Perfecting Jesus

Text: Hebrews 5:5-10

Theme: Jesus needed to be perfected in the reality of human obedience.

Key verses: “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered, and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” (v. 7-9 NIV).

What God said to me: Dwayne, make no mistake that Jesus was and is and has always been perfect in all his ways, in his character, his wisdom, and in his sinlessness. When he came to earth, he took the form of a human man; yet, there was not one shred of rebellion in his heart. He always did what pleased his Father. He always sought my will and did my will. Though tempted he never sinned. He was the sinless, perfect Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. However, there was one way in which he was not yet perfect. He was not yet the perfect example of obedience. You see, we may say someone is obedient, but one can only truly be called obedient after he has actually been obedient. Furthermore, it’s questionable how true one’s obedience is until that person has gone through suffering to prove his obedience. One may think himself to be obedient, but until he walks through trials and temptations he cannot truly understand what it takes and what it means to be obedient and to experience true obedience. Jesus learned obedience. It was not something he could have fully understood when he was born. He had to be obedient to learn obedience. He had to choose my will over his own, time and time again, each and every day. Think of when Jesus prayed in the Garden, “If it be your will, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.” That was evidence of a conscious choice he made to be obedient to me, even if it meant death on a cross. He made a choice to obey me when he didn’t defend himself at his trial. He made a choice to obey when he picked up his heavy cross and carried it up the hill toward Calvary. He made a choice to be obedient when he didn’t call angels to rescue him from the soldiers who mocked him and nailed him to the cross. My Son, my only begotten precious Son, experienced true obedience. His understanding and his demonstration of obedience became perfect once he had actually obeyed me even through his darkest moments.  Dwayne, you could stand some more perfecting in obedience too. Learn it. Do it.

What I said to God: Wow, thank you Lord for speaking so clearly to me through Your Word. I know this is a debated passage, and I certainly don’t claim to have fully grasped its meaning when it says Jesus was made perfect. However, I must say this does resonate with me and convict me on many levels. I am far from the perfect example of my Savior, and I am so incredibly grateful that He didn’t stop short of total and selfless obedience. He went all the way to and through death on a cross. I believe He did that for the joy that was set before Him of pleasing His Father and of having us as His brothers and sisters in eternity with Him. Please help me not loose sight of the joy that’s set before me, if I’ll just remain obedient–and thank You for Your kind mercy and grace and patience during those times when I’m not obedient.