemane—the blessing of prayer.