“…he humbled himself and became obedient to death…”

 “Which is it?” I asked the Lord.  I went back and forth in my mind.  The issue surrounded the topic of obedience.  Specifically, I pondered what it took for someone to be obedient.  Two qualities surfaced: humility and submission.  Jesus certainly demonstrated both qualities.  In the verse above from Philippians 2 it says quite plainly that he humbled himself.  This humility at least partially contributed to his obedience to death, “even death on a cross!” as verse 8 stresses.  But he also demonstrated submission to his earthly parents (Luke 2:51) and would do so again to his heavenly Father at the end of time (1 Cor. 15:28).  So perhaps both were in view to explain his obedience in the face of the most extreme pressures.  But it wasn’t either/or.  His humility describes his character, who he is in his person.  That led to his submission, which was demonstrated by his obedience to the cross.

But it was not just obedience to the cross; it was obedience to his Father.  The cross was God’s will for Jesus.  It was then that I saw the depth of the importance of obedience.  It was in the relationships!  Seen another way, let’s ask the question, “What happens when a person is obedient?”  Or more specifically, “What happened when Jesus was obedient?”  To this we find a threefold answer.

The first part of the answer is, something got done, something good.  In John 4 Jesus went through Samaria, forbidden territory to any good Jew.  As John described it, “Jews do not associate with Samaritans” (v. 9).  But Jesus “had to go through Samaria” (v. 4) because the fields there were “ripe for harvest” (v. 35).  Souls were waiting to believe the Messiah, if they only knew who he was.  No ethnic bias, cultural superiority, custom or tradition would stop him.  He told his disciples, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” (v. 34).  Food gives people the energy to do what they do.  Jesus said his Father’s will was what energized him to “finish his work.”  And when did he finish that work?  When he cried from the cross, “It is finished” (19:30).  Something very good got done when Jesus was obedient.  Our salvation was forever purchased.

Part two of the answer is that someone was pleased.  In this case it was God the Father.  Notice again the clear statement of Jesus:  “…I always do what pleases [my Father]” (John 8:29).  A few years before this, the Father declared at Christ’s baptism, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17).  And long before that Paul tells us that God “was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in [Christ]” (Col. 1:19).  Clearly the love and affection within the Godhead had a strong driving influence in the motives of Christ.  The only one to have lived in heaven before coming to earth knew exactly why he was here, what he would do, and whom he would please.  There was never a more focused and committed individual than he.  His disciples saw it in his manner, in his speech and no doubt in his eyes.  And the pleasure of his Father never permitted even the slightest deviation from his goal.

The final part of the answer is that someone was honored.  This brings us back to our immediate text, Philippians 2.  After detailing the downward trek of Jesus in verses 6-8, Paul quickly shifts gears with “therefore” in verse 9.  That begins the honoring of the upwardly mobile risen Savior.  Notice how the Father honors him: “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord…” (vs. 9-11).  Talk about honor!  It just doesn’t get any better – or loftier – than this!  It is incredible to think that the obedience of this one man established the course for the entire history of all civilization.

Consider what happens when disobedience reigns.  Nothing good gets done.  It brings just the opposite: rebellion and chaos.  No one is pleased, not even the one who disobeys.  And no one is honored.  Disobedience always is a lose–lose–lose proposition.

Jesus is our model in all things, especially obedience.  Since his obedience secured our salvation, he calls us to go and do likewise.  Years ago the richness of Hebrews 13:16 flashed upon me.  It says, “…with such sacrifices God is pleased.”  The infinite, almighty and holy God of the universe could be pleased by … me? Incredible! Then with a new fervency I got into the pleasing business. Are you in it?