Jesus Learned Obedience

Hebrews 5:7-9 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
 
IT has been typical in the worldly courts of power that all heirs to the throne are pampered and protected. The Crown Prince, the one will would inherit the throne, is especially set apart to receive all comforts of his position.
   But the royal family of England has a different plan for the heirs to the throne. For example, the current heir William, Prince of Wales, has had a very specific education to help him understand life for the average English person. He has had to  work at many different jobs, even cleaning toilets, working as a laborer and risking his life in rescue missions in the British Royal Navy. His active life has taught him to submit to authority and to have empathy for many different people. He has learned to be an effective son to help King Charles III and one day England’s king.
   Jesus, Immanuel, was actively engaged with humanity. Jesus, Son of God, lived amid very difficult circumstances. He leaned about human work and human relationships. He even learned how to confront human fear of death and suffering. Jesus, fully God and fully man offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death in Gethsemane: Luke 22:42-45 “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.
   In his humanity Jesus prayed to escape suffering and death. Of course he did not. Did the Father ignore him? Was he truly heard because of his reverent submission? We might say, “He was not. The Father ignored his plea. Jesus suffered on the cross.” But what happened in his anguish? An angel came to strengthen him. The Father’s will was extreme suffering and death for  his Son. He would not change that plan. He did not protect Jesus from the plan because the plan was the way Jesus has become your Savior. But the Father did comfort his Son in the suffering.
   It seems almost blasphemous to say that Jesus needed to learn something. He is the Word made flesh, eternal, all-knowing at the throne of heaven. But he did learn the real experience of human emotions of anguish and fear. He learned about suffering. He learned how to obey the Father as a human.
   You can know Jesus knows more than your name. He knows your anguish, your fears and your tears. He knows you need the ministering angels and the Holy Spirit to help you. Seek his help. Receive his comfort.