Easter Thoughts 2016

Folks,

It's now March 2016, closing in on Easter.  Recently some thoughts have been on my mind.

In Luke's Gospel, Chapter 22 (NASB), it is reported:

⁴³ Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. ⁴⁴ And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

I've read/heard this many times in my 75 years of life. Numerous commentators have offered their thoughts on it. Some say that Jesus was concerned about the agony which was to ensue in the next hours. I have always struggled with that interpretation.

I'd like to throw out some thoughts which came to me.  I think that Jesus was facing the greatest temptation of all. He knew that He was God incarnate. In Matthew's Gospel, Chapter 26 (NASB) it is reported:

⁵³ Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?” 

I think that Satan was tempting Jesus in the ultimate way.  I don't think the thought of pain which was to occur was a problem to Jesus.  I think Satan was talking to him as he had done earlier, look at Matt 4:

⁸ Again, the devil *took Him to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; ⁹ and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and
worship me.” ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”

Jesus was calling upon all of His abilities to resist that temptation.  All Jesus had to do was to "Say the word" and things would have been different.  More than 72000 angels would have appeared at His command. But that would have been against God's plan.  Jesus knew that and I think that was his struggle.  He had the power, but He had to suppress it.  So tempting, but He knew He had to submit to God's plan.