Never Afraid

I don't think Jesus was ever afraid of anything, even crucifixion. I know it's tempting to read about his praying in the Garden of Gethsemane with sweat like drops of blood as an example of being frightened. But when I consider his actions at Gethsemane in light of the overall narrative of Scripture I see something else going on.

I go back about 600 years earlier when Jerusalem was being besieged by the Babylonians. The prophets, especially Jeremiah, had warned the people not to resist the onslaught. But they did. They rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, they rallied, they fought, they died, and they were carried off against their will into exile in Babylon. Not once did the people, the leaders, or the king ask God to let the Babylonian invasion pass. Instead of resisting they should have relied completely on the Lord.

I think that's what Jesus was doing at Gethsemane. He was about to be carried off to his own "exile", crucifixion, and he placed himself firmly into the hands of his Father. This was not fear. This was fulfillment. Jesus did what the people of Judah and Jerusalem should have done when facing invasion, and perhaps what the inhabitants of Jerusalem in his own day should have been doing instead of stoking the flames of rebellion against Rome.

It's interesting how we think Jesus was scared in Gethsemane. We think that way because "afraid" is something we would be if we were faced with impending death. Since we would be afraid, we think Jesus would've been afraid also. Somehow it makes us feel better if we think Jesus was afraid like would be, and oftentimes are. Fascinating how we project ourselves onto Jesus so that he becomes "just like me".

But Jesus was not afraid. He had no fear, not because he was brave or courageous or macho. It was because of love. His heart was full of love for the people. And being so filled with love, any fear he could have experienced would not have found any place to exist. Jesus loved because he knew he himself was loved completely and unwaveringly by his Father.

If only we could understand that as Jesus did.