(from our midweek Lenten service)
Did you know parents actually have a reason behind the instructions they give to their children? Parents are not mean! Their instructions are truly not farfetched! Their instructions have a reason! I learn that lesson more every day. Being a parent myself, you often find yourself repeating the same instructions you once bristled at as a kid. [For example:] “Eat your vegetables.” I did not want to eat veggies as a kid, but now I find myself saying the exact same thing to my kids: “Eat your veggies.” That instruction is not meant to punish kids, but to preserve health. Or, every single time I came home from a friend’s house, my parents asked: “When did you go to bed last night?” That was their thinly veiled way of asking: “How cranky will you be today?” Of course, as a kid, I always felt they were being cranky by asking that question, but now, when my kids wake up tired, I recognize just how frustrating overly-tired kids can be. As you grow older, you have the opportunity to hear instructions from two different perspectives: from that of a child and that of an adult. As a child, the will of the parent feels overbearing, restrictive, and unpleasant. As a parent, you understand that your will is meant for your child’s wellbeing and protection. In the Lord’s Prayer, you pray: Thy [Your] will be done. Now, God’s “will” are his desires, his wants. He reveals his “will” only in the Bible. In the Bible, God clearly says: “My will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:40). God wants us to have faith in Jesus as Savior. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified (1 Thessalonians 4:3), that you live a holy life. What is the “holy life” God expects? Well, look to the Ten Commandments. There he reveals his “will,” his desires. Love God with all your heart, mind, and soul. Love your neighbor as yourself. Show selfless and self-giving love to your spouse. Respect and honor the reputations of all people. Keep your heart free from greed (Exodus 20:1-17). If you want to know God’s will, then look in his Word. As children of God, how easy it is to pray “Thy [Your] will be done” as God’s will matches our wants. We like God giving us daily bread— our clothing, homes, and stuff. We like God blessing us with strong relationships and a good reputation. We enjoy God granting good days and good recovery. Yet, the moment God’s “will” does not match my “will,” how quickly that prayer becomes: “God, let my will be done! God, approve of what I want!” The heart craves that answer in one of two ways: (1) You fight against God’s will. Relationships strain. Instead of selflessly caring for the needs of my spouse, I demand that my spouse work harder to make me happy. Instead of listening to the emotional needs of an upset friend, speak first so your friend knows how they wronged you. You determine the course, act, and demand that God approve. Or, (2) you blame God for not meeting your expectations. When life falls off track and frustrations pile up, the heart impatiently demands that God instantly come and help! You complain that God does not heal you sooner. You fault God for the money-mistakes you made. You see, a part of the heart does not want to be in a position to receive instructions— be it from an authority-figure, your neighbor who stands correct, or your God. The heart does not want to submit; the heart wants to lead. It wants to follow whatever feels right and makes sense to the mind— even if its “will,” its wants, its desires will lead to death. In mercy, God sends Jesus Christ, your Perfect High Priest to bring wayward hearts in line with his will. During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death… Do not overlook that simple, but profound truth: Jesus lived on earth. Put another way: Jesus Christ is true man. As true man, he has human needs— hunger and thirst, clothing and shoes, the need for rest and the strength to work. He has emotions— laughing and crying; he pours out righteous anger against abuse and holds heart-felt sympathy for those wandering in spiritual darkness. You see his humanity on full display in the Garden of Gethsemane. As death approaches, Jesus collapses and offered up prayers and petitions:“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Mathew 26:39). He winces at the thought of nails piercing his hands, his body pulled and stretched out across a cross, his entire body weight sagging onto his lungs. His mind plays the taunting, the jeering and laughter from smug soldiers surrounding the cross. He looks at the road ahead only to see death. And not just physical death, no— the greatest pain of all is carrying the crushing weight of our guilt, our shame, and our rebellion. Physical pain pales in comparison to the thought of God forsaking you. Imagine that if you can— because no one has ever, ever experienced God-forsakenness. That you, a believer, cry out to God, only to hear nothing in return (as though you shout for help in the Grand Canyon, only to hear echoes bounce off the walls). God is not present to reach down from heaven, destroy your enemies and rescue you. God has turned his back on you. As horrific suffering barrels towards him, Jesus pleads: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). “Your will be done, what you instruct, O God, let this be done.” Although the sight of suffering, crucifixion, and death is repulsive, Jesus does not run from the Father’s will. Instead, he submits to God’s will. And He was heard because of his reverent submission. Yes, Jesus is heard even when he suffers, is crucified, and dies. God did not deliver Jesus from suffering, crucifixion, and death. Rather, God’s answer is found in granting Jesus the strength needed to press on to Calvary. God’s answer is found in Jesus drinking the whole cup of sin’s punishment— dregs and all— to its very bitter end. God’s answer is found in raising Jesus from the dead. God’s answer is found in declaring you: “Not guilty! Forgiven!” Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. As you watch Jesus Christ, Your Perfect High Priest, you watch him learn obedience, or another way of putting it, be obedient himself. He does what you (and I) fail to do in order to change your status (and mine) from that of “rebel” to that of “friend.” Now, Jesus Christ is Our Perfect High Priest who becomes our source of obedience. [A]nd, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. “Made perfect?” It sounds as though at one time Jesus was not perfect. Like he had sinned once before and had his own sins scrubbed on the cross. Yet, the Greek word for “made perfect” means to bring to an end or bring to its goal. Jesus completed his mission to save you. He marched through death and back in order to bring a self-centered heart back to God. That means, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. The “source,” the “cause,” the “reason.” If I dig a well for water, that well becomes the “source” of my water. I cannot run to a tree, knock on the trunk, and hope something comes out. I will not find water in a rock. I cannot expect water to even come through my sink faucet without pipes connecting to the source of water. Only in this well is water found, only in this source and nowhere else. The ever-flowing source of eternal life is Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit has flooded your heart with faith. You trust that Jesus stepped into your world and obeyed God the Father perfectly in your place. Now, the Holy Spirit constantly bends your wills to become obedient to God’s will. You place God’s wants above your own wants—even when it means you must sacrifice some possession. Even if it means you must remain patient a little longer. Even when it means you do not seek revenge on someone who intentionally harmed you. Your new desire is to live a holy life. How can you do this? Run back to the source of obedience. Set your eyes on Jesus, who obeyed the Father’s will and humbly submitted himself to death in order to free you from sin. Set your eyes on Jesus, whose cries and tears were answered as he was raised from death and into heaven. Set your eyes on Jesus who continues ruling this world according to his will, his desires. As you grow older, you have the opportunity to hear instructions from two different perspectives: from that of a child and that of an adult. As a child, the will of the parent feels overbearing, restrictive, and unpleasant. As a parent, you understand that your will is meant for your child’s wellbeing and protection. Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest, comes to rescue wandering hearts. He lays down his obedient life in order to meet your great spiritual need. Because he is obedient to death, your disobedience is forgiven. As you walk towards your heavenly goal, the Holy Spirit fills you with the humility needed to follow the voice of Jesus Christ is Our Perfect High Priest. The One who learned obedience and who becomes our source of obedience. Comments are closed.
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