Theological Commentary: Click Here
Discipleship Focus: Obedience
- Obedience: Genuine and satisfying obedience comes out of our identity. Our true identity comes only from our Father.
I’m
pretty sure that the topic of obedience is the perfect topic for study on the
day we study the crucifixion of Christ.
Jesus’ crucifixion is the perfect example of obedience. Jesus lays down His own life simply because
it is the will of the Father. It
demonstrates to us how human beings can only be made righteous through the
sacrifice of God.
Look at
how Jesus behaves in ultimate obedience.
- He is brought before Pilate. Rather than condemn His accusers, Jesus is focused on the task at hand and speaking the truth in Pilate’s midst.
- Jesus is handed over to be crucified. He is mocked and beaten. Rather than use His power as God to save Himself, He endures it for our sake.
- Jesus is mocked once more when He is crucified. He is mocked by the soldiers and the religious leaders as they stand by and watch. Once more Jesus takes it so that the will of God can be done.
- Jesus dies. As I mentioned earlier, Jesus forfeits His own life simply because it is the will of the Father.
What I
love about the ending of this chapter, though, is that someone gets Jesus’
sacrificial obedience. Jesus’ disciples
are all busy fleeing. But someone steps
up and willingly puts their circumstance on the line. Joseph of Arimathea – and the Gospel of John
tells us that he is joined by Nicodemus – come to claim Jesus’ body. They are members of the Sanhedrin. They are putting their livelihood on the line
for this act. They get Jesus’
sacrificial obedience and imitate it.
The
crucifixion story is an excellent perspective on obedience.
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