Post by captainbryce on Sept 8, 2017 22:24:24 GMT
Here's an interesting passage in Matthew:
So when Jesus says he could call on the Father to send angels to save him, does that mean he literally could have done so and events would have played out differently (and Scripture not be fulfilled)? Or is he merely saying he theoretically has the power to do so but he could not actually do it as that is not how the future is set out?
Yes, he could have literally done that
Jesus was second in command so he could do anything he wished.
Prophecy would have played out differently which means the outcome could have played out differently or he could have killed them all and allowed to be arrested still and be killed.
Wrong! I can't believe I'm about to do this, but in this case I actually have to agree with Erjen. The fact that Jesus was "second in command" (as you call it) is irrelevant. Jesus specifically stated that he can act ONLY in accordance with God's will (God in this case being the father, not the son).
John 5:19
Jesus gave them this answer: "Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does
John 6:38
For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me
John 8:28-29
So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”
Therefore the answer is NO. Jesus could not and would not literally have done that because that would have contradicted God's will. Events were always going to play out exactly as God preordained. Scripture must be fulfilled (otherwise it becomes useless, and God's word becomes useless). Jesus even proves this himself in a completely different example:
Matthew 26:51-54
With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”