Did Jesus Desire Evil In Gethsemane?

I do not think Jesus desired evil. It was the plan of the Son as much as of the Father that Christ die for our sins. But this was to be a free will act of sacrifice - not under compulsion not a forced execution.

In a free will system it is not "sin" to fail to sacrifice yourself to unspeakable torture on behalf of others. Such a free will act is "free will" for the very reason that it WOULD be ok to choose life instead! Otherwise it is merely forced execution.

Christ could easily say "Mankind is hopeless, filled with sin, trying to slay the one who has come to save them and EVEN the disciples will run from me and deny me! Let mankind suffer his own fate - I return to the Father and the worship of the Angels".

Had He done that - it would be no sin to His account!

In Christ,

Bob

 

no...

1Peter 2:22 (Jesus)Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

 

I like this post, thanks Bob. It would have been sinful to have desired evil, and he committed no sin.

 

Since the Word of God affirms that Jesus never sinned, neither was guile found in His mouth, when Christ was agonizing in the garden of Gethsemane that evening, His statement, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [wilt], shows us He was willing to follow the Father's will all the way. The little word 'if' indicates that Jesus was not desiring evil at all, but that God's will be done whichever way God would have it to go.

 

Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Desiring something that is against God's will for you is sin according to Matthew 5:28.

James 1:14, 15 do not mean it is not sin until one actually performs that which is in the heart.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?

 

Jason,

Doesn't matter. Jesus didn't walk away from the cross, and therefore the Scriptures were fulfilled. Discussing how they would have been fulfilled otherwise is pointless and fruitless.

If I follow your reference to James 1:14-15--it is not the evil lust that renders one a sinner--and I agree with you that Jesus desired not to drink of the cup (which I don't), then Jesus still was not guilty of sin because of the same verses you used; i.e., James 1:14-15--it is the gratifying of the evil lust that renders one a sinner; Jesus did not gratify the desire to "walk away," thus Jesus was not a sinner.

Question for you: What's your motivation for this line of reasoning?

 

</font>[/QUOTE]Actually no, I didn't. I think that was Bob Ryan. So I still stand with my "doesn't matter, because He did it" comment.

You noted that it was God's will by using 26:42; and then quoted Matthew 26:39. Take a look at 39, 42, and 44. Take a look at the wording of 42: "if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."

The wording the second time around is different. The first time sounded questionable: "if it be possible, let this cup pass from me," followed by "nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."

The subsequent phrasing of His prayer the next 2 times is, 'if it's my responsibility, if I'm the only one that can do it, thy will be done.' (please pardon the paraphrasing)

He knew what would happen, the scourging and torture and torment that He was about to face. I don't think there's any evil in asking, "If it be possible, let this cup pass from me" in the face of the atrocities about to be visited upon Him. If anything, it shows how much God made Himself human in order to be the sacrifice for us.

Further, He knew the scriptures better than all; how could He have an "evil desire" in His heart, knowing that God works all things for good?

I think the subsequent phrasing of v. 42, followed by reiteration in v. 44, shows His willingness to be obedient and carry out the plan, rather than a desire to go against God's will.

And finally, I have to add, the Scriptures show us that He was without sin, without evil. If He did have an evil desire, then Scripture has contradicted itself, and is therefore questionable in all points. Jesus was sinless, and therefore had no evil.