Wednesday: Perfect Through Sufferings
Read Hebrews 2:10, Hebrews 2:17-18, and Hebrews 5:8-9 . What was the function of suffering in Jesus’ life?
The apostle says that God made Jesus “perfect through sufferings.” This expression is surprising. The author has said that Jesus is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” (Hebrews 1:3, ESV) and that He is sinless, spotless, undefiled, and holy (Hebrews 4:15, Hebrews 7:26-28, Hebrews 9:14, Hebrews 10:5-10). Jesus did not have to overcome any kind of moral or ethical imperfection. He was perfect both morally and ethically.
Image © Kevin Carden from GoodSalt.com
Hebrews does say, however, that Jesus underwent a process of “perfecting” that provided Him with the means to save us. Jesus was perfected in the sense that He was equipped to be our Savior.
1. Jesus was “perfected” through sufferings in order to become the Captain of our salvation (Hebrews 2:10). Jesus had to die on the cross as a sacrifice so that the Father could have the legal means to save us. Jesus was the perfect sacrificial offering, the only one. As God, Jesus could judge us; but, because of His sacrifice, Jesus can also save us.
2. Jesus learned obedience through sufferings (Hebrews 5:8). Obedience was necessary for two things. First, obedience made His sacrifice acceptable (Hebrews 9:14, Hebrews 10:5-10). Second, His sufferings enabled Him to become our example (Hebrews 5:9). Jesus “learned” obedience because He never experienced it before. As God, whom would He have to obey? As the eternal Son, and one with God, He was obeyed as the ruler of the universe. Therefore, Jesus did not progress from disobedience to obedience, but from sovereignty and dominion to submission and obedience. The exalted Son of God became the obedient Son of Man.
3. Suffering temptation and being victorious enabled Jesus to be a merciful and faithful High Priest (Hebrews 2:17-18, ). Sufferings did not make Jesus more merciful. To the contrary, it was because of Jesus’ mercy that He volunteered to die on the cross to save us to begin with (Hebrews 10:5-10; compare with Romans 5:7-8, ). Yet, it was through sufferings that the reality of Jesus’ brotherly love was truly expressed and revealed.
| If the sinless Jesus suffered, we, as sinners, surely will suffer, as well. How can we learn to endure the tragedies of life while at the same time drawing hope and assurance from the Lord, who has revealed His love to us in so many powerful ways? |
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Sunday's lesson proposed that because the worst consequence of (the first) Adam's sin was that "there was a death penalty that our transgression required, which we could not pay". Yesterday's lesson proposed that "Jesus adopted our human nature so that He could represent us and could die for us" and that this "is the foundation of the plan of salvation...". Today's lesson proposes that "Jesus had to die on the cross as a sacrifice so that the Father could have the legal means to save us." Thus, the lesson reflects the view that the foundation of the plan of salvation is Jesus death on the cross as a sacrifice so God could legally save us.
I would propose that this is too narrow a view of what the foundation of the plan of salvation is, and therefore unfortunately subtly but significantly misrepresents what is actually going on. And by misrepresenting what is actually going, God is also misrepresented as someone who is and must operate within a legal paradigm. Most people have a sense of this as 'if you don't do things God's way, then God will be forced to be against you at some point'. Yet as we noted at the outset of Hebrews, Jesus is the exact representation of God and, if we consider carefully, we don't see Jesus being forced to act 'against' anyone during his time on earth.
I believe, and find evidence if I carefully re-examine scripture, that salvation does not primarily exist within a legal paradigm, but rather a reality paradigm. Within a reality paradigm, the biggest problem with sin is not that there is a death-penalty that our transgression requires and therefore that we need to find someone who will pay that death-penalty for us in the way it is most typically understood. Rather, the biggest problem with sin is that it inherently puts us out of harmony with the reality that is essential for life - being connected with God, The Source of life, and living in harmony with the mechanisms (cause-and-effect principles) by which life can only exist. Thus, our need is actual healing and restoration in order to actually reverse what happened in Genesis 3:6 when humanity embraced self-seeking and in doing so functionally forfeited the connection with eternal life.
