Does Jesus have two wills?
In Mark 14:36, Jesus prays, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.”
But, if Jesus is God, then isn't His will God's will? Why does it appear that His will has to conform to God's?
Remember that, in the incarnation, Jesus became like us in every way. That includes developing a human will. As such, while He never sinned in His flesh, His will had to learn submission by facing temptation and overcoming it.
In fact, the teaching that Jesus only has a single will (divine) rather than two wills (human and divine) is heretical. Calvin explains,
But, if Jesus is God, then isn't His will God's will? Why does it appear that His will has to conform to God's?
Remember that, in the incarnation, Jesus became like us in every way. That includes developing a human will. As such, while He never sinned in His flesh, His will had to learn submission by facing temptation and overcoming it.
In fact, the teaching that Jesus only has a single will (divine) rather than two wills (human and divine) is heretical. Calvin explains,
This passage shows plainly enough the gross folly of those ancient heretics, who were called Monothelites, because they imagined that the will of Christ was but one and simple; for Christ, as he was God, willed nothing different from the Father; and therefore it follows, that his human soul had affections distinct from the secret purpose of God. But if even Christ was under the necessity of holding his will captive, in order to subject it to the government of God, though it was properly regulated, how carefully ought we to repress the violence of our feelings, which are always inconsiderate, and rash, and full of rebellion? And though the Spirit of God governs us, so that we wish nothing but what is agreeable to reason, still we owe to God such obedience as to endure patiently that our wishes should not be granted. For the modesty of faith consists in permitting God to appoint differently from what we desire. Above all, when we have no certain and special promise, we ought to abide by this rule, not to ask any thing but on the condition that God shall fulfil what he has decreed; which cannot be done, unless we give up our wishes to his disposal.[1]
[1] John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark,
and Luke, vol. 3 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible
Software, 2010), 233.