Sometimes, I read something or hear something that really hits me. Today, I read a section from the Book Radical by David Platt. He was explaining that Jesus didn't sweat blood b/c He was afraid of torture and death... this something I hadn't even thought about... many preachers have simply taught that Christ was scared of the physical pain He knew He would be enduring. Anyway, Platt explains that many a martyr have gone to their torturous death with joy and singing, very different from the idea we are given about Jesus before His death. Jesus didn't die just because He loved us and He wasn't fearful of physical death - Jesus knew the truth about what it would be like to endure the massive amount of God's wrath that was due the history of man... that's what made Him sweat blood.
This was almost shocking when I read it. Really? No one has ever mentioned that before in my presence! I have been going to church since I can remember, been to many Christian camps, went to a Christian University and have attended several bible teaching churches. But for some reason, this never comes up. Platt guesses some of that reasoning is because we like the loving picture of God, who sent his Son to physically die for us, more than we desire to know the True God, who took out the wrath of all of mankind on His only Son, who was perfectly righteous in all ways. This thought has my head spinning, and I think it will continue spinning for a while. I hope to grasp this concept more this year... I think if all Christians did, we would think a lot less about our physical life and a lot more about what Jesus was really dying for.
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