February 15 Jesus’ Submission

Esther 2:15 When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.
 
WE continue to ask, “Should Esther have submitted?” as she lived in evil circumstances of a king’s harem. Let’s now look to our example of submission, even unto evil, in the Lord Jesus Christ.
     As in all things, if we claim to be Jesus’ disciple, we must view submission through Jesus’ words and actions. As we transfer, then, our question of Esther’s submission to our own lives to ask, “Should I submit or not, even in evil circumstances?” we must answer in view of Jesus’ incomparable submission to the cross. One place to see this is defined is Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
     Jesus urged his disciples to this same kind of submissive living with these very difficult teachings: Mark 8:34 “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” And in John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.” Jesus is telling his disciples then and now that anyone who claims to be his disciple must be willing to submit to God’s purposes and promises for their lives even in the presence of their enemies, even to the death.
     Yes, there is no greater submission recorded in history than Jesus’ life. He submitted to come from Heaven to enter into the evil on earth. He submitted to minister within the conflicts of those who opposed him. He submitted to the Father’s will and to Rome’s law to take up his cross and to die for those he loved.
     Recall Jesus’ submissive prayer just hours before the cross: “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42) Then remember his obedient call from the cross, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Luke 23:46) Without Jesus’ submission to the authority of the Father to lie down in obedience even to his death, you could not experience Jesus’ atoning payment for your eternal soul.
     How’s your view of submission forming now? You can see in Jesus’ life that there are times we must submit, as Esther did, to be present amid evil schemes. This is one way the Spirit uses Jesus’ disciples to be God’s instrument for his eternal purposes.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that you loved me so much you submitted your life to a cross and to the grave, so I would have life in you. Teach me, Holy Spirit, to live in true submission to Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Amen.