Jesus Afraid?

[Beetow]

• Matt 26:42 . . He went away a second time and prayed: My Father, if it is not
possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.

Jesus must've been really dreading the ordeal that he was facing because he
prayed like that three times.

During the incident, an angel showed up.

• Luke 22:43 . . Now an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening Him.

I've been curious for some time now to know exactly what that angel did to
strengthen Jesus. Did it bring him some water, or a bite of high energy food?
Possibly.

This next verse gave me a hint.

• Luke 22:44 . . And being in agony, he was praying very fervently; and his sweat
became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

The Greek word translated "agony" basically refers not to pain, but to struggle.

Well; I may be wrong about this but I suspect Jesus was right on the edge of panic,
and thinking seriously about bolting for the door-- so to speak --when his Father
sent that angel to calm him down because oftentimes when people are in a high
state of anxiety; they can't think straight. (cf. Matt 4:11)
_

 

[Bug]

I'm afraid

 

[Christina2000]

• Matt 26:42 . . He went away a second time and prayed: My Father, if it is not
possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.

Jesus must've been really dreading the ordeal that he was facing because he
prayed like that three times.

During the incident, an angel showed up.

• Luke 22:43 . . Now an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening Him.

I've been curious for some time now to know exactly what that angel did to
strengthen Jesus. Did it bring him some water, or a bite of high energy food?
Possibly.

This next verse gave me a hint.

• Luke 22:44 . . And being in agony, he was praying very fervently; and his sweat
became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

The Greek word translated "agony" basically refers not to pain, but to struggle.

Well; I may be wrong about this but I suspect Jesus was right on the edge of panic,
and thinking seriously about bolting for the door-- so to speak --when his Father
sent that angel to calm him down because oftentimes when people are in a high
state of anxiety; they can't think straight. (cf. Matt 4:11)
_

It shows that Christ was fully man as well as fully God. He felt all that we feel. We cannot say he didn't understand our suffering.
He knew the agony he must face.
So we can be sure He will help us no matter what we are afraid if.

 

[Beetow]

It shows that Christ was fully man as well as fully God. He felt all that we feel. We
cannot say he didn't understand our suffering. He knew the agony he must face. So
we can be sure He will help us no matter what we are afraid if.

Yes-- I sincerely believe that the WORD of John 1:1-3 and John 1:14 came into the
world as an ordinary man rather than a divine man because only by being ordinary
could he ever truly relate to the lives of ordinary people.

• Heb 4:15 . . This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all
of the same trials we do.

• Isa 53:3 . . A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:

Rainy day people always seem to know when it's time to call.
Rainy day people don't talk, they just listen till they've heard it all.
Rainy day lovers don't lie when they tell 'ya they've been down like you.
Rainy day people don't mind if you're cryin' a tear or two.
(Gordon Lightfoot, 1975)
_

 

[Beetow]

• 1John 4:18 . . There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because
fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

That verse is sometimes utilized to prove that seeing as how Jesus was a sinless
man, therefore he was fearless. But that passage has nothing to do with ordinary
fear; it's about fear related to one's future existence in the afterlife.

• 1John 4:16-18 . . God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on
the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.

There are denominations-- e.g. Roman Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist --whose
adherents are unsure of their future in the afterlife. They're hoping for the best
whilst in the backs of their minds dreading the worst; which indicates to me that
their association with God is not on the best of terms.
_

 

[Christina2000]

• 1John 4:18 . . There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because
fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

That verse is sometimes utilized to prove that seeing as how Jesus was a sinless
man, therefore he was fearless. But that passage has nothing to do with ordinary
fear; it's about fear related to one's future existence in the afterlife.

• 1John 4:16-18 . . God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on
the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.

There are denominations-- e.g. Roman Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist --whose
adherents are unsure of their future in the afterlife. They're hoping for the best
whilst in the backs of their minds dreading the worst; which indicates to me that
their association with God is not on the best of terms.
_

I think you could be right.

 

[Curtis]

Jesus was not fearful of dying for that was his Fathers will. What he did NOT want to do is die before reaching his cross. Most people who were flogged as severely as Jesus died. No use crucifying an already dead person.

 

[B-A-C]

Not wanting to do something doesn't always = fear.

I used to be a fireman. I wasn't afraid to go into burning houses, and in fact I did so a number of times.
But just because I wasn't afraid to do something, doesn't mean I wanted to do it. I would avoid it if I could.

Just because Jesus didn't want to do something, doesn't mean He was afraid to do it.

 

[Christina2000]

Jesus was not fearful of dying for that was his Fathers will. What he did NOT want to do is die before reaching his cross. Most people who were flogged as severely as Jesus died. No use crucifying an already dead person.

