Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] The Passion

[Stephen Montgomery-Smith <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

Mike Miller wrote:
> On Mon, 1 Mar 2004, Ross, Matthew wrote:
> 
> 
>>Mike Miller wrote:
>>
> Also, I don't think he had a lot of choice
> once things got going.  Was he allowed to stop at any time and say "OK, I
> give up, let's call it quits."?  I don't think so.  This wasn't Fear
> Factor!  Since he wasn't allowed to stop, how impressive was his
> persistence?
> 

I was under the impression that Jesus could have called an army of 
angels at any time and stopped the whole proceedings.


> 
> Right, but he did have some magical powers, didn't he?  I mean, he could
> turn water into wine, etc., so maybe he could turn his pain tolerance up a
> notch.  In fact, I know it isn't the usual Christian belief, but maybe it
> was *easy* for someone with his extraordinary powers to be beaten and
> crucified.  After all, he didn't seem to have a strong negative emotional
> reaction.  This is often attributed to strength of will, but maybe he just
> didn't find it to be that great of a challenge.
> 

I think that he felt it perhaps more fully than other people would.  It 
is certainly clear to me that Jesus did have a strong negative reaction. 
  For example, he was so worried about it before the event that he was 
sweating blood.  Indeed, my impression reading the gospels is that Jesus 
was somewhat grouchy in the days leading up to his crucifixion, and that 
it was hard for him to think of anything else.  I remember one instance 
in which some greek visitors asked one of the disciples if they could 
visit with Jesus.  When this request was taken to Jesus, he responded 
with a non sequiter, to the effect that unless a grain of wheat falls to 
the ground and dies, it cannot fulfil its destiny - obviously 
referencing the upcoming crucifixion.  What happened to the greeks' 
request we never do find out.  I think that the crucifixion bothered 
Jesus a lot, and that he would have found a way around it if there was 
some other way.




-- 

Stephen Montgomery-Smith
EMAIL:PROTECTED
http://www.math.missouri.edu/~stephen
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