Jesus was Sent to Obey
Luke 22:42, John 5:30-47
When we first think of Jesus, we do not often think of Him as someone who humbly submitted himself to obey the Father. We think of Him as kind, merciful, and passionate, but not submissive. However, an important part of Jesus being sent to earth to save us is that He demonstrates perfect humble obedience to the Father. Jesus was sent to obey the Father.
One of the most poignant examples of obedience we see in scripture is Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane praying before He is arrested. In His authority as the Son of God, he divinely knows all that is to happen and, therefore, knows the pain He must endure. The most beautiful picture of obedience is that He prayed and asked that the cup be taken from Him and then immediately acknowledged that God’s will should be done. Jesus was sent to earth to live the perfect life that we could never live and then die on the cross to take on God's wrath for our sins against Him. Then, three days later, He rose from the dead, defeating death forever and allowing us to experience an intimate personal relationship with Him. Jesus knew this was the Father’s will, and He prayed that it would be done regardless of the pain it would cause. Jesus had His eyes fixed on what mattered, and he always chose to be humble and obedient to the Father.
Christ’s obedience to the Father was the fulfillment of hundreds of years of prophecy, and he fulfilled it perfectly. His example should encourage us as believers because, through Jesus’ prayer in the Garden, God is faithful to hear our prayers and care for us as his children. This means that we can trust that He alone knows what is best for our lives and this world, which should lead us to echo the prayer of Jesus that “not my will but yours be done.” We acknowledge God’s wisdom and voice our trust in Him when we pray like this. Praying that he will be done is difficult because it forces us to give up our attempts at control, often leading to difficult sacrifices. However, praying and living like this also brings us into a deeper relationship with Jesus. Here in the Garden of Gethsemane, we see Jesus as the example of vulnerability and honesty with God, yet the surrendered obedience that led him to the cross and salvation of the world.
Is there a situation in your life where God’s will rather than yours needs to be done? Pray and ask God to help you trust Him and ask that not yours but his will be done in your life.
Are you vulnerable in your prayer life with God? Take the next 5 minutes and journal or pray out loud and tell Him your honest and raw thoughts and feelings. Thank Him for caring for and loving you, and ask Him to lead you to truth today.
