How can Christ's will differ from that of the Father?

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DennyO

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In the Gospel at Holy Thursday mass tonight, I heard the famous verse “Not my will be done but yours.”

As a father, it would be so nice to have that type of respect from a son. But, drilling down to the logic of this, it seems to lead me into the mysteries of the trinity, into a grey area of sorts.

First off, for Jesus to have distinct will from the Father implies some division within the Godhead. So, is this matter of distinct wills part of the recognition that the Trinity is composed of distinct persons?

Secondly, being perfect, and all knowing, it would seem that their wills would have to mirror each other. Yet, they do not. What I mean by this concern or question of sorts, is that it implies that there are things Jesus himself does not fully understand, and recognizes that lack in Himself, to defer to the Father. We know that Jesus is not selfish, so it could not be that Jesus seeks to avoid the agony facing Him, if He knows fully well the rationale for the crucifixion.
 
Hi,

Remember that Jesus has two natures: one that is divine and one that it human. In His divine nature He is equal to the Father in every way. But His human nature is subject to the Father. This is why He could experience fear and all the rest of the agony He suffered during the passion. He is truly God AND truly man.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.
 
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