5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
"You are my Son;
today I have become your Father."
6 And he says in another place,
"You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek."
7 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Questions to consider:
- Although Jesus is not a descendant of Aaron, how is he able to be called a high priest?
- In what ways does Jesus’ life qualify him to be a high priest and demonstrate his priestly function?
- In what ways has Jesus been made perfect?
- How is obedience related to suffering in (a) Jesus’s life and (b) your own life?
The statement of Jesus having learned obedience through suffering speaks to our own lives as well. Does it change how you understand suffering in your own life? I hope that it does--because this means not only that we are taught obedience through the struggles that we experience, but we are also being linked to God as children. If Jesus was to be expected to learn obedience through trial and tribulation, how much more should we! Today, let’s ask for the endurance to make it through times of suffering. But even more than that, let’s ask for a transformation of the way in which we understand suffering in our lives, to recognize the power that it has to produce obedience, and draw us closer to God.
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