Faith That Produces Obedience
The son of God kneeling in the dirt. Crying out, pleading with God- knowing the pain set before Him to endure. Can you picture it? The last light of the sun sinking below the horizon. Jesus kneeling in the dirt. Blood, sweat and tears trickling down His cheeks. His knees dirty and bent. The emotion is raw and palpable. The perfect Son of Man, seeking the face of God as he grieved what was set before him.
This scene in the garden teaches us a great lesson on faithful obedience. We often face the temptation to allow our emotions to rule us - to allow the intensity of a moment to dictate our response. Jesus, being fully human and fully God, demonstrates a different kind of response that creates a kind of tension. He acknowledges and experiences the emotion, but in the end he was obedient. Hebrews 5:7-8 says,
“In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.”
He offered up the prayers. He cried real tears. But what dictated His actions? Faith in His Father. A deep trust that God is God and good in all He does. He knew that God could deliver him from death by a word and he also knew that he would fulfill His Father’s will by a painful death on a cross. In this obedience and pain he accomplished the greatest act in human history. Through obedience Jesus offered himself up as a sacrifice so that we may be reconciled. In painful obedience, even to the point of death, he endured the cross.
In the next couple verses, the sacrifice of Jesus is expounded upon. Verses 9-10 says:
“And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.”
These verses demonstrate that out of the pain Jesus suffered came life for those who believe. Jesus’ obedience brought about eternal salvation for those who believe and obey Him. He does not second guess the God of the universes’ purposes. His emotions, emphasizing His humanity, caused Him to weep and plead to the One who could deliver. And then He walked forward according to the Father’s will.
Emotions are to be expressed and there are often many good reasons in life to bring our heavy hearts and tears to the throne, however they must never fully steer the ship of our hearts. What should define our actions is the rock solid promises given to us, not the shaky ground of trials, ever-changing emotions, or circumstances. Here in the garden we see more clearly Jesus, our Hight Priest, who can sympathize with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15), and who did not bend to emotions but submitted to the Father’s will.
Jesus, without sin or error, demonstrates the perfect response amidst the trembling grief He experienced before bearing the sins of the world on his shoulders. There is however, many other examples in the Bible of right responses to God amidst hard circumstances and intense emotion. There are many we could reference, but let’s rewind to before Jesus’ birth.
A young girl, with plans to be married, her plans changed in a moment by a visit from an angel telling her she would bear the Son of God. This would mean social shame and ridicule, disapproval from so many and potentially ruining her plans to marry Joseph. But even more weighty, she would carry the Son of God in her womb. Her response?
“Behold, I am a servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38).
Mary was a human. There was surely fear, maybe a little anxiety and probably some panic. Her response though, demonstrates a heart that is fully convinced that God would make good on his promises and be near to her. Her response revealed total obedience no matter the cost.
So whatever you face, whether depression, anxiety, grief, despair, and the list could go on—know that your Jesus sympathizes with your weaknesses. And then know that your God is a never-failing sturdy rock in which to place your wobbly feet. Recall his faithfulness and his promises and as you place your faith here, he will work in you obedience. He knows and draws near to the brokenhearted. In your neediness experience His fullness as he supplies all you need to hold fast to himself. Persevere knowing that this light and momentary affliction is nothing in comparison to the eternal weight of glory to come (2 Corinthians 4:17) . Offer your grief, sadness, frustration up as a sacrifice to Him as you seek His glory through obedience. He will keep you to the end.