Were Christ's Two natures in Conflict?

Great Debates
1

As a man, Jesus had human urges and defects. as God, he was perfect. So, did his two natures ever conflict? take his (sometimes) pettiness:

  1. he blasts the barren fig tree
  2. he dismisses his critics" the poor you will have always…"
  3. he he dismissed his desciple’s human failings" “leave the dead to bury the dead”
    There are other gospel passages that seem to show such a conflict-for example, he is disinclined to help the hapless host of the Wedding feast at Cana: only his mother’s intervention stirs him to perform a miracle. Or, take the example of the “Good Centurion”- Jesus initially tells the officer to buzz off-but after reflection, decides to help the guy’s servant out.
    So, were the two natures (divine and human) in conflict?
    Of course, afetr his transfiguartion (on Mt. Tabor)-was Jesus no longer in conflict?
2

They may be in conflict, but I’m not sure it matters. When something falls to the ground, there’s a conflict between gravity and electromagnetism, but that doesn’t shake my faith in physics.

3

Not necessarily in conflict, I think. I view him like Cecil—occasionally exasperated with the incompetents who surround him.

Besides, we see similar behavior from God throughout the bible. He gets angry, impatient, has to be moved to change His mind, etc.

4

Well, nearly all Christians believe Christ is fully human and fully divine even today - he did not cease to be human at any time. So supposing that conflict disappeared solely because some or other event happened is probably wrong.

5

The only example in the OP that I see as pettiness would be (1), and only if it’s taken at its most literal, superficial level rather than as “living parable” meant to convey a message. In fact, in the verses immediately following the cursing of the tree, Jesus uses it as an opportunity to explain that through faith, one can do seemingly impossible things.

As for Jesus (God) being persuaded to help someone out, isn’t that one of the main reasons for prayer?

6

I would never dare to speak for Him, but all I have read suggests he was indeed a man. Subject to all of the failings that men are subject to.

7

I think it would become a little more interesting if, sometimes, things started floating in midair.

IANAChristian, but i’d say so. The turning out of the temple seems to me the acts of a person quite thoroughly pissed off. On the other hand, how might we know to seperate the two natures if we don’t understand the divine one? It could be he acted at all times divinely. We don’t really have much to compare against.

8

I don’t regard any of the example you gave as human failings. Now, if we had any reason to believe Boy Jesus struck neighborhood bullies dead & only brought them back to life to keep out of trouble, that would have been a failing.

Was there tension between the Natures? Perhaps- certainly seems that way in Gesthemane. Conflict- I don’t think so.

Btw, I love the book & the movie THE LAST TEMPTATION… although I understand why lots of people don’t. Kazantzakis & Scorcese dare to deal with the issue. I believe they get it wrong, but at least they deal with it.