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An Example of Obedience, March 10
Being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient
unto death.
Philippians 2:8
.
Since Jesus came to dwell with us, we know that God is acquainted with our
trials, and sympathizes with our griefs. Every son and daughter of Adam may
understand that our Creator is the friend of sinners. For in every doctrine of grace,
every promise of joy, every deed of love, every divine attraction presented in the
Saviour’s life on earth, we see “God with us.”
Satan represents God’s law of love as a law of selfishness. He declares that it
is impossible for us to obey its precepts. The fall of our first parents, with all the
woe that has resulted, he charges upon the Creator, leading men to look upon God
as the author of sin, and suffering, and death. Jesus was to unveil this deception. As
one of us He was to give an example of obedience. For this He took upon Himself
our nature, and passed through our experiences. “In all things it behoved him to be
made like unto his brethren” (
Hebrews 2:17
).
If we had to bear anything which Jesus did not endure, then upon this point
Satan would represent the power of God as insufficient for us. Therefore Jesus was
“in all points tempted like as we are” (
Hebrews 4:15
). He endured every trial to
which we are subject. And He exercised in His own behalf no power that is not
freely offered to us. As man, He met temptation, and overcame in the strength given
Him from God. He says, “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within
my heart” (
Psalm 40:8
). As He went about doing good, and healing all who were
afflicted by Satan, He made plain to men the character of God’s law and the nature
of His service. His life testifies that it is possible for us also to obey the law of God.
By His humanity, Christ touched humanity; by His divinity, He lays hold upon
the throne of God. As the Son of man, He gave us an example of obedience; as the
Son of God, He gives us power to obey. It was Christ who from the bush on Mount
Horeb spoke to Moses saying, “I AM THAT I AM.... Thus shalt thou say unto the
children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you” (
Exodus 3:14
). This was the pledge
of Israel’s deliverance. So when He came “in the likeness of men,” He declared
Himself the I AM. The Child of Bethlehem, the meek and lowly Saviour, is God
“manifest in the flesh” (
1 Timothy 3:16
) (
The Desire of Ages, 24
).
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