Reverent Submission

Hebrews 5:5-10; Jeremiah 31:31-34

The book of Hebrews talks about Jesus being appointed a high priest. In order to do so was because of his reverent submission to God and the plan for salvation which was to bring great suffering to him. It is said he learned obedience through what he suffered. Being made perfect in this way, he became the source of salvation for all who obey him. This being made perfect through persevering in obedience in the face of suffering is a theme the disciples will take up in following the example of Christ.

Due to Christ’s reverent submission to his work on the cross, a new covenant has been brought in. This was predicted in Jeremiah 31 that tells how the law will be put within them and written on their hearts. They will know God due to Christ’s sacrifice. Because of it God will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more.

The term submission indicates obeying someone and their wishes. It is defined as accepting or yielding to the will or authority of another person. I think of the workplace where we all have superiors – bosses over us of whom we do and perform what they ask of us. Our superior in our life is God who asks us to follow the law of love which is written on our hearts.

Reverence is about having or showing profound respect for someone or something. I think of the Psalms expressing this reference to God in praise of God, God’s ways, and God’s laws. For us today who live under the new covenant we need to follow Christ’s example by being reverent to the law written on our hearts in ways to please God.

I am also struck by the description of Christ being made perfect in the sufferings he endured carrying out God’s plan for him to bring restoration and forgiveness to us. This gives me new hope that the suffering we go through can help to perfect us – bring us closer and closer to the reverent submission Jesus and the disciples had. Paul describes this perfection in his letters as sanctification. This is the process of us growing into the image of God. Some may think that suffering might bring a pause to it but by persevering in reverent submission we will grow even more in sanctification toward our goal of perfection. Amen

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