“Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered” from Hebrews 5:8 speaking of Jesus is a breathtakingly astounding statement.
What did Jesus, being God, have to learn?!
The scripture says, “obedience”. But, what does that mean?
I believe it means love in a new way
because,
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments…” — 1 John 5:3
I believe that from before the beginning the love between the members of God is perfect —lacking nothing. Put bluntly, man does not exist because God needs us in any way.
I believe everything exists as a means for the members of God to express, explore and expand their love for one another. Man exists as a result of that love and we get to be a part of it.
It is remotely similar to how parenting, especially the challenges that come along with it, allow me to know my wife (and myself) in beautiful new and novel ways.
The love of God is a perfect, beautiful, boundless, growing love, eternally demonstrating itself with every circumstance and under the most extreme conditions.
For those who don’t know the Answer the question is
“Is love true?”
Or, said another way,
“Will love continue to be love, even in this?”
The answer is what God declares; The Father giving the Son as revealed by the Holy Spirit.
It is what the life of Christ demonstrates.
Always, Yes.
I AM ⟺ I AM
It’s a proof that proves itself.
So, what did Jesus have to learn?
Obedience. Love in a new way.
Love under the violent assault of an adversary and that must endure the ravages of sin without becoming any way diminished by it.
These are the means by which He learned.
Jesus did this perfectly, and by it became the first fruit, the model, and qualified to be the Redeemer for all born under such conditions, having been tempted (tested) in every way that we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)
“And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him”
— Hebrews 5:9
Now, as He was sent, I am sent.
So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
— John 20:21
So, the question my life strives to answer is
“Is love true?”
Or, said another way,
“Will love continue to be love, even in this?”
Everything is for this purpose. For love to be declared and for me to experience, express, explore and expand on the love I have with God —to participate in the beautiful communion of God’s love.
Oh, thank you Jesus!
All things do indeed work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28) because whatever I face, good or bad, is an opportunity to experience, express, explore and expand on the love I have with God.
Could this be why the Apostle Paul writes that he WELCOMES the fellowship of His sufferings THAT. HE. MAY. KNOW. HIM. (Philippians 3:8-14)
So, whatever I’m struggling with, the question in the midst of my suffering is:
“Will He love me, will I love Him, even in this?”
God’s side of the equation has already been answered through Christ. Always, Yes. (Romans 8:35-39)
So, I strive to respond,
“Yes, Lord, I will love you even in this.”
Which means obedience to Christ’s example
That the truth of Your love may be declared and that I may experience, express, explore and expand on the love I have with You.
NOTE: The artwork is something I created as a fan of anime with some help from AI. (It’s not all AI. I did a lot of work in Photoshop to create it. This is the kind of stuff I want to help students to learn as a means of expression, personal investment in their education, and meaningfully engaging with the technology). It’s for an original series called Shizukana Kishi or Still Knights that I was inspired to create by my son Chris Luckett (hopefully I can get him to help with the score).
Because manga is a Japanese art form, it is traditionally read from top right to bottom left. For those who prefer to read it the way we typically do in the United States, I’ve included a version of the panels in a western format below.
#perfectourlove #shizuka #shizukanakishi #stillknights
