Learn He Obedience

Dear Brethren,

The people of Old Testament Israel were totally unable to live according to God's way of life. We, the people of New Covenant Israel, are able to live our Christianity.   "This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people."  (Hebrews 8:10)

For thirty-three and a half years, Jesus Christ was perfectly obedient to the will of His Father. He never sinned – not even once. What does the Scripture mean, then, when it says that Jesus learned obedience by the things that he suffered? Wasn’t Jesus always perfect… wasn’t He always obedient... wasn’t He always the author of eternal salvation?

“Though he [Jesus] were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. ” (Hebrews 5:8)

This verse is not indicating that Jesus was ever negligent in obedience to His Father. That is not what this verse is about. This is about a unique obedience unto suffering that rendered Jesus Christ eligible to be our perfect High Priest who indeed was touched with the feeling of our infirmities. Those things which He suffered completed and perfected Him. This verse shows that Jesus came to know what was involved in regard to obedience in fleshly temptations and trials. Jesus now knows fully the power of temptation. We can be sure that Jesus was tested to the maximum extent – to the ultimate. He knows our frame precisely, where we are weak and where we are strong, and is able to empathize with us (Psalm 103:14).  

"It became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." (Hebrews 2:10)

In Genesis we find that God the Father established the order of High Priest in Melchizedek for the purpose of providing mankind with an intercessor. We are introduced to the High Priest, Melchizedek, in Abraham’s day, long before the institution of the earthly office of High Priest in Moses’ day. Paul had to explain to the Hebrews of his day, how the office of High Priest had been advanced in Jesus Christ. He explained how the office of the Levitical priesthood had been changed, and how intercession to God was now made by the High Priest, Jesus Christ, and no longer by a High Priest of the lineage of Aaron.

Paul explained the difference between the priesthood of Melchisedec, and the priesthood of Jesus Christ. You might have been under the impression that they were exactly the same, because, after all, isn’t Jesus a High Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec? Yes He is, but Melchizedek’s Priesthood lacked an essential element, a necessary aspect that was missing until Jesus completed His course. 

Let’s be clear, Jesus and Melchisedec are one and the same, and in their order or succession, each was the High Priest of the most high God. In Abraham’s day, Melchizedek was High Priest. Today, Jesus Christ is High Priest, seated at the right hand of God. Melckizedek had no father or mother for he was not born into the world as men are. However, at that time He did not completely fulfill the role of High Priest – there was more to come.

Israel in the Old Testament did not have access to the Melchizedek priesthood. In that dispensation there was a need for a human priesthood. That human priesthood was established in Aaron and his sons at the time of Moses. The Levitical priesthood was established for the purpose of representing Israel before God. The instructions that God gave revealed the requirements of the Old Testament priesthood and taught the duties of that office. However, the blood of animals could not atone for the sins of the people. Aaron’s priesthood only typified and prefigured the true priesthood of Jesus Christ. 

The High Priest's office was a Godly assigned order for the express purpose of interceding to God on behalf of the people. Melchizedek was the first High Priest, and Jesus Christ followed in the order of Melchizedek. “It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” (Romans 8:34) Therefore, we are not defeated. We have a High Priest at the Father's right hand who makes intercession for us - we are able to live our Christianity.

Often times in life, we realize that other people do not comprehend the gravity of a trial that we are going through. They do not understand, because they have not been through the same trial themselves. We need to grow spiritually and learn to empathize with those in hardships, without having to go through the same problems that they are experiencing. Jesus was obedient to God's Will in every conceivable harsh trial possible, so that we would know of a surety, that Jesus identifies with our hardships. That is what distinguishes Jesus from Melchizedek, and qualifies Jesus to be our complete and perfect High Priest.

Jesus did not come to this earth in the form of an angel, but He came in the flesh, just like lowly man. "Truly, He took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham." (Hebrews 2:16) The thought here is that Jesus is able to understand completely what we are going through on this miserable earth – and come to our assistance – with mercy and compassion. "Wherefore in all things it behooved Him [Jesus Christ] to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2:17)

We all come to the point sometimes, where we think we cannot take it any more. Jesus was pushed beyond that point. Therefore, Jesus knows exactly what we are going through – in every case – pain, doubt, hurt, emotions, sacrifice, abuse, family troubles, loss of a loved one, exhaustion, fear of death, temptation, tears, agony, and despair. "For in that He himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted." (Hebrews 2:18) "[Jesus] can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that He Himself also is compassed with infirmity." (Heberws 5:2)

Jesus is a perfect High Priest for us. Through his suffering He has been through everything we experience, and even more than what we go through. Jesus Christ fully satisfied the requirements of the perfect High Priest. He is able to plead our case, intercede for us, mediate for us, and arbitrate for us. As our Advocate, He sponsors and supports before His Father. He is our propitiation, meaning that He even pays our debt and our fine for us. Jesus has experienced the tests and trials of this earth. We can never say, “There is no way Jesus could understand what we are going through.” He does understand – that is what qualifies Jesus to be our perfect High Priest. "For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15) 

Because Jesus now pleads our case, we are able to successfully live our Christianity with the aid of God’s Holy Spirit, not failing as the ancient Israelites did (Romans 8:26, 27). “But Jesus Christ, because he continues ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:24, 25)

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Sermon:

"Living Our Religion"