Jesus Died On the Cross to Learn Obedience Through Suffering

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Jesus Died On the Cross to Learn Obedience Through Suffering

10 September 2009 No Comment

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Hebrews 5:8
Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.

As I progress in John Piper’s book, “Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die” I am increasingly encouraged by what the bible has to say about Christ’s death. Hebrews says that Jesus learned obedience through suffering.

John Piper writes, “If the Son of God had gone from incarnation to the cross without a life of temptation and pain to test his righteousness and his love, he would not be a suitable savior for fallen man. His suffering not only absorbed the wrath of God. It also fulfilled his true humanity and made him able to call us brothers and sisters.”

Hebrews 2:17 says, “For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.”

In other words, the sin of mankind had to be atoned for and Jesus was able to atone for that sin because he fit the criteria of being fully man, yet without sin. He experienced pain and suffering just as we do, yet he perfectly handled his pain by being perfected in obedience to the Father. With each test He proved that he was without sin and that he was obedient. When he was tempted for 40 days by Satan he did not give into the temptation. When he prayed in agony to the Father to remove his cup (the cross), he said, “But not my will but Thine be done”. I’m encouraged by this because Jesus is an example to us of learning to obey in the midst of pain.