In my Bible study we were talking about how we know God is always working behind the scenes and we have no idea. A friend told us about the movie, "Bruce Almighty" and how it shows that. It also deals with free will. Even though I am not a big fan of the main character I watched it and I am still thinking about it. I love the scene where Bruce wants the perfect moonlit dinner with his wife so he pulls the moon in closer to the balcony. He did that because he thought it would be beautiful and romantic. What he did not think of was the bigger picture - tsunamis because of the moon being so close to earth.
I think about Jesus after He was arrested Thursday night and in the pit. I stood in that pit when I was in the Holy Land and I could not get myself together thinking about Jesus in there feeling alone, scared, hurt, dread, betrayed, stressed and exhausted. Jesus knew what was going to happen. He wanted God to take this from Him. He could have stopped it - He had ways out. But Jesus made a choice. He CHOSE to die for us. He freely went to the cross. He knew He had to die for us to be saved.
Hematohidrosis is a rare condition in which a human being sweats blood. It may occur in individuals suffering from extreme levels of stress. Around the sweat glands, there are multiple blood vessels in a net-like form, which constrict under the pressure of great stress.
Jesus sweat blood and tears in the Garden of Gethsemane just before being arrested. Luke 22: 44, "And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." Can you imagine being that stressed? Not only was He going to be tortured but he would bear the sins of the world on His shoulders. In agony, He sweat blood as He prayed, Luke 22: 42, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me..." In true obedience He finished saying, "...yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Jesus also knew the emotion of joy. I like Rick Warren's definition of joy: “Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.” In John 15: 10-11, Jesus told His followers, "If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." Jesus knew that joy came from complete obedience to His Father - not His will. He fulfilled His mission on earth, pleasing His Father.
"God will never send anybody to hell. If man goes to hell, he goes by his own free choice." Billy Graham