Final answer:
Jesus's reluctance to go to the cross is attributed to his human emotions and the duality of his divine and human natures, leading to his experience of suffering and doubt at the prospect of crucifixion.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Packer, Jesus was reluctant to go to the cross due to the human emotions and feelings he possessed. As a being with both divine and human natures, Jesus experienced suffering and doubt, with his reluctance emerging from the characteristics of his humanity.
In the moments leading up to the crucifixion, he expressed feelings of abandonment and doubt, famously questioning why God had 'forsaken' him, indicating a struggle with his painful fate. His earthly life, filled with hardships and conflicts with both the Roman authorities and Jewish leaders, culminated in the ultimate sacrifice made for the sins of humanity, evoking a deep, relatable sense of trepidation about his pending suffering and death.