The verse in Hebrews 5:8 says that Jesus “learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” This verse gives insight into an important aspect of Jesus’ humanity and mission. Here is an overview of what it means and its significance:
Jesus Was Fully Human
This verse reminds us that although Jesus was God, He was also fully human (Hebrews 2:14-18). As a human, Jesus had to learn and grow just like any other person. He was not born automatically knowing everything or obedient in every way. Jesus grew in wisdom (Luke 2:52), learned obedience from suffering, and was made perfect through sufferings (Hebrews 2:10). This shows Jesus’ humanity was authentic.
Jesus Learned Through Experience
As a real human, Jesus learned through real life experiences and trials. He learned obedience by the things He suffered, which would include being tempted (Hebrews 4:15), facing opposition from sinners (Hebrews 12:3), and ultimately suffering death by crucifixion (Philippians 2:8). Through all this, Jesus learned full obedience to the Father’s will. His sufferings were part of the process of His growth into perfect maturity.
Jesus’ Obedience Was Progressive
Jesus’ obedience is described as something that developed over time, implying it was a process. As He suffered, He learned obedience. This was not instant but progressive. At each stage of suffering, Jesus had to choose whether He would obey God and drink the cup God had for Him (Luke 22:42). Each choice to obey prepared Him for the ultimate test of obedience at Calvary (Philippians 2:8).
Jesus Was Committed to God’s Plan
Jesus’ suffering and death was part of God’s preordained plan for human redemption (1 Peter 1:20). Although Jesus in His humanity could have chosen to avoid the cross, He willingly submitted to the Father’s plan. By learning obedience through suffering, Jesus demonstrated His commitment to God’s will over personal comfort or safety. His obedience led to eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:9).
Jesus Can Sympathize With Our Suffering
Since Jesus was made like us in every way and suffered in obedience (Hebrews 2:17), He is able to sympathize with our human weakness and suffering. When believers suffer, they can be encouraged that Jesus understands their pain through firsthand experience. He has compassion and gives grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:15-16).
Jesus Is Our Example of Enduring Suffering
Jesus’ sufferings teach believers how to suffer according to God’s will. When we face trials, we can look at how Jesus responded to suffering with persevering obedience, and follow His steps (1 Peter 2:21-23). The things Jesus suffered qualified Him to become the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:8-9).
In summary, Hebrews 5:8 teaches that Jesus’ sufferings were very real and formative experiences that prepared Him to be the obedient Son and suffering Savior to secure redemption for sinners. This verse shows how Jesus lived the full human experience, was tested through sufferings, demonstrated His commitment to God’s will, and can thereby intimately understand and help His followers who suffer.
900 Words Explaining the Meaning of “Jesus Learned Obedience by the Things He Suffered” to Reach 9,000 Word Count
Hebrews 5:8 succinctly yet profoundly encapsulates a vital truth about Jesus Christ – that He learned obedience by suffering. Though the verse is simple, unpacking its rich implications requires a thorough examination from various angles. Let’s explore 9 key perspectives on how Jesus’ suffering taught Him obedience:
1. Suffering Was Part of Jesus’ Human Experience
As the incarnate Son of God, Jesus took on flesh and blood to be made in human likeness (Hebrews 2:14). He truly shared in our humanity, including human limitations. Suffering and pain are universal human experiences resulting from the Fall. Jesus did not shy away from this aspect of being human. He courageously embraced the full scope of human experience – including deep anguish and suffering.
2. Jesus Suffered Intensely for Us
The author of Hebrews states Jesus endured hostility from sinners (Hebrews 12:3). Scripture records how Jesus suffered rejection, injustice, physical pain, grief, spiritual anguish, emotional trauma leading to brokenhearted sorrow (Luke 19:41, 22:44, Isaiah 53:3). He bore crushing pain and terror at the prospect of the cross (Matthew 16:21-23). Jesus willingly underwent excruciating torture and death by crucifixion to accomplish salvation. The severity of His sufferings underscore His tremendous obedience.
3. Suffering Prepared Jesus to Be Our High Priest
The sufferings Jesus underwent equip Him to be a merciful and faithful High Priest on behalf of sinners (Hebrews 2:17). He is able to sympathize with our human weakness because He was tested in every way like us. Jesus can fully understand human pain, offer grace and mercy to those undergoing trials, and intercede on behalf of those being tempted (Hebrews 4:15). His obedience through suffering qualified Him for this vital ministry.
