In Hebrews Chapter 5 we are told how Jesus learned obedience “by the things which he suffered”. This is how he became “the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him”.
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; {9} And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; – Hebrews 5:8-9 (KJB)
You might expect to read here “to all them that believe him” but you don’t. It is to “all them that obey him”. Jesus learned obedience to the Father “by the things which he suffered”. In like manner, we are to learn obedience to Jesus by the things which we suffer. This is the sense in that when you strive against sin, you will suffer in the flesh.
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. {17} For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. – Galatians 5:16-17 (KJB)
Samuel said in 1 Samuel 15:22, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice”. Paul tells us in Romans 6:16 that we can know whose servants we are by whom we obey.
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? – Romans 6:16 (KJB)
Jesus was obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Phillipians 2:8) There was a great struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane as Jesus prayed to the Father. Our Bible gives us three witnesses of Jesus overcoming and submitting to the Father’s will.
He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. – Matthew 26:42 (KJB)
And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. {36} And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. – Mark 14:35-36 (KJB)
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. – Luke 22:42 (KJB)
Jesus stated the principle of God in Matthew 18:16, saying, “in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.” In the three passages above, there is left no doubt that Jesus submitted his will to the Father’s will. Jesus obeyed perfectly to become “the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”.
Submit your will to Jesus and obey him. It will be a great blessing in your life to live in obedience to Christ Jesus.
God bless, Mike