Questions about obedience, suffering and endurance

[mecco]

This morning the pastor was talking about Jesus learning obedience through suffering. I have heard that before but this time I wondered- Why did He have to learn obedience? Wasn't He perfect already?

The point of the sermon was that suffering helps us because "the trying of your faith produces endurance", but what is the endurance for? If "Jesus paid it all" and "it is God who works in you to will and to do His good pleasure", then why do we have problems with obedience and suffering and endurance?

Thank you for your thoughtful reply,

mecco

 

[B-A-C]

This morning the pastor was talking about Jesus learning obedience through suffering. I have heard that before but this time I wondered- Why did He have to learn obedience? Wasn't He perfect already?

The point of the sermon was that suffering helps us because "the trying of your faith produces endurance", but what is the endurance for? If "Jesus paid it all" and "it is God who works in you to will and to do His good pleasure", then why do we have problems with obedience and suffering and endurance?

Thank you for your thoughtful reply,
mecco

I have heard it preached a little differently. Jesus was perfect, and Jesus never sinned. Jesus was tempted. (Matt 4:1; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:2)
Being tempted is not a sin, but before coming to earth Jesus had not experienced it as we humans do. (Heb 2:18; Heb 4:15)
I believe for Jesus to "pass the test" of sin. He had to be tempted. If he had not been tempted, he could not have overcame sin.
In fact his resistance to sin is the proof he did overcome sin and was perfect. Jesus did not want to be crucified, (Matt 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42)
He didn't have to do it, but in doing it he made a way for humanity to be saved. So in that way, I think he learned obedience.

As to your second question, there are several thoughts on this.
Some do not believe in once saved always saved, and they take the trials, tests and tribulations as works from Satan to turn Christians away from their faith. (Matt 13:19)
Some believe that by passing these tests we will receive a higher reward. (Heb 11:35)
Some believe we are sanctified by going through "the fire" (tests and trials) so to speak. (1Cor 3:13-15; James 1:2-4)

It may be a combination of all the above.

 

[farout]

Just a thought that came to me and I offer mine just for the sake of thinking the subject over. Jesus was perfect but still had to learn all the things we still teach our children today. If something was "hot" then, Jesus more than likely found out what "hot" ment by touching something hot, so suffering was involved. I am sure there are many other examples but "hot" seemed the easiest to grab off the shelf of my mind. Of course the word "no" is hardest to learn for all of us, especially so with teenagers. We have had 4 (now adult) children, and now we have 5 grandchildren who have the same problem.