It hurts me to think what our precious Lord endured for us. Eternity is not long enough to praise Him. No mortal love could compare.

 

[Curtis]

It is very interesting that the garden of "Gethsemane" was located on the Mount of “Olives” The name, “ Gethsemane” means, “Oil press” The first four letters “Geth” means, “press”, and the letters, “Semane” means, “oil”. Jesus was under great pressure to complete his mission which caused him to sweat great drops of blood as we read in the Gospels!! What we really don't read from the four Gospels we find in the book of Hebrews.

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications WITH STRONG CRYING AND TEARS UNTO HIM THAT WAS ABLE TO SAVE HIM FROM DEATH, and was heard in that he feared;

 

[Rockerduck]

Hello Curtis,
About Gethsemane meaning oil press. The Mount of Olives has, of course, olive trees. There are olive oil presses on the Mount. They put the olives in the press for the first "press" for extra virgin oil, the 2nd for a virgin grade, an a 3rd for industrial oil.. This actually went with the 3 times Jesus prayed. Heavy stone slabs were lowered onto the olives the press them. The weight of the sins of the world pressed down upon Jesus like a heavy slab of rock pressed down on olives in their pit. His sweat, "like drops of blood falling to the ground" (Luke 22:44), flowed from Him like olive oil as it was squeezed out and flowed into the pit of an olive press. As Jesus prayed 3 times, His pressure was increased on each prayer. His 3rd prayer was the most pressure, Just like an olive oil press.

 

[Beetow]

Though Jesus may, or may not, have known all the details pertaining to what was
in store for him, the prophet Isaiah gave him at least a hint of what to expect.

• Isa 52:14-15 . . there were many who were appalled at him-- his appearance was
so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness
--thus will he sprinkle many nations

The Romans whipped the Lord to within an inch of his life, slapped him around,
crowned him with thorns, and drove nails into his hands and his feet. But that was
child's play compared to what God did. By the time those hours of darkness around
the cross lifted; the Lord's own mother would have trouble recognizing him.

Though it's said that Christ was led to his death without protest (Isa 53:7)
according to the 22nd Psalm, Jesus did what any man would do when undergoing
severe abuse: he yelled at the top of his lungs with the strength and volume of a
roaring lion.

• Luke 23:48 . .When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw
what took place, they beat their breasts and went away.

Yes, of course they beat their breasts; and I suspect it was not only because of the
earthquake and the darkness, but also because they were having trouble catching
their breath. The extent of the Lord's injuries were so horrific that they could
scarcely tell he was the same man.

• Isa 53:5-6 . . But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our
iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds
we are healed.

. . .We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and
The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
_

 

[Beetow]

Most Christians will readily attest that Christ was fully God and fully Man, while in
reality they only believe he was a divine hominid rather than a bona fide h.sapiens
biologically related to Adam via David and Abraham.

Jesus was on track to become a high priest. Well; the letter to Hebrews says that
priests are chosen from among men because it's essential that they be able to
relate to the men they represent.

A divine hominid would likely have much in common with divine beings, but
certainly not all that much in common with human beings, viz: a divine hominid for
our priest would be like a bunny rabbit representing honey bees. It just wouldn't
work because the differences in the respective natures of those two species makes
it impossible for them to relate to each other.

• Heb 2:16-18 . .We all know that Jesus came to help the descendants of Abraham,
not to help the angels. Therefore, it was necessary for Jesus to be in every respect
like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High
Priest before God. He then could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of
the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and temptation, he is able
to help us when we are being tempted.

• Heb 4:15 . . This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all
of the same trials we do.

• Isa 53:3 . . A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:
_

 

[Beetow]

• Heb 5:5-10 . . Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He
who said to him: You are My son; today I have begotten you-- just as He says also
in another passage: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

. . . In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud
crying and tears to the one able to save him from death, and he was heard because
of his piety.

. . . Although he was a son, he learned obedience from the things which he
suffered. And having been made perfect, he became to all those who obey him the
source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to
the order of Melchizedek.

That passage is sometimes construed to suggest that Jesus came into this world an
imperfect man and needed his rough edges smoothed off. No; it means that until
he underwent the many slings and arrows of outrageous misfortune that plague us
all, he was unsuitable for the priesthood.

And he was already pious, but Jesus didn't know by personal experience what it's
like to comply with God's requirements as an h.sapiens in a world gone mad with
evil till he gave it a try himself.