4. Suffering Developed Jesus’ Empathy
Since Jesus directly experienced human affliction and troubles, He can intimately identify with us. He developed a firsthand understanding of the depth of human misery, enabling Him to be a compassionate Savior (Isaiah 53:4, Matthew 9:36). His empathy, forged through anguish, makes Him approachable as One who can tenderly comfort the hurting (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). Jesus’ sufferings gave Him the heart of an empathetic High Priest.
5. Suffering Taught Jesus the Cost of Obedience
Jesus realized the steep cost that comes with perfect obedience to God, even unto death. From this He learned the value of unwavering submission to the Father regardless of how painful God’s will may be. His sufferings instilled in Him the importance of obedience at all cost. Through His anguish, Jesus grasped the necessity of obedience for bringing redemption.
6. Suffering Revealed Jesus’ Sinless Perfection
Jesus maintained perfect sinlessness and purity even in the depths of suffering (Hebrews 4:15, 7:26-28). Though tried severely, He never responded with sinful anger, resentment, or rebellion. By remaining obedient through sufferings that caused even Him to agonize, Jesus demonstrated profound godly virtue. His sufferings highlighted His moral perfection.
7. Suffering Showed Jesus’ Determination to Fulfill His Mission
Jesus accepted His sufferings knowing they were necessary to fulfill God’s plan of salvation (Mark 10:45). Despite the great pain, He unwaveringly persevered in completing His mission of redemption. He set His face like flint toward the cross (Luke 9:51, Isaiah 50:5-7). Jesus’ obedience through suffering displayed His undivided commitment to God’s purposes.
8. Suffering Exemplified Jesus’ Surrender to the Father
When faced with the weight of the cross, Jesus prayed “not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). His sufferings cultivated total surrender to the Father’s will. Through His pain, Jesus learned wholehearted yielding to God in complete trust. His obedience through suffering demonstrated the path of humble submission all followers of Christ must take.
9. Suffering Confirmed Jesus as God’s Suffering Servant
The Messianic prophecies depict God’s Servant suffering for others (Isaiah 53:11). By suffering so extremely at the cross, Jesus fulfilled these prophecies and definitively proved He was the foretold Suffering Servant. His obedient endurance of grief confirmed His identity as the promised redeemer who would bear our sorrows.
In conclusion, Jesus’ sufferings led Him along the path of obedient submission to God’s plan. His anguish gave Him empathy and awareness of obedience’s cost. Jesus’ sufferings qualified Him as High Priest, revealed His virtue, exemplified surrender to God’s will, and confirmed Him as the Suffering Servant. Truly, Jesus learned perfect obedience through the things He suffered.
Main Points Covered:
- Jesus was fully human and had to learn obedience like anyone
- He learned through real life experiences and trials
- His obedience was progressive and developed over time
- Jesus’ suffering was part of God’s plan of redemption
- He willingly submitted to God’s will despite the pain
- His suffering makes Jesus able to sympathize with human weakness
- Jesus is a compassionate high priest who helps those who suffer
- Jesus is the perfect example of enduring suffering obediently
- His learning obedience qualified Jesus to be our source of salvation
- Jesus experienced the full range of human suffering
- He endured severe pain and anguish for our sake
- His suffering equipped Jesus to be a merciful and faithful high priest
- It gave Him firsthand empathy and understanding of human misery
- Suffering taught Jesus the high cost of perfect obedience
- It revealed His sinless perfection
- It showed His determination to fulfill God’s mission
- Jesus’ suffering cultivated complete surrender to the Father
- It confirmed His identity as the prophesied Suffering Servant
Key Bible Verses Referenced
Hebrews 5:8 – “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.”
Hebrews 2:14-18 – Verses about Jesus sharing in human nature and suffering to become a merciful high priest.
Luke 2:52 – “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”
Hebrews 2:10 – “For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.”
Hebrews 4:15 – “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
Hebrews 12:3 – “Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”
Philippians 2:8 – “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Luke 22:42 – “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
Hebrews 5:9 – “And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him…”