“Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to a high priest in the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5:8-10)
Jesus took no shortcuts when He walked upon the earth. He never “pulled rank” to get better privileges. He never cut in line or opted for the easier path. He graduated from the same “school of hard knocks” as He calls us to do. There was no easier, “officer’s version” of life for Jesus. He suffered every bit of the misery we do.
Initially, this verse seems to present us with a theological problem. The divine Son of God is all-knowing. How can He possibly “learn” anything in addition to what He already knows? The sinless Son of God is already “perfect.” How can He be “made perfect”? Yet we are told that Jesus “learned obedience by what He suffered.” In other words Jesus now knows by His own personal experience all that we suffer. He obeyed God amidst all the temptations and attacks from the devil as we do. Therefore, “we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). In fact, Jesus’ immersion into human suffering always assures us that there is Someone in heaven who knows exactly how we feel by His own personal experience.
Have we been abused? So has Jesus – in the most humiliating and degrading ways. Have we been “passed over” and disappointment? So has Jesus. Have we suffered rejection? Just look at Jesus, disowned by His own people and nailed to the cross. Oh, yes. Jesus knows rejection. Whenever, we pour out our hearts to Jesus, He’ll never look back at us with a blank stare of indifference. His eyes will well up with tears and He’ll weep with us. His heart goes out to us at all times.
This is a great theme in Hebrews. Hebrews 2:18 tells us, “For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.” God the Father understands our sufferings because His nervous system is connected with our own. If we hurt, so does God. As Isaiah the prophet said, “In all their affliction, He Himself was afflicted” (Isaiah 63:9). But Jesus understands because He has walked the very same path as we do now. This is why the Scripture says that He was “perfected” as a Savior to us. No matter how deep the waters we cross may be, Jesus is there with us, suffering as well, and giving us comfort and strength all the way.
REFLECTION
- What trial or affliction are you suffering now? Hasn’t Jesus also been there?
- As Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus, doesn’t He also weep with you now?
- Have you ever tried to help an animal that’s injured? Yet it resists all your efforts. Why? It doesn’t understand that you’re trying to help it? But if you could only become one with it, then you could explain. Isn’t that what Jesus did for
