The Golden Chain - Robert J. Wieland

18. Did Christ in His incarnation have to "keep
under" His "body" like Paul said he had to do
(1 Corinthians 9:26, 27)?
This is an important question. Paul learned
from Christ how to "keep under his body," for he
says, "I am crucified with Christ" (Galatians 2:20).
Of course, Jesus kept under His body! "I do not
seek My own will," He said. This is the very
essence of His being sent "in the likeness of sinful
flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh"
(Romans 8:3, KJV). Christ is our perfect Example
in self-control, temperance, purity, physical fitness,
and unselfish love.
19. But does not this imply that He was under a
life-long "tension "? That He had to repress
sinful tendencies?
In response, we ask a reverent question: was
Jesus under "tension" in the Garden of
Gethsemane? Was His desperate prayer, "If it be
possible let this cup pass from Me?" a mere actor's
role?
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