Obedience through suffering. Most of us at some point in out lives have experienced this. While the majority of of us don't remember a lot of it, for some it's a very vivid memory. What I'm talking about, at least in our case is that swat on the rear end when we didn't do what we were supposed to be dong the first time. It was inevitable, every time we disobeyed or did something very stupid, out came dads belt. Of course it wasn't always dads belt, it might have been a paddle of sorts or even a switch off a tree (thank you Grandma for that one). Now days it's a time out peering into a corner, having a favorite toy or privilege taken away or being held captive in ones room for days on end. Personally I preferred the spanking, yeah it hurt, but it was quick, to the point and I was typically back to playing in 5 minutes depending on who administered it. My point is is that we all suffered on some level in order to learn obedience.This past week a friend and I were studying through Hebrews chapter 5. Most of our time of discussion after our reading was on verses 7-10:
7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. (ESV)
Jesus did go humbly to the cross in total obedience to his heavenly father but he learned that obedience, through his suffering, before he went to the cross. Verse 7 says: "Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears". His suffering started long before he was nailed to the cross. His full obedience through suffering was designed in the cross and because of this obedience he was made perfect and became the source of our salvation.
Thankfully Jesus' full obedience to his heavenly father and his atoning work on the cross makes it possible for us to one day stand before God as obedient children.
