With Loud Cries and Tears

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In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. (Hebrews 5:7 ESV)

At first glance, it might seem that in this verse the author of Hebrews is referring to Jesus’s prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. The details certainly fit the gospel accounts of Jesus’s experience in the garden on the night before his crucifixion. As Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, he was “in agony,” and “his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44 ESV). And when he asked his Father to remove the cup of God’s wrath from him (Luke 22:42), he was asking to be spared from the death he would die on behalf of sinners.1

But take a closer look at Hebrews 5:7. The author mentions Jesus’s anguished prayers “in the days of his flesh.” Note that days is plural. The text is not referring to a one time event, but a pattern of tearful prayers over the course of Jesus’s life. He didn’t cry out to his Father one time in Gethsemane, but he offered up angonized prayers throughout his life here on earth. Facing death, especially the kind of death he would die, was difficult, and he struggled with it—not just once, but regularly.

The author of Hebrews used this truth to show his readers that Jesus was qualified to serve as their high priest. A high priest had to sympathize with the weaknesses of those he interceded for. The Old Testament priests were “beset with weakness,” so they could “deal gently with the ignorant and wayward” (5:2). Jesus did not share the old covenant priests’ identification with human sinfulness, but still, he knew the pain that comes with human existence. 

For one, he understands human fear of suffering and death. Jesus can identify with these fears because “in the days of his flesh,” he, too, “offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death.” He could serve as our high priest and offer propitiation for human sin because he was one of us. He understands from experience our mortal fears, and he willingly subjected himself to death on a cross to free us from them (Hebrews 2:14-15). And he still sympathizes with our human weakness as he intercedes with God for us now. His identification with our human frailty qualifies him to be our high priest.

Think for a moment about how this verse would have encouraged the first readers (or hearers) of Hebrews. They were facing persecution for their embrace of Christianity. They had been through it before and had stood firm in their faith. Now they are facing it again. Would it be worse this time? Would any of them be asked to die for their faith (12:4)? Perhaps some were thinking, “I don’t have it in me to endure persecution again. If I turn back from faith in Jesus and return to my Jewish roots I can avoid it.” The author is concerned that this time round, they won’t all hold firm. 

This verse reminded them that Jesus, the founder and perfecter of their faith (12:2), the high priest on whom their salvation depended, regularly offered up prayer to God, the one who was able to save him from death, “with loud cries and tears.” They weren’t enduring anything he hadn’t endured. They weren’t facing anything he hadn’t faced. He understood their suffering, and he was willing to help them. He would give them the strength to endure. They, too, could offer up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who is able to save them from death, and be heard.2

I haven’t faced real persecution, and I haven’t (yet) been truly tempted to turn away from Jesus, but this verse encourages me, too. Life can be hard sometimes. As I age, I grow more and more aware of my mortality. It is a blessing indeed to know that Jesus, the founder and perfecter of my faith, continually prayed to his Father “with loud cries and tears,” and he was given the strength to complete his mission. He was given the courage to endure the suffering that came from doing his Father’s will.

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1Jesus had one important caveat, of course: “Father, if you are willing…” (Luke 22:39-44 ESV). As we know, the Father was not willing, and Jesus willingly went on to the cross. He asked to be spared, but nevertheless was “obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8 ESV)

2This brings up these questions: How was it that Jesus was heard? How was his prayer to be saved from death answered? What do you think?

Sunday's Hymn: Behold, a Branch Is Growing

Behold, a Branch is growing
Of loveliest form and grace,
As prophets sung, foreknowing;
It springs from Jesse’s race
And bears one little Flow’r
In midst of coldest winter,
At deepest midnight hour.

Isaiah hath foretold it
In words of promise sure,
And Mary’s arms enfold it,
A virgin meek and pure.
Through God’s eternal will
This Child to her is given
At midnight calm and still.

The shepherds heard the story,
Proclaimed by angels bright,
How Christ, the Lord of Glory,
Was born on earth this night.
To Bethlehem they sped
And in the manger found him,
As angel heralds said.

This Flower whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor
The darkness everywhere.
True man, yet very God;
From sin and death he saves us
And lightens every load.

O Saviour, Child of Mary,
Who felt our human woe;
O Saviour, King of Glory,
Who dost our weakness know,
Bring us at length, we pray,
To the bright courts of heaven
And to the endless day.

 Other hymns, worship songs, or quotes for this Sunday:

• Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus at The Happy Wonderer
• Good Will Toward Men at Tried With Fire
• Singing Christmas Theology at The Outspoken Tulip 
• Lord’s Day 49 at The Thirsty Theologian

Selected Reading

Blogging has been even lighter than usual here lately. I’ve been busy studying Hebrews, for one, and have a post on a verse from Hebrews 5 nearly finished, but I will hold off publishing it until early next week.

Meanwhile, here are a three good things I read during the past two weeks. You might like them too.

Gospel

My Imago Dei Is So Awesome
Anne Kennedy pushes back against a “foolishly high view of the person.” She writes: “Being made in the image of God is not worth very much if you are going to mar that image every day through wanton idolatry, rebellion, sin, selfishness, and a desperate commitment to the darkness of hell.” 

So why have I put this under the heading Gospel? Because, in the end, that’s what it’s really about.

The Gospel and Gratitude
Keeping it in the Kennedy family. This was written specifically for the Thanksgiving holiday, but the message is never out of season: “[G]ratitude in its fullness flows directly from the Christian Gospel because only in the Gospel do we learn that all good things come from above and that they are given freely apart from any work or effort on your part.”

Creeds

Chalcedon
Sinclair Ferguson explains the Chalcedon Definition: “Whatever the failures and flaws of the Christians of the fourth and fifth centuries, it is worth reflecting on the truths articulated in the Chalcedonian Definition, especially at Christmas.”