Posted by Pastor Steven on November 11, 2002 at 14:45:56:
In Reply to: Just because posted by Fiiiyer on November 11, 2002 at 13:42:29:
: But did Jesus live in FEAR of death? Or did he live in acceptance of death and the saving Grace that came along with it? He knew what was coming...and being who He is, He may have been able to transcend all the human type fear of death and impending agony and look forward to being able to save all of us.
I don't think Jesus lived in fear of any kind. He taught against fearing anything but God; God alone is to be reverenced. He wouldn't be much of a messiah if he couldn't even keep his own teaching.
I do think He experienced dread of what was about to happen while in the Garden of Gethsemane praying. But he did not submit to it, and completed his mission undeterred. This is the only event where anyone could really argue that Jesus felt fear. Nowhere in the NT does it explicitly say that he experienced "fear" though.
There is a bad translation of Hebrews 5:7 in the KJV that makes it look like he feared death:
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...
But consider these better translations of Hebrews 5:7-9:
NIV
During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered
and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him...
NRSV
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered;
and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him...
NKJV
...who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,
though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him...