Dear Christian friends:

Dr. Leonard Sweet, editor of a Christian magazine for pastors relates an incident that happened to him. He writes: "Indifference in the church was made clear to me before I gave a talk on the Beatitudes at a church dinner some years ago. One of the reasons why I'll never forget the incident is that while coffee was being served, my host for the evening, leaned over and whispered in my ear: "Len, shall we let the people enjoy themselves a little longer or had we better begin your message now?" After my meditations on the Beatitudes, one woman, obviously one of those who ceased to enjoy herself the moment I stood up to speak, came to me and said: "Well Dr. Sweet, if that's what you call Beatitudes, I leave them to you." Here was a Christian who could not have cared less. She had no desire to hunger and thirst (after righteous); she had no desire to be more than she was; least of all she had no desire to be reviled and rejected (for the sake of Christ). If God had such strange tastes, and if some people could join God in finding these Beatitudes a form of blessedness, they were free to do so. But not for her. So much for Dr. Sweet.

Well, that says it very well! That woman, no doubt, has a lot of company among modern day church people. However, one of the marks of a true Christian is that he or she reverently obeys God even if it means sufferings, pain and adversities. Our text, which is the Epistle lesson, just read, tells of Jesus reverent obedience to his Father's will and it requires a similar obedience on our part.


The reverent obedience of Jesus Christ, God's one and only Son. (Hebrews 5:7-8) In our text we read, "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission."

"Obedience" and "reverent submission" marked Jesus' life on earth as God's son. As the God-Man, Jesus learned obedience through his temptations and suffering. He was not a robot; He was a true flesh and blood man, He did not use power fully, as he suffered.

He relied on his heavenly Father, "the one who could save him from death." Although he at times prayed that he would be spared suffering (as in the Garden of Gethsemane), he never lost his determination to carry out the Father's will, which was that he suffer and die on the cross to save all mankind.

By His obedient suffering He was "made perfect" we are told in our text. This does not mean or imply that Jesus was sinful or disobedient in any way, but it means that he gained the experience of passing through the full range of human afflictions. There is no consequence of sin that Jesus did not experience and suffer and survive by prayer and the support of God. In that sense He was "made perfect", the perfectly adequate Savior of all mankind. Our text tells us: "once made perfect, he became the source (author) of eternal salvation for all who obey him." (Hebrews 5:9)

By his perfect sufferings Jesus has purchased full salvation from sin and misery and gives holiness and happiness to his people. This salvation he offers in the Word and Sacraments.

While Jesus won salvation for all mankind, it is actually given only to "all who obey him." Our text says it is not enough to have head knowledge of Christ, or to make a formal profession of faith. It is also a matter of the heart. If we sincerely trust in Jesus for our eternal salvation, we will then be only too glad to accept him as our Lord and have him rule over us.

As the apostle John says, "We love him because he first loved us." (1 John 4:20) And St. Paul declared His love for Jesus in this beautiful way, saying, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

So, out of love and thanks to God, not to merit salvation, but to please him we offer our lives in reverent obedience, obedience to the heavenly Father. We follow the beautiful example of Christ, our Lord.

The writer of our text says in Hebrews 12:2, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Jesus looked beyond the cross to the glory that His sacrifice would bring to His Father and to Himself, and to all those who would believe in Him and we should do the same.

Peter reminds all Christians that they are children of God, sons and daughters and like the one and only Son, Jesus, they are to be obedient to the heavenly Father, giving glory to Him. "as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14-16)

Jesus himself in the sermon on the mount expands on this a bit more saying:

"You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:43-48)

During the summer of 1778 a British battleship dropped anchor in the harbor of Nantucket Island, off the coast of New England. William Rotch, a leader of the Quaker community on the island knew that the ship's purpose was to plunder the town.

With the consent of his fellow citizens, Rotch formed a one-man welcoming committee, and greeted the British commander, Sir Conway Etherege, at the pier. He invited the commander home to dinner.

After a pleasant meal, the commander decided to get on with his business. "We're here to plunder," he told Rotch. "As you can see, your little hamlet is completely at our mercy. Where shall we start?" "I don't know of a better place than here at my house," said Rotch. "I'm better able to bear the loss than anyone else. We have some silver plate, some good, serviceable blankets, and food supplies in the cellar."

Conway-Etherege didn't know what to do. He had never come across this response before! "Tell me," he said, "are there any more men like you on Nantucket?" "Oh, yes, many better men," said Rotch. "Well, I want to meet them," Conway Etherege said.

So Rotch took him around to meet the shopkeeper who had given four-hundred barrels of flour to the poor the winter before, and another one who had given blankets and shoes. "Would you like to meet more of our people?" said Rotch. "Oh, no," replied Conway Etherege, "I can hardly believe there are three such men as you in the world. A whole street full of them would be too much." Son Conway-Etherege went back to his ship, and Nantucket was saved.

As Jesus, the one and only Son, was obedient to the Father, even unto death, the death on the cross, so may we, his many sons and daughters be obedient. May the Son's obedient death on the cross lead us to daily confess our disobedience, trust his abundant pardon; and with his grace and Spirit strive to be reverent, obedient sons and daughters even though it may cost us dearly.

Amen.