“The most commonly accepted interpretation of Christ’s prayer in the Garden is that our Lord was seeking some way of avoiding the Cross. Yet, this seems entirely inconsistent with his thoughts and actions prior to and after this event.”
I always thought that the man side of the man/God Jesus was the source of this prayer.
If that “RB Theime” is the Bob Theime of Baracha Church in Houston, Texas, I opine -— while the man had great Biblical knowledge -— he was an agenda-driven nutcase.
As part of my seeking (I was (am) Jewish), I attended his church. Most hate-filled dysfunctional, unhappy place I’ve ever come across.
Had lots of semi-mathematical formulas that looked good, but didn’t add up.
That said, I have no idea on this issue.
No, I think what shook our Lord was that it was in Gethsemane that all of our sins began falling on Him, that this holiest, most innocent of beings felt the slimy, filthy taint of every sin ever committed on His perfect person as He became sin for us so that sin might be judged.
Shalom.
Here are the verses in Hebrews that indicate that Christ was, indeed, struggling with striving against the death on the cross ...
Hbr 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Hbr 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hbr 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Hbr 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Psalms 75 or 76 talks about the cup of FOAMING wine that each of us must drink from. In my case, this was right before the burden (the storm) hit my life.
Understand the meataphor?
Hematohidrosis can be brought about by extreme stress and, yes, we know that our Lord sweated blood. Luke the physician describes it. However, I agree with DonaldC that it was the human nature in Jesus, fully man and fully God, that wanted to avoid the cross.
Revelation 14:10 tells us what is in the cup. Christ was looking forward as to what would come. Now 'IF' it was the Will of the Heavenly Father this would not need be.
He was the source of life , healing and blessings and the prospect of crucifixion along with the curse would be abhorrent to Him and His nature. It was not that He was afraid, but this was so foreign and repulsive (like sin) that the only way He could endure was to be assured it was His Fathers will.