For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
–Romans 5:19

Am I doing everything according to God’s will? The Lord has done so much for me, He has simply changed my life, and I want to give something in return, to serve Him somehow, or at least to be obedient to Him. I don’t know about you, but I often had these questions: “Am I obedient to the Lord? Is it enough to do everything right to be obedient? And what is right, anyway?” There were many pros and cons in my head, but my heart wanted the real thing: for the Heavenly Father to say, “Yes, you are My beloved daughter, in whom I am well pleased!” Does that remind you of anything? It reminded me too — of Christ!!!

I wanted the Heavenly Father to love me just as He loved Jesus and to be pleased with me as He was with Him. So what did Jesus do to make the Father love Him? He obeyed! Right? Not quite… That is our childhood upbringing: “If you want to be loved, be obedient; if you don’t obey, I won’t love a bad girl or boy,” parents often say. So we grow up and spend our whole life trying to be accepted, understood and loved. But it is not like that with the Heavenly Father.

Let’s remember: the Father first said of Jesus, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” and only afterwards did Jesus go to the cross. So I ask Heavenly Daddy: “How can I be obedient to You?”, and in my heart I hear: “You are already obedient!” How??? My heart trembled: how am I already obedient, what have I done? It can’t be! My heart overflowed with admiration for my Daddy. Again I hear the quiet, loving voice: “You are obedient in Jesus!” And then I could no longer hold back my tears and joy. I was overflowing with the love of my Heavenly Father, the love with which the Father loves His Son; it is the love with which the Father loves me in Him, in Christ Jesus. My heart understood; my mind lagged behind. To understand how we are obedient in Christ, I want to understand how Jesus was obedient, because we are in Him and He is in us.

That was my story, and it continues today. I think the subject of obedience matters to many believers too. When the Lord gives a revelation or teaching, He reveals and confirms it by His Word. And today the Lord opened up to me the story of Jesus’ obedience and drew parallels.

In chapter 2 of Luke we see a story about Jesus when He was still a boy: “His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, ‘Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.’ And He said to them, ‘Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?’ But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” (Luk.2:41-52)

Such an interesting story, and at first glance quite an ordinary one. Now let’s look at another story of Jesus — crucified on the cross. They seem to have nothing in common, but when the Lord reveals something, the truth is hard to miss.

The Obedience of Jesus Christ

The Feast of the Passover points us to the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ. The first story says that His parents could not find the boy for several days. In the same way the Lord was in the heart of the earth until His resurrection. After three days Mary and Joseph found the boy in the temple. He was sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. In the same way Jesus rose on the third day according to the Scriptures. “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day” [Luk.24:46]

When His parents found Him in the temple, Mary, His mother, said to Him: “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” Here too we can see a parallel: it was Mary who found Jesus first. “Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene” [Mar.16:9] “But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping” [Jhn.20:11] “Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, ‘Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.’” [Jhn.20:15]

“Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” After this answer Jesus went with His parents, came to Nazareth and was subject to them. As we keep looking at the parallel story of the cross, we see that after speaking with His disciples the Lord ascended to the Father. “So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.” [Mar.16:19]

When the Holy Spirit reveals parallel stories, we can see a fuller picture, and the stories usually complement each other. In the story of the boy Jesus we clearly see His obedience to His earthly parents. Even at that age, and knowing His Heavenly Father, Jesus was obedient to His earthly parents. In the story of Christ’s crucifixion, Jesus was obedient to the Heavenly Father and went to the cross. In the Garden of Gethsemane He prayed, saying: “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done. Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” [Luk.22:42-44] These were the first redeeming drops of blood that Jesus shed for us. Already then, in the garden, He began His redeeming work for us. By His obedience He made us obedient; by His blood He made us clean.

On the cross Jesus redeemed us; He paid in full; He offered Himself as a sacrifice so that we might be free. True freedom is not in our works, not in the law, not in our obedience to Him, but in Him. Only in Him are we truly free. He has accomplished everything, and none of our works or deeds can affect the sacrifice He offered. On the cross He said: “It is finished!“, and now we are free, redeemed, obedient and washed forever.

Precious brothers and sisters, do not try to please God and be obedient to Him. You are precious, valuable and already obedient — not because of your righteous works, not because of your deeds, and not because of your obedience. You are precious, valuable and loved because Christ was obedient to the Heavenly Father, because the price for you and your obedience was paid by His works. His one sacrifice is enough forever. “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God” [Heb.10:12]

When we receive Jesus Christ as our Saviour, He washes us with His blood and gives us new garments, garments of righteousness. Now our Heavenly Father, looking at us, does not see our sins or our disobedience, but the shed blood of His beloved Son, and today He says to you: “You are My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased!”