If Jesus is God, why did he...?

Question

...Pray that God would spare him in the garden. I believe in God and Jesus, But it doesn't make sense to me that Jesus would go to the garden, pray to himself, asking himself to "let this cup pass from me" if it was His will that the crusifixion should happen.
I would like christions to answer this question please. Although I respect everyones beliefes, it not really helpfull to me for Atheists to answer this question saying "God doesn't exist" or "christianity isn't logical".

I would just like to add that I personally believe that Jesus is Gods son, not God himself. The main purpose of this question is to understand how those who believe in the holy trinity explain this point. Thankyou everyone for your answers.

Answer 1

Jesus is God, but he is one part of the Trinity that makes up God. There are God the Father (whom Jesus prayed to in the garden), God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit (who guides us now that Jesus has returned to heaven). Jesus was praying to God the Father.

People can't fully comprehend the idea of the Trinity, but it might be somewhat helpful to think of it like you think of the different forms of water--liquid, gas (steam), and solid (ice). They're all water, but they have different forms and functions. Likewise, the members of the Trinity are all God, but they are different from each other and have different functions. It is God the Father who ordains everything that happens, God the Son through whom we find salvation, and God the Spirit who guides us and gives us the strength to do what is right.

Jesus was submitting to God the Father's will, even though for Him personally it would have been more fun not to be crucified. He is a good model for how Christians should act--doing what is right even when it's difficult.

Answer 2

The trinity is composed of 3 persons that make up God. Each of God's persons has it's own characteristics. God the Father is the sovereign one, God the Son is Jesus -the savior , and God the Holy Spririt, reminds us of God's word, convicts, and comforts. They are all God (God is a spirit), but have different roles. Jesus makes intercession (prays) for us to the Father because he is God in the human form - who's fulfilling his role as being an earthly example to mankind for us to follow. Although they are all God, Jesus is praying to God the Father. Try to think of it in this way: if you are secretary and a wife, you have two roles, even though there is just one of you. Whatever role has has more bearing on your decision to work overtime on the night of your anniversary will be the one that rules. So, as the secretary, you consult with the wife in you and say "Should I tell my boss I can't do overtime today?" The wife in you would say, "YES! Go celebrate your anniversary."

Answer 3

Jesus continually spoke of personal submission to the Father. Understanding the trinity is the first step to understanding why Jesus prayed. He understood His relationship to God the Father and lived a life of example for us.
At the end of His prayer in the garden he closed with, "Not My will but Thine be done."
He knew what His purpose was on this earth and lived His life to fulfill that specific purpose. That purpose was the to glorify the Father through the redemption of mankind. He knew he was going to die on the cross and take upon Himself the sin of the world. The glorious part is that He did it without sinning.

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us it is the power of God. For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.' Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?"
1 Cor. 1:18-20

Answer 4

The answer I've always been given says something like this...

Jesus, as the son of God, has the power to stop the whole thing at any given time. But, as the son of God, he has an obligation not to. Just because he realizes that this is necessary doesn't mean he's looking forward to it.

Jesus is God in human form, and therefore is subject to all the fears and worries that the rest of us humans have. He act like the perfect example of a human is supposed to act, and turns His fears over to God. He asks God for the answer rather than trying to do it Himself.

I hope this helps you at least a little bit!

*I've always had trouble with the concept of the Holy Trinity. I understood it for one brief moment once, but now I can't remember why that was. I think that's kind of how we go through life... only truly understanding God for brief moments at a time.

Answer 5

Pray for the Revelation of Jesus Christ. I don't know that anyone can explain it and make another understand it. We know the Bible mentions the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. This is where many get confused. Know these scriptures and ask the Lord to reveal to you his word. This is a GREAT MYSTERY.

1 John 5:7
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.


1 Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Notice: "God was manifest in the flesh".

You may also want to read John 1:1-14. I'll go ahead and post it for you.

John 1
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2The same was in the beginning with God.
3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Notice in verse 1 the Word was with God and the Word WAS God. In verse 14 the Word was made flesh. God was made flesh.

