Topical Bible: Character of Christ: Resigned

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The character of Christ as resigned is a profound aspect of His earthly ministry, reflecting His submission to the will of the Father and His acceptance of the path laid before Him. This resignation is not one of defeat or passivity but rather a deliberate and willing surrender to God's divine plan, demonstrating His obedience and trust in the Father's wisdom and purpose.

Submission to the Father's Will

One of the most poignant examples of Christ's resignation is found in the Garden of Gethsemane. As He faced the imminent suffering of the crucifixion, Jesus prayed earnestly, "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 prayer reveals His human desire to avoid suffering, yet it is ultimately marked by a profound submission to the Father's will. His resignation is not a reluctant acceptance but a conscious choice to align His will with that of the Father.

Acceptance of Suffering

Christ's resignation is further exemplified in His acceptance of suffering and sacrifice. Isaiah prophesied about the Messiah, saying, "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth" (Isaiah 53:7). This prophecy was fulfilled in Christ's silent endurance during His trial and crucifixion, where He chose not to defend Himself against false accusations (Matthew 27:12-14). His resignation to suffering was an integral part of His mission to redeem humanity.

Obedience to Death

The Apostle Paul highlights Christ's resignation in his letter to the Philippians: "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:8). This obedience unto death underscores the depth of Christ's resignation. His willingness to endure the cross was the ultimate act of submission, demonstrating His commitment to fulfilling the redemptive plan of God.

Trust in the Father's Plan

Christ's resignation was rooted in His unwavering trust in the Father's plan. He expressed this trust during His crucifixion when He declared, "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit" (Luke 23:46). Even in His final moments, Jesus entrusted Himself to the Father, confident in the purpose and outcome of His sacrifice.

Example for Believers

The resignation of Christ serves as a model for believers, calling them to a life of submission and trust in God's will. The Apostle Peter encourages believers to follow Christ's example, stating, "For 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). Christ's resignation teaches believers to embrace God's will, even in the face of suffering and uncertainty, trusting in His sovereign plan and ultimate goodness.

In summary, the character of Christ as resigned is a testament to His obedience, trust, and unwavering commitment to the Father's will. His example calls believers to a life of submission and faith, trusting in God's perfect plan for their lives.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 22:42
Saying, Father, if you be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Yoke of Christ.
... evil; how He turned His cheek to the smiter; how He blessed when persecuted; how
He resigned Himself to ... Yet such is the character of which Christ gave us ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon viii the yoke of.htm

Resignation
... of agony, anything is developed inconsistent with the character of Christ ... By this
we see that Christ's was a spirit ... why should not Jesus be as resigned as before ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapin/the crown of thorns/resignation.htm

The Arrest.
... While our Lord thus calmly resigned Himself to His fate, He was not without an
indignant sense of the ... This separate, solitary character of Christ's work is ...
/.../dods/the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol ii/xvii the arrest.htm

Spiritual Culture.
... When all is resigned, and we sit in holy submission at his feet, faith will spring
up ... Beside this if you desire the beautiful character of Christ to unfold ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter xi spiritual culture.htm

The Death of Christ for his People
... not stop short anywhere, until life itself had been resigned. ... hour, when I saw it
tear Christ's glories from ... teach me something of the dire character of evil ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 46 1900/the death of christ for.htm

The Christ of M. Renan.
... contrast between selfish opulence and resigned poverty ... the Gospels, denying a priori
Christ's miracles, falsifying ... order to tarnish his character, praising his ...
/.../the romance of m renan and the christ of the gospels/the christ of m renan.htm

The Light of the World.
... His teaching was a demonstration of his character. ... the ignorance of unbelief, as
any minister of Christ knows by ... He was completely resigned to the will of the ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the light of the world.htm

"If So be that the Spirit of God Dwell in You. Now if any Man have ...
... begotten Son of God, who is the express character of his ... the power is put in his
hand and resigned to him ... work, will perform it until the day of Christ, till we ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxv if so be.htm

The English-Speaking Peoples: Action and Reaction
... to identify the Pope with anti-Christ"a doctrine ... published an Inquiry into the
Rationalist Character of German ... the autumn of 1843 he resigned the parochial ...
/.../chapter vi the english-speaking peoples .htm

The Ascension of Christ
... grief, for we have learned to be resigned to our ... road up to the highest heavens,
which Christ has trodden ... As the world could not injure his character by its ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the ascension of christ.htm