Did this fear come from Satan's hellish suggestion that Christ was utterly abandoned? There may be worse trials than this, but surely complete abandonment is among the worst.

"Look around you," Satan hissed. "You have no friend anywhere! Your Father has shut his heart against you. Not one angel in all of heaven will lift a finger to help. Heaven itself has turned its back on you. You are alone. And those companions of yours, the ones you've shared your heart with? What good are they now? Son of Mary, look at your brother James. Look at John, the one you love. Look at Peter, so bold with his promises. See how these cowards sleep while you suffer! You have no friend left in heaven or earth. All hell is against you. I have awakened every demon in the pit. I have sent word to every prince of darkness to attack you tonight. We will hold nothing back. We will unleash all our fury to crush you. And what will you do, all alone?"

This may have been the temptation. We think it was, because when the angel appeared to strengthen him, that fear lifted. He was heard in that he feared. He was not alone anymore. Heaven was with him.

Perhaps this is why he went to his disciples three times. As the hymn writer put it: "Back and forth three times he ran, as if he sought some help from man." He had to see for himself if it was really true that everyone had abandoned him. He found them all asleep. But maybe he drew some small comfort from realizing they slept not from betrayal but from grief. The spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak.

But mark this well: He was heard in that he feared. Jesus was heard in his deepest agony. My soul, you will be heard too.