The Nature of Jesus? Temptations and the Bible

cup could be removed from Him … “yet not My will, but Thine be done” (Lk 22:42). Concerning His sweat becoming “like drops of blood,” some have speculated that the pressure may have been so intense that blood vessels were bursting – and may have colored, or somehow otherwise affected the sweat, so as to spawn this correlative notation about its characteristics. I don’t know. But, what I am confident about … is that His spirit was willing to obey the Father even to death upon a cross – but His flesh was weak … not flawed, but “weak” (Mt 26:41). The temptation – was to disobey the Father’s revealed will … and call on those twelve legions of angels for deliverance (Mt 26:53).

Of course, I don’t think He even needed them. As He exited His prayer spot, He confronted His arresting party and “said to them [not asked them], ‘Whom do you seek?’ They answered Him, ‘Jesus, the Nazarene.’ He said to them, ‘I am.’ … When therefore He said to them, ‘I am,’ they drew back and fell on the ground.” Jesus then repeated the question and proceeded to dictate the terms of His arrest – and they cooperated (Jn 18:4-9). This knockdown … changed the dynamic of the entire arrest. I am quite certain this blow was a only intended to get their attention – and secure the release of the disciples. He could have just as easily pinched their nostrils closed and ushered them all into eternity. “Ego eimi,” (“I am”) is the designation for God Almighty – going back to Moses and the burning bush (Ex 3:14). The temptation … was to use His power for self-deliverance.

The whole passion was a massive temptation in this regard. As early as John

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