Wednesday 7 March, 2018

7 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. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus prayed heartfelt, fervent prayers and there were tears as he pleaded to God. He meant every word he prayed. His prayers were not out of a sense of obligation or ritual but because he knew the one he prayed to, His Father, who could answer those prayers.

Jesus learned obedience through the things he suffered on earth. Jesus submitted himself to the Father by continually obeying at each occasion and this lead to him being considered fully mature before God.   This maturity made Jesus the perfect high priest for all mankind.

We too learn trusting obedience through the things we suffer or go through today.   Funny, it’s not the good or easy times in life where we learn trusting obedience! It’s the tough, often very uncomfortable, times when we see God come through so powerfully when we are completely dependent upon Him. The more dependent and trusting upon God we become the more mature in Christ we are.

The wonderful thing about Jesus is that he can relate to suffering because he suffered. Jesus probably suffered more than most people. We have suffering, at some level, in common and that is why Jesus is considered the perfect high priest or bridge to God. He can relate! He continued to trust God through it all and sets us an example to follow.

Dear God, thank you for Jesus. Help us to obey and trust you as he did. Amen.

Written by Ps. Ainslie Woods