Deliverance from the Cross — Page 66
that Jesus would have to suffer much for mankind but would, in the end, be saved by God and rise again. It explains this curious fear of death which does not seem to fit into the pattern of Christian teaching. Jesus knew he would be captured, indicted, scourged, and crucified, but was certain he would be saved, rise again, and live on. For this was the message of many prophecies in the Old Testament texts which were available in his time. Knowledge of the road he had to take was heavy on his mind. Roman execution techniques had been so well perfected that there seemed little hope that the prophets' predictions would be fulfilled. Nevertheless, he had to act as the Holy Scriptures and the will of God ordained. How much reason Jesus had to fear death emerges clearly from Mark, 14:36: 'Abba, Father, All things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what Thou wilt'. In the most direct and explicit manner Jesus implored God, the Father, to spare him: Take away this cup from me. The clear, definite, and certain conclusion is: Jesus did not want to die on the cross. Today, we are in a position to add a statement borne out by scientific proof as we shall see later that God, the Father, to whom Jesus prayed, answered the son's prayer and let the cup of death pass by; we can even 66