In pity angels beheld Him
And came from the world of light
To comfort Him in the sorrows
He bore for my soul that night
My Savior’s Love 1905
By: Charles H. Gabriel (1856-1932)
Listen to this modern version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.
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Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below! It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.
As we continue our journey through this wonder-filled hymn take an assessment of the level of wonder and amazement which characterizes your relationship with Jesus. We all have room to grow in response to His love for us. Let’s think about this.
Angel Comfort
Did Jesus, Son of Man, feel acutely the weight of this moment in His body? Did Jesus, the Son of God, need physical and emotional comfort? Did He ask for it? Did He receive it?
Yes. No. No. And yes.
The passage that inspires this portion of the hymn is very interesting. Certainly Jesus felt the crushing weight of what was approaching. Being God, He was able to bear it, so He did not ask for support, though He did ask for it to pass. He yielded to the Father’s will, and whatever that support felt like from the angel in the garden.
Note it was one angel. A few verses later during His arrest involving a handful of Roman soldiers and Temple Guard (see image below) Jesus makes clear He could have asked for legions of angels to deliver Him. He received the strengthening of one angel but refused the deliverance of thousands.
His humanity and deity acknowledged in beautiful symmetry. All driven by love. And obedience to the Father’s will. How marvelous!
To comfort Him in the sorrows
And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. Luke 22:43 ESV
Though they likely wanted to deliver Jesus from the battle being waged over sin, instead one angel strengthened Him. How do you imagine that happened? Probably not words or anything physical, even though His struggle had a physical dimension. It was a spiritual strengthening.
They came to comfort Him. Exactly how they did that is a mystery. Was it simply their presence? Were they shielding Him from the encroaching darkness which was anxious to consume Him? We can not know for certain how, but we can be certain they came strengthen Him.
RESONATE!
Take a few moments think about the comfort of angels. t sounds like Jesus received what He may not have even needed. We do need such care a points on our journey. How gracious of God to send His messengers. Make this your simple prayer “God, thank You for your comforting angels.”
He Bore It Alone
Though the Scripture tells us He was strengthened in the garden by an angel there was no help for Him when it came to bearing the weight of sin. Only He could do that. Only the perfect Son of God could become that substitutionary sacrifice.
What wonderful love!
He bore for my soul that night
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:4 ESV
Griefs and sorrows, sins and sickness. Jesus bore it all for our souls that night. Aren’t you glad? You could not have born your own, yet He willingly bore them for the whole world. What a marvelous, wonderful love our Savior displayed! Be certain to make it your song forever.
Jesus received comfort because He was preparing to take the sin of the world on His shoulders. He was in agony already and the moment had not yet arrived. When did you last thank Him for bearing your sin-enduced sorrows? Take a moment and thank Him now.
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and thank Jesus for bearing your sin and sorrows. He could have asked for angelic deliverance, but obeyed instead. Simply thank Him saying “Jesus, thank You for bearing my sorrows.“
Jesus, thank You for bearing my sorrows. You received strength and then suffered alone. Help me to see, feel and know just how marvelous and wonderful is Your love for me. In Jesus name. Amen.
Grateful Thinking!
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Podcast 48.3 Transcript
Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.
In pity angels beheld Him
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Psalm 34:7 ESV
This verse is a promise which tells us of the general activity of angels in the lives of those who fear God. They encamp around us and deliver us. Can you imagine how the angels must have wanted to intervene that night in the garden? They deliver, but not that night.
And came from the world of light
…you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, Hebrews 12:22 ESV
This is speaking about the Kingdom to which we have been granted access through Jesus’ sacrifice. It is an eternal kingdom of light. Angels serve there as messengers of God, and extend that kingdom to us. They came to Jesus, not to deliver Him, but for another purpose.
To comfort Him in the sorrows
And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. Luke 22:43 ESV
Though they likely wanted to deliver Jesus from the battle being waged over sin, instead they strengthened Him. How do you imagine the angel did that? Probably not words or anything physical, even though His struggle had a physical dimension. It was a spiritual strengthening.
He bore for my soul that night
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:4 ESV
Griefs and sorrows, sins and sickness. Jesus bore it all for our souls that night. Aren’t you glad? You could not have born your own, yet He willingly bore them for the whole world. What a marvelous, wonderful love our Savior displayed! Be certain to make it your song forever.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.
In pity angels beheld Him
And came from the worldior’ of light
To comfort Him in the sorrows
He bore for my soul that night
Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time,
Be Resonant.
The post Our Savior’s Supported Strengthening Yet Solitary Suffering appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attribution
To comfort Him in the sorrows – https://www.learnreligions.com/angel-helps-jesus-christ-124059
He bore for my soul that night – https://kdmanestreet.com/tag/jesus-in-the-garden-of-gethsemane-prayed-not-as-i-will-but-as-you-will/
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