Awaken The Dawn

Drinking the Awesome Cup Luke’s point is simply this: after Jesus was revived by the angel, his prayer showed a a quickening that defies description. Although the air is inherently cool in the early morning hours,and the ground is moisture-ridden, the Son of God prays with a fever-fervency that physio- logically causes His body to react most extremely. Sweat oozes from his body, not as tender perspiration, but as spurting blood would flow—like gouts of blood. The article, Herald of His Coming , quotes Stephen Olford’s description of the Welsh revival leader Evan Roberts’ experience:

During a morning meeting which Evan Roberts attended, the evangelist pleaded that the Lord would “bend us.” The Spirit seemed to say to Roberts, “That’s what you need, to be bent.” And thus he described his experience: “I felt a living force coming into my bosom. This grew and grew and I was almost bursting. My bosom was boiling. What boiled in me was that verse: ‘God commending His love.’ I fell on my knees with my arms over the seat in front of me; the tears and perspiration flowed freely. I thought blood was gushing forth.’ Certain friends approached to wipe his face. Meanwhile he was crying out, “O Lord, bend me! Bend me!” Then suddenly the glory broke. 4

Luke intended to show us that before Jesus made up His mind, before He capitulated His will to His Father, before He became most assured that all was settled and right, He—physically and emotionally—plumbed the depths of human exertion and despair. And this He did for us. Rising from his last morning of prayer, Jesus awakens the

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