Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him – Hebrews 5:8-9 ESV
This verse might seem tricky at first. How could the all-knowing Creator of the universe, who has perfect wisdom and complete truth, learn anything? Isn’t he already aware of everything there is to know? And how would he need to learn obedience? Jesus always did what pleased the Father. As he said in John 8:29, “I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” Surely, he didn’t need to be scolded like a naughty child to learn to obey.
Jesus never disobeyed, but he had to demonstrate obedience through real-life experience. “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” – Philippians 2:8 ESV. The suffering he went through as the innocent Lamb of God, sacrificing himself to pay for our sins, is beyond human understanding. Yet, his willingness to obey his Father even in the most extreme circumstances shows the ultimate obedience.
As he prayed, “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” – Luke 22:42.
There are many things we can learn theoretically, but only truly understand through practice. The Lord Jesus Christ knew everything through omniscience, but he had to experience obedience firsthand.
After passing this ultimate test, he was “made perfect,” as verse 9 says. No act of obedience that he asks from us can ever compare to what he was willing to endure to offer us forgiveness and salvation.
Angga