SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 5
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. [Hebrews 5:8-10]
Jesus was born without a sinful nature (like Adam and Eve), but He still had to prove Himself (again, like Adam and Eve) by choosing the right path, resisting temptation, remaining faithful to God.
He was born sinless, but it was through His obedient choices all the way to death that He was “made perfect”.
He had to suffer through life, through Satan’s assaults, through disappointment and torture, and stay true and faithful to God to the very end.
This is what it means when it says that he learned obedience from what he suffered.

But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” [Matthew 3:14-17]
Although Jesus was a son, Jesus chose to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness – that is, to do what is right.
He submitted to God in everything that we need to submit to, including the humiliation of repentance and faith (as symbolized by baptism).
When He does so, God affirms His love for Jesus, because of His obedience (with whom I am well pleased).
Every time Jesus obeyed God through the trials of life, God repeated this affirmation.
And at the end when Jesus said “it is finished”, God confirmed Jesus’ righteousness by once and for all designating Him as the perfect priest.
No more need for human temple or priesthood, the curtain is torn and the way to God is once and for all opened!
** Note: The reference to Melchizedek is to a priest of another order, not Aaron’s line of priesthood. We know nothing else about him except what we read in Genesis 14:18-20. For the Jews he became a symbol of a different kind of priest, not like the sinful ones that served in the temple.

But the lesson for me today is that it was a battle for Jesus, and it will be a battle for me too.
Though I still have a sinful nature, I also have Jesus as my intercessor, and His Spirit as my strength.
With His help, I too can learn obedience through what I suffer, and please God by fulfilling all righteousness.
I cannot do it perfectly, like Jesus did, but I do not need to… I just need to do my best with His help.
It is a day by day process, three steps forward and two steps back, but more forward than backward.
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. [Luke 2:52]
With His help, this can be said of me too.

But we need to grow, and this is what the writer of Hebrews also mentions.
In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! [Hebrews 5:12]
We are like babies that refuse to be weaned, we are not growing up.
I could be so much more than I am right now, I should be so much more.
But so many times when the pressure hits me, I give in to the temptation.
I do not learn obedience through my trials; if I did I would grow in wisdom and stature.
Today I hear the Lord challenging me to follow Him through the battlefield of hardship and temptation, to refuse to follow Satan’s deceptions and distractions, to choose with Jesus the right path (no matter how hard) and to hear along the way God’s repeated affirmation – You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.

PRAYER:
Lord, I am still a baby christian, still drinking milk. I need to push through the temptations and hardships that Satan is using to defeat me, I need to choose the right path with You!