The Obedience of Christ

Luke 22:39-46

Introduction

2 years ago I bought a juicer from shoppee. When it arrived, I was so excited to use it!

I read the instructions on how to assemble it. But somehow, I can’t make it work.

I thought it was broken. I was mad why they sent me a broken item!

So I went to the instruction manual again and there I read “for problems and concern

contact the manufacturer”. That’s what I did. I contacted the manufacturer, they asked me to send a video of item with me operating it, and the they showed me a video on what to do. And then the juicer worked perfectly fine!

I was reminded that day of the importance of obeying instructions and to contact the manufacturer (God) when you and I are in difficult situations and to listen and follow what He is telling you and i to do and lives will just become perfectly fine (not problem free, but joyful amidst trials).

Our Lord and Savior Jesus sets for us the importance of Obedience to the Will of the Father in order to accomplish the redemption, salvation, and reconciliation of humanity.

In our passage today we read that Jesus and His disciples where in the place called the Garden of Gethsemane, in Mount Olives. This was after the Last Supper. It was a rather peaceful night but Jesus was in a difficult and heart-wrenching situation. He said, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death”. (Matthew 26:38) and in Luke 22:44 “44 And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.”

His heart was troubled because He is about to face the most agonizing torture that one could ever experience.

Look at His response: A response that we need to follow and emulate.

Not my will but your will be done

Luke 22:41–42 NASB95

41 And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, 42 saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

Father , Your will is mine to obey and it is not up for discussion or debate.

Father, Your will is what is best for the people you love!

Jesus was able to overcome the temptation because of PRAYER (cf. v.40 and v.41)

Pain and Tribulations can possibly sway us to disobey and chose what is easy, comfortable, and run away from the will of God.

3 Important Take Aways from the Obedience of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

I. Jesus Christ’s obedience meant ultimate personal cost

Jesus said in Luke 22:42 “42 saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.””

Remove this cup - the cup of suffering

The cup is used symbolically as God’s pouring of Judgment and wrath against sin. = suffering!

Isaiah 51:17 NET 2nd ed.

17 Wake up! Wake up! Get up, O Jerusalem! You drank from the cup the Lord passed to you, which was full of his anger. You drained dry the goblet full of intoxicating wine.

Isaiah 51:22 NIV

22 This is what your Sovereign Lord says, your God, who defends his people: “See, I have taken out of your hand the cup that made you stagger; from that cup, the goblet of my wrath, you will never drink again.

Jesus had to go through suffering and death:

Matthew 16:21 “21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.”

Philippians 2:8 “8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Hebrews 5:8 “8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.”

Jesus was always obedient to the Father - what the author meant is that His obedience was tested through sufferings. From untested obedience to a tested obedience by way of suffering.

Suffering enables us to grow in obedience.

The disciples grow in their obedience through trials and suffering. at First, they failed.

Matthew 26:33–35 “33 But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.”

But after the agonizing pain of seeing the nail pierced hands and feet of Jesus, they became bold in their faith and in the proclamation of the Gospel that they willingly died for the cause of Jesus.

Reflection:

How much are you willing to give for Jesus?

Application:

Choose obedience even if it cost us our comfort, resources, and life.

II. Jesus Christ’s obedience was necessary for God’s salvation plan

God’s salvation plan from the beginning includes the ultimate sacrifice of the perfect lamb of God.

Romans 5:18–21 NASB95

18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. 20 The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The disobedience of Adam condemned all.

The obedience of Jesus saves all who believes in Him.

GRACE - The righteousness of Jesus was imputed to us because He died on our behalf (atonement)!

Reflection:

Do you believe that Jesus died on your behalf?

Application:

1. Believe in the person and work of Jesus for your salvation.

2. You need to hear and believe the Gospel everyday!

III. Jesus Christ’s obedience was perfect

Never did Jesus disobeyed the Law.

Never did Jesus disobeyed the commands of the Father.

Hebrews 4:14–16 NIV

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

He is the only who was able to love the Father with all his heart, soul, mind, strength!

He knows that we can’t live the perfect life so He lived the perfect life that we could not!

God doesn’t need you to be perfect. He does it for you through the blood of Christ!

What God wants for us is to be “holy” , to be set apart from the world!

Many Christians have what we might call a 'cultural holiness.' They adapt to the character and behavior pattern of Christians around them...But God has not called us to be like those around us. He has called us to be like Himself. Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God. - Jerry Bridges

As we grow in holiness, we grow in hatred of sin.

Reflection:

Am I Holy parent? husband? employer? worker? government official?

Am I growing in my holiness?

Application:

Make it a habit to confess your sins to God.

Come to Jesus, our High Priest, who understands us.

“Draw near with confidence to the throne of Grace so that you may receive mercy and grace in your time of need”

Conclusion:

Faith and obedience are bound up in the same bundle. He that obeys God, trusts God, and he that trusts God, obeys God. He that is without faith is without works; and he that is without works is without faith. Do not oppose faith and good works to one another, for there is a blessed relationship between them; and if you abound in obedience your faith shall grow exceedingly. - Charles Spurgeon

Our obedience to Christ must be a whole lifestyle arising from a relationship with God through Jesus Christ