Topical Bible: Obedience: Jesus

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Introduction

Obedience is a central theme in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, serving as a model for believers. Jesus' obedience to the will of the Father is a testament to His divine mission and His role as the perfect servant. This entry explores the various aspects of Jesus' obedience as depicted in the Scriptures.

Obedience to the Father

Jesus' obedience is first and foremost directed towards God the Father. His life was characterized by a complete submission to the Father's will. In John 6:38, Jesus declares, "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me." This statement encapsulates His mission on earth, emphasizing His commitment to fulfilling the divine plan.

The Gospels frequently highlight Jesus' prayer life as a reflection of His obedience. In the Garden of Gethsemane, facing imminent crucifixion, Jesus prays, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39). This moment of profound submission underscores His willingness to endure suffering in obedience to the Father's redemptive purpose.

Obedience in Humility

Philippians 2:5-8 provides a theological reflection on Jesus' obedience, emphasizing His humility: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross."

This passage highlights the extent of Jesus' obedience, which involved not only His incarnation but also His sacrificial death. His humility and willingness to become a servant are integral to His obedience, demonstrating His love and commitment to humanity's salvation.

Obedience and Fulfillment of the Law

Jesus' obedience is also evident in His fulfillment of the Law. In Matthew 5:17, He states, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them." Jesus lived a life in perfect accordance with the Law, embodying its true intent and purpose. His obedience to the Law was not merely external but was rooted in a deep love for God and others, as He summarized the Law in the commandments to love God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40).

Obedience and Suffering

Hebrews 5:8-9 speaks to the relationship between Jesus' obedience and His suffering: "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him." Jesus' obedience was tested and proven through His suffering, culminating in His crucifixion. His willingness to endure the cross is the ultimate expression of His obedience, providing salvation for all who believe.

Obedience as an Example for Believers

Jesus' obedience serves as a model for believers, calling them to a life of submission to God's will. In John 14:15, Jesus instructs His disciples, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." His life exemplifies the perfect harmony between love and obedience, inviting believers to follow in His footsteps.

The apostle Peter encourages believers to emulate Christ's obedience, stating, "To this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps" (1 Peter 2:21). Jesus' obedience is not only the foundation of salvation but also the pattern for Christian living, inspiring believers to live in faithful obedience to God.

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Matthew 3:15
And Jesus answering said to him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
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Matthew 26:39,42
And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as you will.
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Luke 22:42
Saying, Father, if you be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done.
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John 4:32,34
But he said to them, I have meat to eat that you know not of.
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John 5:30
I can of my own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father which has sent me.
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John 12:49,50
For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
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John 14:31
But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
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John 17:4
I have glorified you on the earth: I have finished the work which you gave me to do.
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Hebrews 3:2
Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
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Library

Of the Obedience of one in Lowly Subjection after the Example of ...
... THE THIRD BOOK. ON INWARD CONSOLATION CHAPTER XIII Of the obedience of
one in lowly subjection after the example of Jesus Christ. ...
/.../kempis/imitation of christ/chapter xiii of the obedience.htm

The Thirteenth Chapter: the Obedience of one Humbly Subject to the ...
... BOOK THREE. INTERNAL CONSOLATION The Thirteenth Chapter: The Obedience of One Humbly
Subject to the Example of Jesus Christ. The Voice of Christ ...
/.../kempis/the imitation of christ/the thirteenth chapter the obedience.htm

The School of Obedience
... My commandments, he it is that loveth Me.' If a man love Me, he will keep My word.'
Is it not clear that love alone can give the obedience Jesus asks, and ...
/.../murray/the school of obedience/vii the school of obedience.htm

The Servant's Obedience
... The contrast with all which we have known"the impossibility of retaining belief
in the perfect obedience of Jesus unless we have underlying it the belief in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the servants obedience.htm

The Baptism of Jesus
... When Jesus set out from Galilee to seek baptism from John, He took the first step ...
impulse, and not, as in the case of the prophets of old, from obedience to a ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the baptism of jesus.htm

Jesus and Abraham.
... They trusted in their blood rather than in obedience to the God of Abraham. ... Jesus
was the Son; he had dwelt in the Father's house; he declared what he had seen ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/jesus and abraham.htm

Jesus at Bethesda.
... The second time he saw him he learned that it was Jesus. The authorities had demanded
to know who it was that told him to "carry his bed;" in obedience to the ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/jesus at bethesda.htm

The Secret of True Obedience.
... In Christ Jesus heavenly obedience has become human again, obedience has become
our birth-right and our life-breath: let us cling to Him, let us believe and ...
/.../murray/the school of obedience/iii the secret of true.htm

Obedience: Its Place in Holy Scripture.
... In ver.2 he speaks to the Elect, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience
and blood-sprinkling of Jesus Christ,' and so points us to obedience as the ...
/.../murray/the school of obedience/i obedience its place in.htm

The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus
... The Life of the Holy Mother Teresa of Jesus. Written by Herself. ... Chapter XXIV. Progress
Under Obedience. Her Inability to Resist the Graces of God. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/