ACC ~ Mark 7 v24b

WAS JESUS POWERLESS TO KEEP HIS IDENTITY AS GOD-MAN CONCEALED?

JOHN OF DAMASCUS: His divine will was all-powerful, yet it was said that he was unable to conceal himself when he willed to. Why? It was while willing within the limits of his humanity that he was [voluntarily] subject to the limitations of the flesh. As a human he possessed the common human ability to will. … The sanctification of his will did not occur by circumventing his natural volition but by uniting his will with the divine and almighty will, as the will of God incarnate. Hence when he wished to be hid, he could not do so of himself, [1] because it pleased God that the Word be revealed in himself as having the limitations of human willing. THE ORTHODOX FAITH 3.17. [2]

[1] Mk 7:24.

[2] TLG 2934.004, 58.101-103; 61.24-30; FC 37:300, 317**. Jesus’ human will is portrayed as freely uniting with the divine will without changing or replacing its reality as limited human willing (fleshly, limited, circumscribed willing), and in this sense his humanity “could not be concealed.” Hence Jesus was unwilling to conceal his human willing, his subjection to the limitations of the flesh.