Note 13 — Chapter III · RETIREMENT TO THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, ARREST, TRIAL, CONDEMNATION AND CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS.

While Olshausen falls back on the ecclesiastical theory, and authoritatively declares that the supposition of external corporeal suffering having called forth the anguish of Jesus, ought to be banished as one which would annihilate the essential characteristics of his mission; others have more correctly acknowledged that in that anguish the passionate wish to be delivered from the terrible sufferings in prospect, the horror of sensitive nature in the face of annihilation, are certainly apparent.13 With justice also it is remarked, in opposition to the reproach which has been cast on Jesus, that the speedy conquest over rebellious nature removes every appearance of sinfulness;14 that, moreover, the shrinking of physical nature at the prospect of annihilation belongs to the essential conditions of life;15 nay, that the purer the human nature in an individual, the more susceptible is it in relation to suffering and annihilation;16 that the conquest over suffering intensely appreciated is greater than a stoical or even a Socratic insensibility.17