Originally posted by chaney3
There are hundreds of scriptures where Jesus is praying to God the Father. That implies that Jesus is praying to 'somebody else'. In the garden....Jesus asks 'God' if this cup can be passed....meaning....did He have to die on the cross. Jesus was talking to 'somebody else'...
Mark 14:36: "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what
I will, but what
thou wilt." (my italics)
This shows what being one with God means: it means submitting one's own will to that of the divine will, it means willing what God wills. It clearly cannot mean that one
is God. Many mystics have made exactly the same assertion, of being one with God. Or "
at one with God" is perhaps a less misleading phrase. A number of mystics were put to death for claiming to be one with God, precisely because the churchmen did not understand this, the churchmen took them to be saying they
were God--which would, of course, be blasphemy.
If you have ever ridden a horse, perhaps you know the feeling of being (at) one with the horse. It means anticipating its every move, and it yours. It does not mean you are, or think you are, a centaur.
Mark 14:36 could not be plainer: Jesus is addressing the divine will, something he takes to be separate from himself, but to which he is prepared to submit. That moment when Jesus prays in the garden is one of the most powerful scenes ever written. He knows he will be betrayed by one of his disciples, subjected to 'enhanced interrogation techniques', and put to a horrible death. He struggles to conform his own will to that of the divine will. And it was bloody terrifying, knowing what God expected of him. "Take away this bitter cup from me..." is the voice of a terrified man crying out. Whereas "... nevertheless not what
I will, but what
thou wilt" is the voice of a prophet who sees himself as an instrument of a separate and higher will.
"I could take this bitter cup from myself, but I won't because I will it so" is nonsense.