The Submission of The Son Of God
“You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am” John 13:13
My Lord never insists on having authority over me, He never says, “you WILL submit to Me”. No, He leaves me perfectly free to choose - e.g. In Elijah’s call to King Ahab, the prophets and the people of Israel, The Lord had him (Elijah) say “how long halt ye between two opinions? if (choice) the LORD be God, follow him: but if (choice) Baal, then follow him”. 1 Kings 18:18-21 (brackets and underlining mine). And Jesus stated “If (choice) ye love me, keep my commandments”. (John 14:15), “ye are my friends, if (choice) ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14). –
In fact I am so free to choose, that I can spit in His face or I can put Him to death (crucify Him afresh), as others have done; and yet He will never say a word (Isa 53:7), He will only love me more and strive harder to serve me.
If my Lord insisted upon my obedience, He would simply be a taskmaster thereby ceasing to have any real authority. He never insists on obedience, but when I truly see Him for who He is, The Only Begotten (unique and literal) Son of The Almighty God, I will instantly and willingly obey Him. Therefore my growth in grace is revealed by the way I look at obedience.
Obedience is only possible between people who are equals in their relationship to each other and who feel safe in their relationship; like the relationship between father and son (earthly), not that of master and servant.
Jesus showed this type of relationship with His Father by saying, “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him” (John 8:29). “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30). “But go to My brethren and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father; and to My God, and your God”. (John 20:17) and further, it is written of Him, “though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered”. (Heb 5:8) (Emphasis mine)
The Son was obedient as our Redeemer, because He was already the Son of The Almighty God and felt safe and assured in that fact, NOT in order to become God’s Son.
He (Christ Jesus) is our example. 1 Pet 2:21; YRP 367
Oh my Father God, help me to learn by Your Son’s example, is my sincere prayer in His Holy Name!
