Imagine

Imagine....you are in a garden, beautiful, peaceful, lush...you inhale the fresh air and notice a slight aroma of flowers on the breeze. Everything is perfect, with the sun already set you're able to see the stars overhead twinkling as if they've come out to dance the night away.
     Just as you turn to walk further down the path you hear a low moan, your curiosity aroused you step in the direction you thought it came from. In the moonlight you can see a man bowing by a large rock, his hands are braced against it but he still slumps against it. At first sight, you think he has been beaten and needs help, but as you stand there trying to think what to do you hear him talking. He is having a conversation! But his conversation is with an unseen person because there is no one else in the garden, just you and him. Now you're really confused, what can you do for this man that you have heard moaning, a moaning that carried such desperation that it brought you to this position.
     You stand there weighing your options, you can quietly leave the area and leave this strange man to his very strange conversation, or you could try to ease closer to hear his words, maybe you'd get an idea of what you can do to help? The last option sounds the best, this man is evidently in great distress. As quietly as possible you move forward, the words to his conversation become more clear. He is asking to be given strength, courage, peace, purpose...it sounds like he has quite a battle ahead of him that he is preparing for and asking for the things he will need to go through this battle and come out victorious! This conversation tugs at your heart, you want to help him in this battle! You want to encourage him, "I will be with you!", "I will stand with you!"
     As you have been drawn into the area of the garden closer to the man you are able to see him more clearly, he is speaking so passionately that he is sweating! No wait, it's not sweat, it's drops of blood! What has he done to make himself bleed like this? He has been in one place since you have seen him, nothing close that would have scraped him, it looks as if the blood is actually just on his skin as sweat would be. He is trembling and sweating blood! This man is consumed in his "conversation" with some unseen person, he has not seen you or even heard you as you approached. His voice has grown more desperate as he starts pleading, is he pleading for more strength? No, wait, you hear your own name! He is pleading for you! He is pleading that you will stand and not fall! That you will not be deceived! He is not pleading for you to stand with him, but he is pleading that you will stand because of him!
     Confusion reigns as you hear this man, moaning, pleading, sweating blood and he knows your name, he knows he is going into a battle that causes him such distress but still in his pleading for strength for himself he also pleads for strength for you, not only you but so many names are spoken you aren't able to remember them all.
     What do you do? You look around again, there is no one else nearby, who is he talking to? Oh my! With a jolt, you realize he is praying, not just talking! Why did you not know that before? He is praying, for himself and for you and the others! This realization causes your heart to squeeze painfully. This man is facing a horrible battle, a battle that has brought him to his knees, to pray in a way that blood is showing on his skin and still he is concerned for you, how can this be, who is this man!?
     Your wondering mind begins to recognize this situation! This man is Jesus! You step back even as you feel the presence of other beings. You do not see any others, but feel the air move as if stirred by wings.. you hear Jesus ask “My Father, if there is any way you can deliver me from this suffering, please take it from me. Yet what I want is not important, for I only desire to fulfill your plan for me.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to strengthen him.
     ..........Imagine.