December 15, 2022 – Thursday
Why Jesus Came – 6
Hebrews 5:8-9 KJV
8 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 NIV
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
Hebrews 5:8-9 NET
8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through the things he suffered. 9 And by being perfected in this way, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him
Comments
I know I have read these verses before, but I must not have paid attention as this time they shocked me, especially verse 8, KJV Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. I had never thought of Jesus as having to learn obedience and especially by suffering.
As God, Jesus had never suffered except along with the Father when He is described as long-suffering in Jeremiah 15:15, Lord, you understand; remember me and care for me. Avenge me on my persecutors. You are long-suffering—do not take me away; think of how I suffer reproach for your sake. But in various translations this is treated as slow to anger or Your patience instead of suffering. The suffering in such verses seems to be that of a father’s disappointment in a loved one or loved people. Thus, the slow to anger in many translations which we are so thankful for seems more correct.
But Jesus was both fully God and fully man, His suffering would be different, and it would be voluntary. When Peter sought to defend Jesus upon pulling his sword, Jesus said in Matthew 26, 52 Put your sword back in its place for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? That is 72,000 angels. Then in John 10:18 Jesus said about giving up His life, No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.
More proof of Jesus’ obedience. The night He was arrested and taken to trial, then finally flogged and crucified we read in Luke 22:42-44 He prayed to His Father, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Being fully man as well as fully God, He knew the incredible pain He would suffer in the flogging He would receive and during the crucifixion. Yet we can see His obedience in His words, yet not my will, but yours be done.
Then we come to verse nine and find once He was made perfect (demonstrated perfection) in His obedience, He became the authorand source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. This is why Jesus came, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him or He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. That was His purpose. He learned to suffer as mankind physically suffers to become our source of eternal salvation if only we would obey Him.
Bottom Line: Jesus’ and His Father’s love for us is unfathomable. What He sent His Son to suffer out of that love and what His Son did suffer out of that love was solely for the purpose of making eternal salvation possible for us.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, The plans You and Your Son put in place so we could have eternal salvation is beyond our understanding, yet all we can do is offer humble and reverent thanks for such love. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek