The One Who Understands – Greg Laurie Devotion – March 30, 2026

Biblical Context

Mark’s Gospel gives us a quick, action-packed look at Jesus’ life, focusing a lot on His suffering and service. John Mark, the author, probably worked closely with Peter, so he’s giving us an account shaped by an eyewitness. He wrote it mostly for Roman Christians, people who understood power but also saw a lot of suffering. Mark really wants us to see Jesus as the obedient Servant of God, the Messiah who came to give His life for many.

When we get to Gethsemane in Mark’s account, it’s a raw, honest look at Jesus’ humanity. Mark doesn’t shy away from showing Jesus’ deep distress, His sorrow that felt like death itself. It’s a crucial part of his story, showing us that Jesus wasn’t a robot. He felt everything we feel, even while He walked the path God laid out for Him.

Key Word Study

Let’s look at the word “crushed” in Mark 14:34. In the original Greek, it’s perilypos (περίλυπος). This isn’t just a little sad feeling. The prefix ‘peri-‘ means “around” or “thoroughly,” and ‘lypos’ means “grief” or “sorrow.” So, when Jesus said His soul was crushed with grief, He meant He was completely surrounded by sorrow, overwhelmed by it. It was a sadness that reached every part of Him, pushing Him to the very edge of what a human can bear.

It helps us see just how real His pain was. He wasn’t exaggerating; He was telling His closest friends exactly how much it hurt, how close He felt to death because of the weight on His soul.

The Agony in Gethsemane

The time for Jesus’ crucifixion was coming fast, and the incredible weight of what He was about to do—of what He was about to suffer—really got to Him. He went to a quiet olive grove at the foot of the Mount of Olives, a spot called Gethsemane. There, He fought within Himself, He begged, and He prayed with all His might. Even though He brought His closest friends with Him, He was truly alone in His struggle.

According to Mark’s Gospel, Jesus said to them, “He told them, ‘My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me’” (Mark 14:34 nlt). Imagine that level of pain! No one else could even start to guess at the suffering and the feeling of being cut off that was coming for Him. It was a burden only He could carry, a cup only He could drink.

A Man of Sorrows

Hundreds of years before Jesus ever walked the earth, the prophet Isaiah gave us a picture of Him. He wrote, “He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care” (Isaiah 53:3 nlt). During those hard hours in Gethsemane, Jesus felt every bit of that sorrow, that grief, that rejection, and that awful feeling of being unwanted and unloved.

He wasn’t just mentally preparing for what was next; He was feeling the pain of it in His very soul. He was taking on the sin of the world, and that crushing weight brought with it every single painful human emotion. He truly became “a man of sorrows,” experiencing deep, raw pain for you and for me.

Jesus Gets It

Let’s be real for a moment. Have you ever felt really lonely? Have you ever thought your friends or family left you hanging? Have you ever felt like no one understood what you were going through? Have you ever had a hard time figuring out or saying yes to God’s plan for your life?

If you’ve felt any of those things, then you’ve got a small idea of what the Lord Jesus went through when He struggled so hard in Gethsemane. It’s a sobering thought, isn’t it? To think that the Son of God, our Savior, knows exactly what that gut-wrenching feeling is like.

Empathy: A Two-Way Street

But here’s something important to remember, and it’s the main point for today. Our own tough experiences actually help us connect, even if it’s just a little bit, with what Jesus went through. When we feel sorrow, we can say, “Jesus felt this too.” And because He felt it, He truly understands us.

It works both ways. His experiences allow Him to feel for us in our struggles. He doesn’t just know about human pain; He lived it. He experienced it firsthand. So, when you’re going through something hard, you’re not talking to someone who’s just heard about it; you’re talking to someone who’s been there.

Fully Human, Fully God

Jesus came to earth as both completely God and completely human. He experienced joy, yes, but also pain, hunger, thirst, rejection, betrayal, and deep sorrow. He even asked God if there was any other way for His plan of salvation to work out—a way that didn’t involve Him suffering so much. That shows us His real humanity, His real struggle.

Because He walked in our shoes, He can relate to us on the deepest levels imaginable. This is what makes Him the perfect One to turn to, no matter what you’re facing. He isn’t distant; He’s right there with you, understanding your hurt, your fear, your confusion.

Our High Priest Understands

The writer of Hebrews put it so clearly for us:

“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (Hebrews 4:14–16 nlt).

Think about that. You don’t have to clean yourself up before you come to Him. You don’t have to pretend you’re strong when you feel weak. You can come to Him exactly as you are, with all your messy feelings and tough situations. He understands your every weakness because He lived them too. And He didn’t just understand; He lived through it without giving in to sin, making Him the perfect example and helper.

Come to Him Confidently

So, no matter what kind of situation you’re dealing with right now, you can come to the Lord with full confidence. You can know, without a doubt, that He will give you the comfort, the wisdom, the direction, or the healing you need. He isn’t too busy, and He won’t turn you away. He’s the One who truly understands.