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For several years now, I have had an additional measure of appreciation for the victory our Lord accomplished.

Scriptures record that He was tempted in all ways. We know that after John's baptism, Jesus went into the desert and faced temptation over which He had victory. But I suggest the greater temptation was to escape the punishment inflicted by the cross.

We know that Jesus anguished in the Garden just prior to the betrayal. Could it me that Jesus, being God, faced the reality of Jesus as a man about to endure the worst pain of his life.

In plain words, if it were you or I nailed to the cross, we would have been stuck there. There was nothing in our own power that could have caused the punishment to stop, and the Romans were good at their jobs, death was certain. If anything, death was welcomed to stop the punishment.

However, Jesus suffered pain that certainly was a constant temptation, for at any moment, He could have decided that you and I were not worth His suffering, called forth the angels to minister to Him and His suffering would have ended.

When I add that thought to everything else we know from scripture I really become humbled. "For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross!"

Any thoughts about that? Is that a new awareness for anyone? Does that work with scripture?