Jesus’ Example

Jesus showed us what true obedience was. He had a pure heart, but He also had His own feelings and desires. The Bible says that He “learned obedience by the things which he suffered.”* (Hebrews 5:8) That means Jesus didn’t always feel like obeying and pleasing His parents, but He did it anyway. He set His ears to listen. His heart was ready to obey. Even when it didn’t feel good, Jesus wanted to do right. He didn’t live to please Himself, did He?

What about when His mother found Him talking to the elders in the temple? She was upset that He hadn’t stayed with the family. Wasn’t it more important to do His heavenly Father’s business? Jesus thought. But 12-year-old Jesus gave up His own best, and “was subject”* (Luke 2:51) to His parents. He learned to obey.

When He was grown up, Jesus still obeyed. His heart was set to do God’s will. Even when others didn’t like Him and planned to kill Him, Jesus knew that His Father would take care of Him. “The Father hath not left me alone, for I do always those things that please him,”* (John 8:29) Jesus said. Because He humbled Himself “and became obedient unto death,”* (Philippians 2:8-9) Jesus sits on the throne with his Father today (Revelation 3:21). What a wonderful place to be!