Post
by JonathanVaughan » Wed Jan 06, 2016 7:38 am
This is an old thread, but there's something that hasn't been mentioned here as a possibility for why Satan first attempted to disqualify Jesus from the cross and then hastened his death on it. Consider the nature of temptation and the great advantages enjoyed by Satan. It does not matter much what sin Satan gets someone to commit, so long as one is in bondage to sin. In Jesus' case this is amplified, because any one sin would have disqualified him. The temptation in the desert and the incident with Peter both proved that Jesus is on his way to the cross. But were there still possibilities open to Satan? I think one should consider the nature of being betrayed and how it feels. Satan entered Judas to make certain this would happen, the disciples fled. All it would have taken is for Jesus to have entertained thoughts of their betrayal, how a sinless man like He was should not have to go to the cross for such ingrates, and there you could have the beginnings of pride, and thus of self-will that excluded that of the Father's. Add to this the scourging, the trial by insincere jews and carnal gentiles...
Granted, this is a desperate move on Satan's part, but the time was drawing short, wasn't it?
Jonathan Vaughan
Narrow Path Listener
Grabber of My Children's Cheeks