HE WAS OBEDIENT
1. Perhaps the strictest horse trainers in the world are the Arabians.
2. These trainers subject horses to some rigorous training methods.
3. The final test that Arabian trainers use is especially severe.
4. To see if a horse has been properly trained Arabian trainers keep a horse away from water.
5. This is done for several days.
6. After a horse has become very thirsty it is finally released.
7. As you might guess it races for the nearest source of water.
8. Just before the horse plunges its head into the water the trainer blows a whistle.
9. If the horse has been properly trained it will immediately stop.
10. Though the horse desperately wants a drink and its head is inches from the water,
11. A well trained Arabian horse will heed the whistle and return to its trainer.
12. According to what I have read the well trained horses return but quiver because they got so close.
13. When horses pass this test they are given a drink and are considered trained.
14. A horse that acts in this way is an obedient animal.
WHEN WE THINK OF JESUS WE MUST SAY THAT HE WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS OBEDIENT.
A. The Lord was someone who lived by all the rules.
B. He was a person who complied with all of God’s guidelines.
C. This was predicated in the Old Testament and demonstrated in the Lord’s daily life.
D. In
Lk.
E. The
word translated “subject” (Lk.
F. Paul said we are to be “subject” to civil authority.
G. Paul meant that we are to obey the government’s laws.
H. Jesus was “subject” in the sense that He was obedient.
2. As the Lord grew up He was obedient.
3. He was obedient to Mary, Joseph, and God.
4. Another passage that describes the Lord’s obedience is found in Mt. 3.
A. Jesus came to see John the Baptist.
B. The Lord said that He needed to be baptized by John.
C. John said (verse 14), “Wait a minute.”
D. “I need to be baptized by you.”
E. Jesus said that John was mistaken – verse 15. READ.
5. According to Mk. 1:4 John baptized people for the forgiveness of their sins.
6. Jesus did not have any sins that needed to be forgiven.
7. Why was He immersed?
8. Why did He insist on John baptizing Him?
9. He was baptized because this was part of God’s will.
10. The Lord was someone who strove to be obedient.
11. This obedience continued throughout His entire life.
A. A great illustration of this fact is found in Jn. 4.
B. Jn. 4:6 says that Jesus was “wearied” because of his journey.
C. He decided to sit down by a well.
D. A woman came along and asked Jesus for a drink.
E. The Lord and this lady had a Bible study.
F. Eventually the disciples returned – verse 27. READ
12. These disciples knew that Jesus was tired and hungry.
13. They also knew that they had gone into town to get some food.
14. They now had some food that was ready to eat. Jesus still hadn’t eaten.
15. The disciples knew the Lord needed some nourishment so they said, “eat” (31b).
16. What did Jesus say? Verses 32, 34– READ.
17. The Lord said that He had some other things that needed attention.
18. He was hungry but He was also very aware of His need to be obedient.
19. The Lord’s obedience was put above pleasure.
20. His obedience also caused Him to temporarily set aside a necessity like food.
21. The Lord’s life shows us what it means to be obedient.
22. Obedience means that we know what is right and we pursue this with all our might.
23. Where else do we find information about the Lord’s obedience?
A. If you turned to Jn. 4 let’s move over a couple of pages to Jn. 6.
B. Jesus claimed to be “bread of life” (verse 35).
C. He said He came “down from heaven” (38a).
D. Then He said why He came to earth – verse 38 – READ.
24. Jesus came to the earth to be obedient.
25. This is how the Bible describes His life.
26. The Lord obeyed while growing up and at the start of His ministry (His baptism).
27. He elevated obedience over food (Jn. 4).
28. His obedience is also seen in His death.
A. Phil. 2:8 says that Jesus was obedient even to the point of death.
B. Sometimes people say, “I will obey (comply) to a point. There are limits.”
C. Jesus did not place any limits upon His obedience.
D. If obedience meant death that was what He would do.
E. Paul added a second thought about Jesus’ obedience in Phil. 2.
F. He said the Lord was obedient when he died on a cross.
G. The Lord was not just obedient in the sense that He was willing to die.
H. He was willing to be obedient even if this meant dying the worst kind of death.
I. Jesus knew how He was going to die.
J. At
an earlier time He said that He must be “lifted up” (Jn.
