We have the three Synoptic texts (Matthew, Mark, and Luke).
We have the prophets that foretell the sufferings of Jesus. We have the
Messianic Psalms that foretell the sufferings of Jesus. We have the apostolic
epistles that tell the sufferings of Jesus. Whatever chance we stand of knowing
Jesus is in the texts.
The critics look for a cause of fear. Then they ridicule
Jesus for fear. That is a failure to observe the text.
The text says ekthambeo. The text says “sore
amazed.” The text says “unto death” meaning
dying here
and now. The text says an angel strengthened his dying body. Had the angel
not done, we would be looking at a corpse in a garden.
We are not looking for a cause of fear. We’re looking for a
cause of death. Without the angel, we would be conducting an autopsy.
In ekthambeo, Jesus saw a horror suddenly
assaulting him. The horror was killing him. That was the cause of death. What
was that horror? What causes a Triune Person to die? What causes a Mediator to
die?
________________________
1.
Classical criticism,
modern criticism,
Christian doubt and indifference, and the
usual suspects for explaining fear.
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