Great Spirit: grant that I may not criticize my neighbor
Until I have walked a mile in his moccasins.
( Native American Proverb )
_

 

[Beetow]

When I joined the US Army back in 1961, the government gave me a written test,
and put me through a rigorous physical exam, to make sure I had enough potential
to become a soldier. But it wasn't until I successfully completed boot camp that I
went from being a potential soldier to being a competent soldier.

Before coming into the world as a human being, the WORD lived a life of luxury,
power, and privilege; thoroughly insulated from hardship, disappointment, anxiety,
fear, danger, illness, aging, injury, fatigue, thirst, stress, hunger, despair, sadness,
loneliness, loss, grief, heartbreak, shunning, ridicule, rejection, harsh criticism,
abuse, demeaning comments, betrayal, poverty, etc. all the really disagreeable
stuff that at times make life definitely not worth the living.

As I was before boot camp; the WORD was born into human life with the potential
to become a high priest, but it wasn't until he successfully completed thirty plus
years of the slings and arrows of outrageous misfortune common to all men that he
became a competent high priest.

In other words: those years of rubbing shoulders and sharing experiences with the
human race were the WORD's boot camp. By the time he was all done and recalled
back home to be with his Father, he was fully prepared to go to work as a high
priest.

• Heb 4:15 . . This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all
of the same trials we do.

NOTE: In my opinion, there are far too many Christians out there preferring a
bullet-proof Jesus that nobody can relate to instead of a Jesus that's been thru the
mill and got himself all dented and scratched up same as they have. The distressing
part of it all is that they have been very effective with their sophistry that has but
one purpose; and that's to de-humanize him.

The danger is: When a rumor is repeated often enough, loudly enough, and by
people respected enough; in time the rumor becomes accepted as truth by the
masses without thought or question.
_

 

[Born Again 2004]

Though what you say sounds very plausible , I think you missed one crucial point:

Jesus is God and He knew ALL of what you pointed out before the foundation of ANYTHING! He didn't need to acquire ANYTHING to be who He is!

 

[Beetow]

I like the way that the NLT puts Mark 14:24 like this:

"My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death."

Well; I don't know about all you iron men out there, but I've been down Jesus' road
enough to know an anxiety attack (a.k.a. panic attack) when I see one. I'm
guessing that at this point in the garden, Jesus' knees were weak, his overall vigor
was ebbing, and he was feeling faint.

However, the Bible says that he was willing to go thru with his crucifixion because
of "the joy he knew would be his afterward". (Heb 12:2)
_

 

[Whendancer]

Every now and then, when my senses are "overwhelmed", I have an anxiety attack. Not so much from fear but of too much intake and not being able to stop the "racing thoughts" from information overload. Was that what was happening to my Lord? I don't know. But, once I am in His Kingdom of Love and Light, if He chooses to tell us what was going through His mind at the time...fine. If not....fine. I'll just be glad to just see Him as He sees me..right now.

 

[Keithw]

• Matt 26:42 . . He went away a second time and prayed: My Father, if it is not
possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.

Jesus must've been really dreading the ordeal that he was facing because he
prayed like that three times.

During the incident, an angel showed up.

• Luke 22:43 . . Now an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening Him.

I've been curious for some time now to know exactly what that angel did to
strengthen Jesus. Did it bring him some water, or a bite of high energy food?
Possibly.

This next verse gave me a hint.

• Luke 22:44 . . And being in agony, he was praying very fervently; and his sweat
became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

The Greek word translated "agony" basically refers not to pain, but to struggle.

Well; I may be wrong about this but I suspect Jesus was right on the edge of panic,
and thinking seriously about bolting for the door-- so to speak --when his Father
sent that angel to calm him down because oftentimes when people are in a high
state of anxiety; they can't think straight. (cf. Matt 4:11)
_

Jesus was mortal flesh. Who would want to face what he was facing? But he always put his Fathers will first. I agree when one is stressed out or in anxiety , The heart described at Jeremiah 17:9( The heart is more treacherous than anything, and desperate. Who can know it?) comes to the front. It looks as though it was occurring in Jesus as well for a brief time. The angel probably reminded him what was at stake. I surely cannot blame him for not wanting that kind of death forced upon him just because he did good.
Many say follow your heart--that is not a wise choice to do without Gods knowledge behind that. Probably why there are so many divorces. Few apply God over flesh in that scenario.

 

[th1bill]

With a little better than 32 years of study and living for Yashua ha'Mashiah the greatest lesson I've learned about the Scriptures has been to never add nor to ignore anything the Bible spells out to us. Yashua chose to endure the death of His human body before any of us, including Adam. breathed our first breath of fresh air. Some of you are guilty of this sin and I wish it not to be.