Hebrews 5:1-10
Every high priest selected to represent men and women before God and offer sacrifices for their sins should be able to deal gently with their failings, since he knows what it’s like from his own experience. But that also means that he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as the peoples’. No one elects himself to this honored position. He’s called to it by God, as Aaron was. Neither did Christ presume to set himself up as high priest but was set apart by the One who said to him, “You’re my Son; today I celebrate you!” In another place God declares, “You’re a priest forever in the royal order of Melchizedek.” While he lived on earth, anticipating death, Jesus cried out in pain and wept in sorrow as he offered up priestly prayers to God. Because he honored God, God answered him. Though he was God’s Son, he learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered, just as we do. Then, having arrived at the full stature of his maturity and having been announced by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who believingly obey him. Hebrews 5:1-10 (MSG)
Learning through suffering is certainly never something that we want to experience, but how can we expect to get away from it, when Jesus’ Himself suffered? What can we learn from Jesus? How can we use what we learn today?
In this passage, “Jesus cried out in pain and wept in sorrow” as he was anticipating death. When we face trials or struggles, how do we pray? Do we cry out to God or weep and share our emotions during our prayers? I know that my prayers are usually far from crying or weeping. When we pray, we need to pray with a sense of obeying God to get our prayers answered. We need to learn trusting-obedience through our suffering and prayers. What might this look like?
Trusting-obedience may look like praying for someone to be cured of cancer (God’s part) and then taking meals to that person, donating to further cancer research, and being present to be supportive (our part). Trusting-obedience may be praying for God to take away an addiction (God’s part). Then seeking rehabilitation, following through with plans to avoid the addiction, helping others once we have conquered the addition (our part).
Suffering is never something that anyone ever wants to encounter, but when we are going through suffering, we must remember that Jesus also experienced suffering. From that suffering he learned trusting-obedience.
Questions for Reflection:
- Looking back, what have I learned from my struggles?
- What does praying by crying out and weeping look like for me?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I know that all of my prayers cannot be answered in the way I want. Help me do my part. And Lord, when I suffer, point my thoughts and prayers to you so that I can learn trusting-obedience like Jesus taught. Amen
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