This is what Paul outlines in Romans 5 that Jesus did. Most succinctly, in Romans 5:12-14 Paul describes humanity's fundamental problem (that he describes as transcending a legal problem). And in Romans 5:19 Paul summarises the solution to that problem - the "obedience" (ie resistance against any and all temptation to embracing self-seeking) of Jesus as our authentic, substitute second Adam (see also Philippians 2:8). Thus, as the successful second Adam, humanity now has a valid and authentic member of humanity who has the right to eternal life. And as the successful second Adam, Jesus then offers each member of humanity the 'second-chance' opportunity to partake of that inheritance via submitting to being restored back from out of harmony with what is needed to validly have eternal life. This is what I would propose Hebrews is unpacking.
What I have outlined above is only the briefest of summaries. There are likely many "yes, but what about..." questions that are beyond the scope of what I can address in this brief comment. While the English Bible translations give strong support to the viewing of salvation as primarily a legal issue, if we go back to the original languages, in every instance I have examined thus far, those original languages support a non-legal interpretation.
If sin and salvation are in fact a reality issue rather than a primarily legal issue, then a death penalty is no longer something that is required for sin - death is instead something that is produced inherently and directly by sin. Similarly, God is no longer someone who must judge and impose a death penalty to those who are out of harmony with His ways - rather, He is someone who is trying to save us from the death that being out of harmony with life inherently is producing and will ultimately produce unless remedied. If this is true, the what Paul says in Romans 8:31 becomes even more clearly visible - God will never be against us, though we a free to be against God and/or the reality of what is necessary for life, and in so doing cut ourselves off from life.
Have you ever walked through a situation in life that left you wondering why God would allow you to experience the hurt, pain or even discouragement that resulted? There is no doubt that some challenges in life are the result of poor choices, but for every believer, the reality is that we will walk through hardship and will experience pain.
Jesus told us pain and suffering would be a part of our lives
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
My response to one of those unfathomable situations was that I decided I would no longer ask “why?” because some things are just beyond my simple, human brain.
In some small way it helps to ease the pain because I know that God is in control and I trust Him.
My Brother, it is very true and happily Jesus told us whatever the causes for suffering He is with us in our trials and tribulations for He been there and experienced sufferings, Alleluia. Is not it a great blessing to know due to our poor choices we have hope in Him regardless. What a awesome 👍, marvelous Savior we possess!
Hosanna and Alleluia!
Thinking about today's lesson, Jesus sure did a lot for us,
much more than just dying on the Cross to save us from our sins. He went through a lot to be an example to us. He also gave us the example of reliance on God the Father. John 8:28.
Today's lesson so perfectly explains, He was made perfect by sufferings. I thought why did Paul have words like 'He was made perfect by suffering'. Then the lesson goes forward to the 5th chapter of his letter where it is plan as day. Hebrews 5:5-11. Especially. Hebrews 5:9.
I can Just picture, if Paul were given the opertunity to have 13 nights of Gospel of Christ seminar series, on the 2nd night after the meeting, some came up to him and said, what do you mean by Christ being made perfect by suffering. Paul gets a smile on his face and says, "hold that thought for the 5th night, and don't become dull of hearing." Hebrews 5:5-11, NKJV.
One of the key points that today's lesson makes is that "Jesus had to die on the cross as a sacrifice so that the Father could have the legal means to save us."
What do you personally understand this to mean?
Thank you for your insight, Josiah, that pain and suffering will be a part of our lives. This was very encouraging to me.
Suffering can be hard to understand. It's often asked why bad things happen to 'good' people. Some atheists hang their hat on the fact that God, if He existed, would not allow suffering. These paradigms are blind to our Father's ways and the means He uses to carry out His will - which is always perfect, of love and merciful.
Some Christians consider suffering to be the work of the enemy. I don't doubt that it is. However, I've learned to take the onus (or control) of suffering from the enemy. Just as it was His pleasure to crucify Jesus in suffering, no doubt he basks in our suffering.
But in God's kingdom, there is so much behind the scenes. So much the enemy did not know. Jesus was not being crucified. Our Savior was laying down His life. Blood drenched in love.
Our Father is loving us behind suffering's scenes.
I'm understanding more and more that:
(1) He only allows suffering to accomplish His will. He is a loving, compassionate Father and His will is drenched in love surrounding us.
