During his earthly life, [Jesus] offered prayers and appealswith loud cries and tearsto the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. After he was perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, and he was declared by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 5:7-10 CSB)

Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. This is the part of the passage that really gets to me. Jesus learned obedience. The sinless Son of God learned. He suffered. He learned through suffering. That is astonishing. Or is it astounding? It is hard to put into words.

This is a part of Jesus’ humiliation. The Westminster Shorter Catechism helps us here. Question 26: How was Christ humiliated? “Christ was humiliated: by being born as a man and born into a poor family; by being made subject to the law and suffering the miseries of this life, the anger of God, and the curse of death on the cross; and by being buried and remaining under the power of death for a time.”

Think about it. Jesus lived with his parents and then all his younger siblings. They did not understand him (not until after his resurrection). At age twelve he confounded the religious teachers with his questions and his understanding. He had to tell his distressed parents, “Don’t you understand? I must be about my Father’s business.” Further, we are told that he was submissive to his parents and that Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people. (See Luke 2:41-52.) This really is worth pondering. Jesus grew physically and intellectually. Did he even grow spiritually? It seems he did.

Of course, Isaiah had told us about this long ago. In one of his four “Servant Songs” (found in Isaiah 42, 49, 50, and 52-53), a profound description of our Savior is given. Meditate on the following as we close this devotion: The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are instructed to know how to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens me each morning; he awakens my ear to listen like those being instructed. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I did not turn back. I gave my back to those who beat me, and my cheeks to those who tore out my beard. I did not hide my face from scorn and spitting. The Lord God will help me; therefore I have not been humiliated; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. (Isaiah 50:4-7) What a Savior!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you for learning obedience through suffering, for me and for my salvation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.