K. Though the death before Him was one of the most gruesome known to man, He obeyed.
L. When we think about the Lord’s obedience we must remember that He had an option.
M. He said He could have called upon the Father for more than 12 legions of angels (Mt. 26:53).
N. The Lord didn’t do that.
O. He did pray that another way might be possible (Mt. 26:39).
P. If there was no other way Jesus said, “Let thy will be done.”
Q. Jesus said to the Father in heaven, “I will obey.”
29. The Lord’s obedience is summed up by the Hebrew writer in Heb. 5:8-9. READ.
A. Jesus was perfect in every way.
B. His obedience was complete.
C. At the beginning of this lesson I cited a passage from Mt. 3.
D. This citation showed that Jesus was baptized by John.
E. What I didn’t tell you was the distance that Jesus must have traveled to be baptized.
F. The Lord’s earthly home was Nazareth.
G. John was baptizing in a place known as Enon (Jn. 3:23).
H. If we look on a Bible map the distance from Nazareth to Enon is about 75 miles.
I. Jesus needed to be immersed and He was willing to walk some 75 miles to be obedient.
J. If an internet calculation is right, it is 77.95 miles from here to a congregation in SW Fort Wayne.
K. Imagine walking to the south side of Fort Wayne to be baptized.
30. SOME WOULD SAY, “WE WOULDN’T DO THAT. THAT IS TOO FAR. THAT IS EXPECTING TOO MUCH FROM US. THAT’S OUTRAGEOUS. WE CAN OBEY GOD IN SOME OTHER WAY”
A. This is not how Jesus viewed the matter.
B. Obedience came with a price and He repeatedly paid
that price.
C. One more than one occasion Jesus joined together love and obedience.
D. He said, “If ye love me ye will keep my commandments” (Jn. 14:15).
E. If we love people obedience is possible.
F. Obedience is made easy through love.
G. The Lord loved the Father. He wanted to do heaven’s will.
H. Thus, He was willing to walk many miles to be obedient.
I. Obedience allowed Him to die a painful death on the cross.
J. Now it is our turn and time to be obedient.
K. Obedience is now our responsibility.
31. Most of us know that we live in a time when obedience is not a popular topic.
32. We live in a period when many do not want to obey the rules and or others.
33. There are children who do not obey their parents.
34. Teachers must deal with disobedient students.
35. Employers must deal with unruly and disobedient workers.
36. Our nation must continually deal with disobedient citizens.
37. There are religious people who do not obey the instructions found in the New Testament.
A. We cannot control what the rest of the world does.
B. We can admonish and encourage Christians to do what is right.
C. God’s people are to be individuals who follow the Lord and His example.
D. Jesus was obedient and His people are to behave in a similar way.
E. Thus, God’s people are people who strive to obey the laws.
38. This means that children who are living with their parents strive to be obedient.
39. Eph. 6:1 says, “Children obey your parents.”
40. The end of this verse says, “for this is right.”
41. Some things in life are right and some things are wrong.
42. Obedience is right.
43. It is not only right, it is required.
44. Children who are living at home need to be obedient.
45. Those in the work world need to be obedient to the laws of their employers.
46. We need to be obedient citizens in the country where we live.
47. We need to be obedient in the spiritual realm too.
48. We must bind where God’s word binds and loose where it looses.
49. The Lord said that if we love Him we will keep His commandments.
50. We will obey His rules and do things as He has said.
A. Perhaps we could think of the matter this way.
B. If we trust God we obey Him and His word.
C. If we obey God and His word, we trust Him.
51. Obedience to the word of God is joined together with love and trust.
52. Do we love and trust God?
53. If we say “yes” we must be obedient to Him and His word.
54. Some here may be ready to act on their love and trust.