(2) If God allows pain in our lives, we can be sure that He has pre-approved us to experience it. We may not be sure if the pain is to perfect our character or if He has been bragging on us, like He declared His confidence in Job (Job 1:6-12). But we can be sure that He adores us and He will never needlessly allow suffering in our lives.
I've heard it said, that no trial will ever touch God's children, unless it crosses the mahogany desk of God and it is stamped APPROVED. God is in control of all creation. He is in control of suffering. And He won't give us more than we can bear.
Isn't this really the conflict of the ages? Who is He, this God? Is He to be trusted? To love us? To provide for our needs? Can we trust Him, especially when hardship disorients us?
As I work with mental health and addiction clients, I encourage them to think of trials and challenges as opportunities to grow. A mindfulness intervention: I remind them that if they take a moment to breathe, they give themselves a moment to think. And in that moment, they can choose to realize that they are truly okay. We're so often overwhelmed with anxieties about the future or regrets of the past. But if we inhale and exhale, and take a moment to reflect, we find that this present moment, we are truly okay. No matter what is happening in our lives or in the world around us. IF we can realize how much He loves us. That He has us in the palm of His hand and He carries us in His heart. That we don't have to fear anything in our future, except as we shall forget the way He has led, provided for us and kept us in the past.
In my suffering nowadays, I like to imagine that God is bragging on me. Have you considered my servant, Sharen? She'll love Me and trust Me, whatever you do. What an unearned honor to be called His child. And to get to stand up for our beautiful God. To declare Him faithful in the midst of life's chaos.
Though I stand on my knees, sometimes through tears. Declaring, I know in Whom I believe.
Oh, for grace to always stand.
A passage that I have found comorting is:
Isa 43:1-3
But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
2 When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
3 For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I also think of Paul, the apostle, who spread the Gospel to the known world, yet also suffered trials (2Cor 11:23-33).
He begged the LORD to remove the "thorn" in his side, but the LORD said - "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness" (2Cor 12:9)
Lovely promises, Sis. DeBeer. They warmed my heart. Thank you for sharing.
Perfect through suffering
Jesus had the imperfect character of humanity infused with his divine character; therefore, He had the propensity to sin. Knowing this, satan comes to Christ at the wilderness to tempt him at his weakest point.
Trust in God or fulfill the gratification of the flesh - a battle satan continues to plague the human mind.
Praise God for His perfection for not yielding even when He suffered/denied the human gratification.
Everyone born of the Spirit have to suffer. No one is exempt from this suffering.
The best thing we can do in this life is help relieve the suffering of others in Jesus' manner of doing so. Where is the most important place to start? I hope every Christian could say and do this without hesitation: In our homes and families. Let's show others the love of Jesus. That's also the most effective way of winning them to Jesus, too. (John 12:32)
I read an interesting quote for an author named Jason Evert who stated "Jesus didn't suffer so we wouldn't have to suffer. He suffered so that we would know how to suffer." To me, this would seem to line up with 1 Peter 2:21 "to this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
Any thoughts?
God has plan "A" for how He prefers to work and tries to get His people to abide by that plan. Then when plan "A" is rejected then He tries to work with us on plan "B". For example, God wanted to rule His people with Judges, and prophets "plan A." But when His people insisted on having a King He then went on to try to work with them on that "plan B." In the same way, I think that plan "A" for Jesus was to be accepted by His people as King, and Priest, and Prophet, and Judge, etc. and etc. Had they done that, there would have been no cross for Him but He still would have bled for sin. He would have been crowned King at His "Triumphal Entry," He and His Father would have held back the power of Rome to try to overturn His Kingship. Then, He would have announced His High Priest standing then too and then 6 months later, He would have bled for sin in the Temple for "The Day of Atonement Feast" in place of the bullock and Lord's Goat. Then, three days later, He would have taken His life back to start His new Resurrected life and Kingly and Priestly rule then and His second coming would have been only a very short laps of "Three days of the shadow of death for our sins."
But because God's people rejected Him, then Plan "B" had to come into operation with a Roman Cross in it. And it was, even then, not the cross that killed Him. He started bleeding for sin at the Garden of Gethsemane and He was already dead for sin before a spear was plunged into His Heart at that cross.