Come Be My Follower - Jehovah's Witnesses Official Media Web Site

C H A P T E R 7
“Consider Closely the One
Who Has Endured”
THE pressure is intense. Jesus has never before experienced
such mental and emotional anguish. He is in the
final hours of his life on earth. Together with his apostles,
he comes to a familiar place, the garden of Gethsemane.
He has often met with them here. On this night,
however, he needs some time alone. Leaving his apostles,
he goes deeper into the garden, and kneeling, he begins
to pray. He prays so earnestly and gets into such an agony
that his sweat becomes “as drops of blood falling to
the ground.”—Luke 22:39-44.
2 Why is Jesus so troubled? True, he knows that soon he
will have to face extreme physical suffering, but that is
not the reason for his anguish. Far more important matters
weigh on him. He is deeply concerned about his Father’s
name and recognizes that the future of the human
family depends on his remaining faithful. Jesus knows
how vital it is that he endure. Were he to fail, he would
bring great reproach on Jehovah’s name. But Jesus does
not fail. Later that day, moments before drawing his last
breath, the man who set the finest example of endurance
ever on earth cries out triumphantly: “It has been accomplished!”—John
19:30.
3 The Bible urges us to “consider closely the one [Jesus]
who has endured.” (Hebrews 12:3) Some important questions
thus arise: What are some of the trials Jesus en-
1-3. (a) How severe is Jesus’ agony in the garden of Gethsemane, and
what is the cause? (b) What can be said about Jesus’ example of endurance,
and what questions arise?