The Obedience of Christ
Philippians 2:5-8
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
Jesus has always been God. He did not stop being God when He became a man. Yet in taking on human form, He intentionally laid aside the glory and honor that were rightfully His and accepted the duty of obedience. He fully obeyed the law of God, and He fully obeyed the will of His Father in Heaven. Jesus said, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38).
Why did the One who had every right to be obeyed become obedient? Because it was necessary. Jesus had to be obedient in order to be qualified to be the sacrifice for the sins of the world, and in order to set an example for us to follow. When Jesus went to where John was baptizing and asked John to baptize Him, John protested that it should be the other way around—that Jesus should baptize him. “And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him” (Matthew 3:15).
Every day we face the choice between obedience to God and yielding to the temptations of the world. Each time we stand firm and do what is right, we are following in the footsteps of Jesus. He was tempted just as we are, yet His obedience to the Father never wavered.
Growth Principle:
To be followers of Jesus Christ, we must adopt His attitude of obedience to all God directs.