If you know anything of human nature, you know that obedience is not a standard feature in the human model. Instead, our hearts are naturally oriented toward disobedience. When we see a sign, "Do Not Walk on the Grass" we are inwardly inclined to trod the sod. If you are honest and self aware, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love... In our Adult Sunday School we've been studying John Murray's Redemption Accomplished and Applied. In the second chapter, Murray highlights some interesting aspects of Christ's humanity in regards to obedience. I quote, "When we speak of Christ's obedience we must not think of it as consisting simply in formal fulfilment of the commandments of God. What the obedience of Christ involved for him is perhaps nowhere more strikingly expressed than in Hebrews 2:10-18; 5:8-10 where we are told that Jesus 'learned obedience from the things which he suffered,' that he was made perfect through sufferigns, and that 'being made perfect he became to all who obey him the author of eternal salvation.' When we examine these passages the following lessons become apparent. (1) It was not through mere incarnation that Christ wrought our salvation and secured our redemption. (2) It was not through mere death that salvation was accomplished. (3) It was not simply through the death upon the cross that Jesus became the author of salvation. (4) The death upon the cross, as the climatic requiredment of the price of redemption, was discharged as thesupreme act of obedience; it was not death resistlessly inflicted but death upon the cross willingly and obediently wrought." Murray is touching a topic that is underappreciated in Christian circles - that Jesus in his humanity learned obedience from what he suffered. He goes on to say that "there was a perfecting of development and growth in the course and path of his obedience -- he learned obedience." Meditating upon this for several weeks now, I've come to appreciate more clearly the perfect humanity of our Savior, including its development and progress over time. He grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men - think about that! It has also sparked some thoughts about Christian obedience -- about my own obedience. As previously, obedience is not a standard feature we receive by virtue of being born humans. It is implanted as a principle of the new life we receive in and through Christ at our regeneration, but it must also develop. I've come to realize that we also must "learn obedience." Obviously there are very great differences between Christ and the Christian - I'm not undervaluing them. But there is something of an analogy to be appreciated. If He had to learn obedience, what makes me think I don't need to learn it. And if I also need to learn obedience, that how am I doing in this matter? Am I making progress in my obedience? Can I say I've learned and grown in my obedience over the past months? Am I making efforts to redeem every opportunity to learn & grow, or do I expect it to arrive by osmosis? Am I lazy or am I working hard to learn to be more obedient? Searching thoughts that have made me see the Christian life in a new light!
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