Don't worry about it, pray about it. Study the scriptures. We see what it is saying but we don't always understand the whole subject. In time it will be revealed to you if you seek after it. It will come to you when you least expect it. It did for me. When you understand this it is a great help to your faith. Praying now in Jesus name has so much more meaning.

If I can be any more help feel free to email me.

Answer 6

Here we go let me try and help with the promting of the Holy Spirit.

it is not by chance that I am helping you here, for God has great plans for you.

For to long you have been misunderstood and even picked on by other for you are different.

This is what the Lord is say to you, you will rise up like a rocket and nothing will be able to stop you then. I have a plan a purpose for your life. I will go before you and level the crooked ways and you will be at the right place at the right time for I have called you by your name you are mine. I have engraved your picture on the palm of my hand. You are the apple of my eye and nothing will be able to pluck you out of My Hand.

You have been searching for a long time but you will know the truth and the truth will set you fee. Rest in me, and wait patiently for Me for I will reveale myself in a special way to you. You have great expectations but I will give you far and beyong what you have ever dreamt of. Be still for I will fight for you, the Egyptians you see today, you will never see anymore. I will fight for you.

Plan A was in the Garden of Eden: Because of disobedience Man was separated from God
God made a plan and Plan B came into action.

First of all you were created by God and when Plan B came into action, God (the Word) became flesh and dwelled amongs us. God is your creator but because God became flesh He had to be the perfect sacrificial Lamb, took our place on the Cross and bought us back with His Blood.

You are twice His, First of all He created you and then He bought you back.

"For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water..."

- Revelation 7

I have read that you speak about logic, but Faith over rides logic my friend. Without faith it is impossible to pleas God.

Look, I'm standing at the door and knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I'll come in and we'll eat together.

Only you can open the door for the handle is on the inside.
Take Care

Answer 7

"Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak." Mark 14:38

These are the words that the Lord spoke to His apostles the night that He prayed.Many that preach today often preach to themselves, I know that I do.Jesus was made of flesh just as you and I are.For this reason He was hoping for possibly another way, but the cost of sin was to great, His Father would not settle for anything less that the very best that heaven had to offer.NOTE: "The spirit truly is ready" in this verse, and rest assured that He was Willing.

You are so right, Jesus is God' Son.Note the word "both" in this verse.
"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath 'both' the 'Father' and the 'Son'." 2 John 1:9

Answer 8

Jesus was 'fully human' with the same emotions as ourselves even though he was divine. He was frightened just like you or me would be, but he still obeyed the will of his Father. The Blessed Trinity - one God in three persons. God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit.

best wishes


Star

Answer 9

I guess the God-haters ignored that last paragraph of yours.
Anyway:
Jesus was subject to bodily pain just as we were. He was also subject to the fear of the bodily pain, as we all would be. Think about this: If Adam and Eve never sinned, would they have died? Obviously not, so put that in Jesus shoes. He never sinned. If humanity hadn't been so awful, Jesus would have had the opportunity to live forever among us! No, Jesus was going to separate Himself. This is what Jesus did for us on the cross.
1. Gave up immortality
2. Gave up His life in general
3. Took the entirety of all sin to be or ever was
4. Separated Himself from His Spirit (also known as His Father), God can't deal with sin in any form. Jesus became sin for us and therefore separated Himself from God. Why do you think He cried out "My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me?"
5. Felt the pain of all the torture BEFORE being hung...and Isaiah says that's why we can be healed today.
6. Silently delt with the insults and spit of the very people that He had come to save.

Now, that's just the basic list. I think I would pray too if I knew all of that as to come. It was His will for the Crucifixion to happen, doesn't mean He didn't fear the pain and suffering that was to accompany it.

Answer 10

Jesus was both God AND man. His humanity was just like yours and mine: He was capable of feeling fear, pain and sorrow. Ask yourself this: if someone told you that the only way humanity could be reconciled back to God was for you to be stripped naked, whipped and beaten to the point that you were no longer recognizable, and nailed to a cross -- how would you feel? Wouldn't YOU pray to God and ask if there was some other way? I know I would! But while you or I would probably try to back out of this mission, Jesus didn't. He was completely obedient to the will of His Father and willingly sacrificed Himself for us all.