What did Jesus need to learn?
Aug 30, 2010
The Base for Grace - part eleven in a study of the book of Hebrews
Mike Gaudet
Have you ever wondered what it was like for Jesus to be both fully divine and fully human?
Was He born with “perfect knowledge”?
Was there anything He had to learn?
“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. 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 5:7-10
It doesn’t seem possible that Jesus was God and yet had something to learn. However, this is precisely what this passage teaches. “Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.”
Jesus “learned obedience.” He entered this earth as an immortal spirit in order to inhabit a mortal body. Jesus had to learn what it was like to say “yes” to God’s eternal will when it meant saying “no” to His temporal welfare. He had to grow accustomed to responding to God’s call when His mortality would pay a price for doing so.
The word translated as “obey” is translated “answer the door” in another passage. After being jailed, Peter was miraculously released from prison. A small group had gathered to pray for Peter’s release. They were so busy praying for Peter’s release that they didn’t hear “the answer to their prayer” knocking at the door. Finally, “Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door.” Acts 12:13
You’ve heard the phrase “opportunity knocks.” When an opportunity presented itself for Jesus to do His Father’s will, He grew accustomed to answering the door. This is what is meant by the phrase ”he learned obedience.” Even though His “flesh” recoiled from the consequences of doing so, Jesus never failed to respond when opportunity knocked.
Lest we dismiss the intensity of the struggle Jesus experienced, we are told that, “he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death.” Even though He was divine the mental anguish Jesus experienced was intense.
It’s a mistake to assume that God insulates His sons and daughters from hardship. This certainly wasn’t Jesus experience. “Although he was a son…he suffered.”
An easy life is not proof of being closely connected with God. “Endure hardship as discipline…If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.” Hebrews 12:7-8
If you are experiencing hardship, this means that God cares about you. Hardship evidences God’s fatherly involvement in our life.
It’s also a mistake to assume that God sends sufferings into our lives so that we’ll stop doing wrong things and start doing right things. Jesus never strayed from the path His Father laid out for Him . . . and yet that path involved suffering.
The sufferings Jesus experienced enabled Him to become, ‘the source of eternal salvation.” He suffered so that others might benefit from being connected to God. In God's hands, sufferings make us "usable"...better equipped to channel His love to others.
Jesus experienced the mortal struggles that we experience so that He might be “made perfect” to be a channel of God’s love and support to us. If you are looking for a shepherd to guide you, look no further. Jesus is exactly who you’re looking for.
Jesus said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20
He is looking for men and women to whom and through whom He can reveal His love.
He is knocking at your door.