Christ’s Perfect Humanity

Christ, as one divine person didn't grow in truth, grace or virtue in His divine or human natures. His human nature was always sinless and perfectly united to His divine nature in what's called the hypostatic union. His human intellect beheld the beatific vision from the moment of His conception, confirming His human nature in a state of sanctifying grace.

Christ asked questions to teach, not to learn. Luke 2:46 reads, "They found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions." Christ, who is the master rabbi or teacher, asked thought-provoking questions as all teachers do. He wasn't lacking in understanding as Luke 2:47 attests, "And all, that heard Him, were astonished at His wisdom and His answers."

Luke 2:52 reads, however, "Jesus increased in wisdom and age and grace with God and men." Pope St. Gregory the Great, Church Father and Doctor of the Church, teaches that Christ chose to increasingly manifest His wisdom and grace to men at opportune times. He is clear, however, that Christ never actually increased in wisdom or virtue as He aged.

Christ didn't fearfully vacillate in spirit regarding His salvific mission such as in the Garden of Gethsemane when in Matthew 26:42 He prayed, "My Father, if this chalice cannot pass away, but I must drink it, Thy will be done." This was not said in fear at His impending crucifixion. It was, however, the foreseen loss of reprobate souls that caused Him in Matthew 26:38 to cry out, "My soul is sorrowful, even unto death."

This understanding was confirmed to St. Faustina as stated on day nine of the Church-approved Divine Mercy Novena, which reads: "My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: 'Father, take this cup away from Me if it be Your will.'"

Get to know Christ the King in season two of Majesty of the Faith—The King.