Exodus 12:13 – ‘And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.’

DAILY READING – Matthew 28; Deuteronomy 9-10; Job 8

Hematidrosis is a rare, but very real, medical condition in which capillary blood vessels that feed the sweat glands rupture, causing them to exude blood. Its cause is extreme anguish. The account of the Gospel written by Luke tells us that Jesus suffered such a condition in the garden of Gethsemane. Luke is the only gospel writer to mention the ‘bloody sweat,’ possibly because he was a physician, well-educated, and a careful observer by profession.

Medically, Hematidrosis occurs under conditions of extreme physical or emotional stress. This was a reflection of the intense agony Jesus went through at Gethsemane. In Matthew 26:38 He states “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.”

Jesus knew in painstaking details the things He would suffer. He knew He was about to undergo trials where false witnesses would rise against Him. He knew that many who once hailed Him as the Messiah would soon be screaming for His crucifixion (Luke 23:23). He knew He would be flogged to the point where the metal spikes would pull out His flesh, and be beaten so badly that His face would be “disfigured beyond that of any man” (Isaiah 52:14). Crucifixion, the most painful and torturous method of execution ever devised, was so horrific that a word was designed to help explain it—‘excruciating’, which literally means “from the cross.”

But perhaps the worst pain Jesus faced was knowing that as He carried the sins of the world, the Father would turn away from Him. All these things factored into His great anguish and sorrow that caused Him to sweat drops of blood.

It is interesting that ‘Gethsemane,’ literally translated, means ‘the Place of Pressing.’ It was an Olive Garden. This was significant because in that place, it seemed that Jesus was being pressed. He was under such pressure that led to His sweating blood. But in the midst of all the pressure, God sent an angel to strengthen Him. It was the divine strength from above that took Him from the cross to the resurrection. And despite what He had suffered, it all culminated in praise and ultimately to God’s glory.

Today you may be in a ‘garden of Gethsemane’ in your health, career, family or finances. You may feel under a lot of pressure seemingly with no way out, but in the midst of your trying moment, God will send you help and strength from above. And certainly, it will all end in praise.

Today, you may feel like it’s Friday in your Gethsemane. You may feel restricted, under pressure, like you are being squeezed. But recall that Jesus ‘sweated blood’ for your sake, He paid the price to turn your pressures to pleasures. Therefore no matter how tight your situation, claim your victory by the blood.

Despite the pressures, believe and declare that your new season is coming. As the new year approaches, you’re about to shoot out stronger, healthier, promoted, vindicated, and greater.  You will arise into  new levels of favor, promotion, and blessings.

The Blood of Jesus shed at Calvary is the key to our victory. As we invoke the Blood, the plagues of Egypt including those things that cause pressures will pass over us. By the blood, every force hindering your due season of harvest is today destroyed. By the blood, everything tampering with your joy or contesting your glorious destiny is terminated. You have power by the blood. You have overcome by the blood. Truly you are more than a conqueror through the blood of Jesus.

PRAYER: Lord, Thank You for the power You have made available for me through the blood of Jesus. By the power in the blood, every pressure in my life is being turned to pleasure right now. Indeed I have the victory in every area of my life in Jesus’ Name.

QUOTE

The battle you are faced with today is a good warfare because God has already foreordained a victorious end for you.

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