How Did Jesus Handle Stress?
In Mark 14, Jesus gives several examples of what to do when overwhelming stress and tribulation are at hand. He was facing the most difficult situation any man who has ever or will ever live faced ? physical, emotional and spiritual pain at their very worst ? and that all at one time. Suffice to say none of us have ever or will ever face any situation more painful, stressful or difficult than Christ?s trial, execution and separation from His Father. That is why He can comfort us saying: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are?yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God?s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. ~Hebrews 4:15-16
If Jesus is Our Lord, He ought be our example. If He considered something valuable, we ought hold it high and imitate Him in it, learning in light of His wisdom and doing likewise. Rather than coming up with our own ways to manage stress and difficulty, we would do well to look to the One who will deliver us.
As the world was plotting Jesus?s death, Jesus knew His time was drawing near. He is the only one who understood how dire His situation really was and how horrendous the circumstances He was facing really were. (In fact, no one could understand what was about to happen because He had not yet ?opened the scriptures to them? and they were actually still looking for an earthly kingdom from Jesus. Mark 13:1, Luke 24:44-49) Jesus knows what it is to be alone in pain apart from the understanding of those around Him. What does He do first before the worst of His suffering comes upon Him? Jesus allows Himself to be prepared by another person who loves Him.
While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. ~Mark 14:3
Many people were upset at his ?waste? of costly perfume, but Jesus accepts the gift graciously. He knew how others were going to react and He certainly could have stopped the woman. He could have compromised with the crowd and gave the perfume to the poor, but instead he teaches them a lesson about the wickedness dwelling in their own hearts saying:
The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.~Mark 14:7
Jesus always bring people back to their own condition. He attacks the root issue of selfishness and pride. Basically, He tells them, ?it?s not about giving to the poor ? if you really cared about that you?d be out doing it right now ? in fact, you can give anytime you want of anything you have to anyone you want, but instead you choose to condemn someone else for what they give to me. Your issue is pride and you don?t like the fact that I?m honored above you and your ideas. I?m about to die and this woman has honored me and prepared me. She has done right. You are doing wrong.?
Any time we hold fast to Christ alone and honor Him alone above the world?s systems and false ideas, people will get angry. The pride of man never ceases to strive against the will and revealed Word of God. Death was God?s will for Christ and the Word confirmed that truth. He was now prepared for his burial. Jesus did not compromise to spare feelings of friendships, even when He was facing the absolute worst pain anyone has ever experienced.
Death is God?s will for His followers, too. Not physical death or spiritual death (we know we have eternal life in Christ), but death to the old man ? our sinful nature.
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don?t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ~Romans 6:1-3
Not long ago I was running and praying, asking God about a particular struggle. I came to the end of myself and finally said, ?What is your purpose for me in this, Lord?? Just then I came upon a very dead animal. It was a huge deer, guts spewed everywhere. I knew exactly what my Lord?s answer was. Death. Not physical death, of what use would I be then? No, death to myself. That is God?s purpose in every one of His children that we might live for Him. Many times He brings suffering to His children in order to teach them how to die to this world and look only to Him for all things.
Knowing we must die to ourselves in order to truly live for Christ, we must have Christ?s attitude when a gift is graciously given us as preparation for our burial. If we seek to follow Him, we mustn?t fight against death or those who love us and give gifts intended for the burial of our sin. To do so places us alongside those complaining against the woman pouring out her best for Christ, never dealing with our own sin, rather than identifying us as fellow servants with Christ ? considering ourselves nothing and obedient unto death as He was. Jesus was willing to die for the sake of the gospel.
The next thing Jesus does to prepare for His stress and trials is to eat and surround Himself with other believers.
Say to the owner of the house he enters, ?The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?? 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.? ~Mark 14:14-15
Physical preparation is key in overcoming stress and enduring trials. While I ran uphill in snow and slush this morning, it was hard, but it was glorious. I could rejoice as I suffered physically because of all the times I?d practiced it before without snow, wind and wet feet. The pain was natural and familiar to me, so I embraced it all the while singing to my Savior. It wasn?t easy, but it was good, and if I ever have to run for my life, I assume I?ll endure a lot longer than someone who hasn?t practiced. Likewise, I know what true endurance is and how it feels, so if and when my Lord calls me to endure many difficult trials, the fact that I?ve practiced physically will strengthen me spiritually.
Also, although in this case, we find Jesus eating to prepare His body and gain stregnth for what is to come, fasting is also key for stress and trials. If we eat whatever we want and refuse to train our bodies physically, we will have nothing on which to rely when spiritual and emotional stressors seek to devour us. Conversely, if we don?t eat healthful, nutritious meals regularly, we are also going to be physcially weak. Jesus prepared His body physically for the stress to come.
Though Jesus ate physical food, I believe there is also a spiritual implication for us in this passage. If we eat the precious food of the Word, being nourished spiritually, the truth of the Bible will strengthen us. We must also ?commune? with other believers before we face our trials as much as possible that we might gain strength to endure. Apart from our own personal study of the Word and intimate fellowship with other Christians, we are no match for the pain and will not be able to withstand suffering in the power of God. Jesus valued intimate fellowship and did not shut Himself away even when He was about to die.
Finally, Jesus asks His friends to keep watch while He prayed. Jesus did what He said and prayed fervently, but His friends fell asleep. Though He rebuked them for their carelessness (twice), it did not hinder His ability to do what He knew He must ? continue praying and carry out the will of His Father. Jesus did not get discouraged or quit when other people failed Him in His time of need.
A lot of people do a lot of things to try and overcome or prevent stress and endure trials. We all will suffer in this life, but God?s people are promised suffering as an extention of His suffering.
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God?s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs?heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. ~Romans 8:16-17
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.~Colossians 1:24-26
We are heirs of promised suffering. It is a priviledge to suffer as Christ did! We fill up what lacks in Christ?s afflictions for the sake of our body ? our brothers and sisters. The only thing lacking in His afflictions is the fact that He is not physically seen suffering in 2011 like He was in AD33. We are! We get to! We shan?t shrink back and try to escape suffering. We must seek to prepare ourselves for these desperately painful and difficult times by following our Lord?s examples and avoiding human wisdom or worldly advice lest we suffer our body (our Christian brothers and sisters) the loss of our witness.
1.Jesus allows Himself to be prepared by another person who loves Him.
2.Jesus did not compromise to spare feelings of friendships, even when He was facing the absolute worst pain anyone has ever experienced.
3. Jesus was willing to be die for the sake of the gospel.
4. Jesus prepared His body physically for the stress to come.
5.Jesus valued intimate fellowship and did not shut Himself away even when He was about to die.
6.Jesus did not get discouraged or quit when other people failed Him in His time of need.