Hebrews 5 - obedience through suffering

...he learned obedience through what he suffered. (Hebrews 5:8)

There is a saying that goes something like, "If you are not beaten, you don't know the pain."

Jesus learning obedience through His sufferings reminds me of this. Indeed, it is often after the chastisement of God that we know how much we have strayed and how to really submit to Him. And we know that when God chastise, it is because He still treats us as sons (Hebrews 12:5-7); for who will care about someone else's son?

And so, though we suffer chastisement, it is for our good, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin (1 Peter 4:1). I wonder if you have had experiences like this? I personally felt this chastisement from God and experienced how sufferings has made me ceased from sin. Perhaps it is because I have behold the power and might of God, and know that He is indeed true and living right here with me, how would I dare then to sin any more?

Therefore, suffering can be good.... for it helps us to learn obedience. For we will not dare to do anything against His will anymore.

However, Jesus did no wrong.

Yet, He suffered.

For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. (1 Peter 2:19-20)

Isn't this a higher level of faith now? Are we able to Level Up?

It is probably not easy. A recent Home Bible Study also raised up a similar question about life in the workplace. If our bosses show favouritism or prejudice, how do we deal with it? Being the Bible Study leader, yet with so little years of experience working in the real world, I found it difficult to simply show verses like 1 Peter 2:19-20 and ask believers to do it, because the Bible says so.

I know it is not easy, but if Jesus has showed us the example, in the flesh, we can probably do it too, by the power of the Holy Spirit living in us.

And through this kind of suffering, we will be able to learn a deeper level of obedience towards God; not just one that is of fear because I-have-suffered-chastisement-before,I-am-not-gonna-go-through-it-again, but one that allows us to truly obey God from the depths of our soul because we stand in awe of Jesus, us having tried suffering for doing good and have failed (and so we know it is not easy), yet Jesus did it, all for our sake.

What have you suffered for doing good? Keep it between yourself and God :)

Hebrews 1 - Jesus at center stage

The Epistle to the Hebrews started with such a strong emphasis to differentiate Jesus from the angels; we can’t help but get the drift.

While it is not my nature to dwell too much on theological stuffs, Hebrews 1 sent a reminder to me that there are some things about our faith which we must know and be clear about. And this is one of them.

Jesus is God (Hebrews 1:2-4)
1. Jesus is heir of all things.
2. The world was created through Jesus.
3. Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.
4. Jesus upholds the universe by the word of his power.
5. Jesus made purification for sins.
6. Jesus is sitting down at the right hand of God (still there, according to our concept of time and space, interceding for us. (Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25))
7. His name is more excellent than the angels’.

Jesus is different from the angels; He is more superior

1. He is the Son (Heb 1:5).
2. He is to be worshipped (Heb 1:6).
3. His throne lasts forever (Heb 1:8-9).
4. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 1:10-12).

whereas angels are…
1. to worship Him (Heb 1:6).
2. spirits and described as a flame of fire (Heb 1:7).
3. ministering spirits sent forth to minister God’s children (us!) (Heb 1:14).

A short chapter, but we realize that if we were to delve deeper, it is not as easily digestible as we might think. Who is this Jesus? Do we really know Him as God, the Creator? Do we see Him as different from all other ‘gods’ and spirits? Do we realize that His name is more excellent than all others (cf Acts 4:12)?

As I am reading the first chapter of Hebrews today, it was also brought to my awareness how the author quoted extensively from the Old Testament Scriptures. It reminded me of how I was attracted to come and listen to the sermons spoken in True Jesus Church at the initial periods of my faith. I like how we refer ever so often to the Bible in a single sermon alone. It was something different, something refreshing, and something that we must never give up on!

The Word of God is the basis of our faith, and the core of what we speak about. If ever we deviate or rely more on worldly wisdom, we would go haywire.

Hebrews is the bridge between the Old Testament and the New Testament as it has much reference to the Law and the OT Scriptures and these were used to testify for Jesus. The stage is set and Jesus is taking center stage; may we be able to learn much from the epistle to the Hebrews for the next few weeks.