If we will be discussing obedience, the best example that we all have to follow is none other than Jesus Christ Himself. Let’s look at the following facts regarding His obedience.
THE PATTERN OF CHRIST’S OBEDIENCE.
A Self-less Kind of Obedience.
We are told that Jesus in verse 7 that He “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men” (NASB-U). This speaks of the Kenosis Of Christ. The verse means that Christ chose to lay down His privileges for us. This means He laid down and/or aside His privileges when He obeyed the Father. He left His comfort zone just to follow the will of the Heavenly Father. He did it all for our sakes! This means that Jesus wasn’t selfish! And being followers of Christ, we are to imitate his given example.
Look at what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NASB-U):
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich”.
Similar to what Paul said, Jesus said in Mark 8:34 (NASB-U):
“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me”.
What Jesus meant here is that if you want to become His follower and/or His servant, you must deny yourself. What is meant by that terminology? It means you are to totally prioritize others first. The truth is, you cannot serve and follow someone else without getting rid of you first or the things you love most.
Illustration: You cannot hold two different things single-handedly. It’s either you lay it down first, so you can hold the other one. The same is true with our Christian life. You cannot fully follow God’s will without having your life and your desires surrendered to Him.
A Serving Kind of Obedience.
His obedience led Him to service. Paul said that Jesus emptied Himself when He “took the form of the bond-servant”. Do you know what this term means? In the medieval times, there were slave trades. Slaves were persons who do not own their own lives and were forcefully pushed to do something in behalf of their masters. They will do all their master’s wishes, whether they like it or not. And whenever the slave were given his/her freedom, and yet chooses to be with his master as long as he lives (due to love), he was no longer called an ordinary slave, but a bond-slave (or servant). He was now elevated from his miry position unto a position making him a member of that family, and yet his works and activities are now voluntary because he loves that family.
The same is true with Christ. He did it all for us. He gave it all just for us. He laid down His life for us.
In reference to what Christ did, we are commanded to do the same. Paul said in Galatians 5:13 (NASB-U):
“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another”.
We are to serve one another.
Jesus said in Matthew 20:28 (NASB-U):
“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many”.
Service leads to greatness. In Matthew 20:26 (NASB-U), “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant.” And in Matthew 23:11 (NASB-U), “But the greatest among you shall be your servant”.
John said in 1 John 3:16 (NASB-U), “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren”. If we love God, we must love our brethren. If we love our brethren, we will serve them (to the fullest extent of our talents, time and treasures).
THE PRINCIPLE OF CHRIST’S OBEDIENCE.
The Principle of Sacrifice.
Let me give you an illustration of sacrifice. In Luke 9:57-58 (NASB-U):
“As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” [58] And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head”.
What is sacrifice? Right from the very statement of Jesus from the gospel of Luke, we see Jesus telling to the person He was talking to what cost Him His obedience. Jesus tells us that “foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head”. Look, the King of Kings, in His royalty, has nowhere to lay His head! The Creator of the entire universe experiences something uncomfortable for us. This means that He literally laid aside His privileges as God, leaving His comfort zone behind to experience sufferings and difficulties just to save us! That’s what sacrifice is. It means giving up of something very valuable, without expecting something in return out of love!
It Cost Him His Dear Life.
It Cost Him His Love-Ones.
It Cost Him His Great Fortune In Heaven! (2 Corinthians 8:9)
How about you? What costs you of your obedience? Is it your life? Your profession? Is it your possessions? Is it your reputation? Come to think of it…
The Principle of Submission.
You cannot serve God and others until you’ve learned this very important principle. It means the following:
First, It means of recognition and respect for authorities.
With regards to authorities, there are two kinds of authority:
- Direct Authority. This refers to the authority of God alone. If one is faithfully recognizing such God’s authority, one must be living according to His righteousness and statutes.
- Delegated Authority. This refers to the authority God has given to men to implement order and discipline. Such are the family authority, the government authority, the school authority, the secular employment authority and the church authority. If you are really submissive and is willing to serve, you must demonstrate unreserved obedience and compliance to their authority.
Second, it speaks of unreserved kind of obedience to policies, commands and guidelines.
If one is really submissive, then he is expected to be living according to the strict rules and regulations of the institutions he is submitting himself to, regardless of the costs involved. What matters most is his submission to his commanding officers (Military).
The same is true in the spiritual world. If one recognizes the authority of Christ, then he must be living according to what Christ had said.
Third, it also speaks of humility. When one is fully submitted, he is simply moving in accordance the principle he is submitted to. He solemnly recognizes that he is under to someone. And being under the authority of someone much more higher than us, we simply bow to take orders and do it without complaining, HINDI MO SILA PAPANGUNAHAN! That’s what real humility is.
THE PROMOTION OF CHRIST’S OBEDIENCE.
Christ Received A Promotion For His Obedience.
God gave Him the Name above other names! That all knees shall bow and every tongue shall confess His name!
His obedience now become the ideal for obedience. The Apostle John declares, that if we say we are in Him, we are to live like Him (1 John 2:6)!
We, Too, Shall Receive The Same Promotion From Him Due To Our Obedience.
Conclusion.
But here is the big question. How are we going to obey God like Christ? This has been the question of so many Christians since the first century. As I have said it, His obedience now become the ideal for obedience. The Apostle John declares, that if we say we are in Him, we are to live like Him (1 John 2:6)!
Is it by living according to laws, rules and regulations? Is living by the numbers? Is it living according to your own strength and might?
The answer is a big and resounding NO! There is only one way!
It is only by Him! And, it is only through Him!
Philippians 2:13, “For it is He who works in us, both to will and to do according to His good pleasure”.
Why? It is because of the following reasons:
- If the laws demands 100% of obedience, can you fulfill all of it? In our own means, we can’t. Peter said, it is an unbearable yoke (cf. Acts 15:10). He honestly admit that their forefathers and they, cannot bear it.
- The Law cannot make one perfect.
- The Law cannot justify anyone before God.
- The Law was only temporary by design, until the revelation of Christ.
Now, how do we do it? It is by RESTING in CHRIST. Let us live the life of the indwelling Christ and let Him empower you to do everything, according to His good pleasure!
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