Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

THE AGONY OF CHRIST

1. Our text is connected with one of the most interesting and affected events in the history of this world:
   1. This is so, whether we contemplate the person or the sufferer;
   2. Or consider the reason for his agony.
2. Of special interest is:
   1. The cause of our Lord's anguish.
   2. The extent of His suffering.
   3. The great end of His suffering.

1. The person of the illustrious Sufferer:
   1. It was none other but His Majesty the Son of God - Heb. 1:3; Col. 2:9; Isa. 9:6
   2. It was the Son of man, our older Brother.
      1. It was His humanity that shrank back from suffering and shame.
      2. It was His knowledge that He was to be made sin, when He knew no sin, that brought on the agony - 2 Cor. 5:21
2. The agony itself:
   1. Luke is the only writer that mentions our Lord's agony.
   2. The word "agony" signifies -
      1. Deep and intense mental suffering - "He began to be sorrowful"
      2. For although He was a man of sorrow, yet all His previous griefs were as nothing, with what He felt, were as drops as to the swelling billows which now went over His head.
3. Two statements, as recorded by Mark, indicate the intensity of the agony of Christ:
   1. "he began to be sore amazed, and to be every heavy"
   2. "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful unto death" - Mark 14:32-35 It fills my soul with awe as I put down these words; it seems as if I were near Him when He was in deep agony!
4. Cause of the agony:
   1. It arose from the pressure of the world's guilt laid upon Him -
      1. Although He was spotless, yet it pleased the Father to lay upon Him the iniquity of us all - 1 Pet. 2:24; 3:18; Isa. 53:6
      2. God gave up His Son to suffering and death for us all - Rom. 8:3-7; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 8:31-33
   2. The curse of sin rested upon the innocent One - Gal. 3:13
   3. The agony of our Lord's suffering was intensified by our Father hiding His face for a moment - Matt. 27:46
5. Effects of the agony:
   1. He became physically exhausted - Luke 22:43
   2. Sweat drops fell from His sorrowing face as drops of blood.
   3. It was necessary for an angel to come to strengthen Him - Luke 22:43

1. He prayed more earnestly:
   1. There was much at stake - your and my destiny. The destiny of the plan of redemption depended upon what happened within twenty-four hours.
   2. He loved both His Father and also the human race, and sought to give all to both.
2. With strong cries and tears, He pled with God for help: Luke 22:44; Heb. 5:7
   1. "Take this cup from me, Father" The cup of suffering and shame which did not belong to Him.
   2. "but not as I will, but as thou wilt" Luke 22:42; Matt. 26:42; Mark 14:36; John 18:11
3. Lesson for us:
   1. The amazing evil of sin! Our finite minds shall never realize the exceeding sinfulness of sin.
   2. Learn the price of our salvation - 1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19
   3. The sympathy of our Lord learned through suffering - Heb. 4:15