Hebrews 5: 8-9: “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him…”

Hebrews 6:1 “Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity…”

In playing a game of bow and arrows recently I missed the target every time.  Meeting the mark aka perfection was not as easy I soon realized.  Often when we hear the word perfect the first synonyms that come to mind are excellence, standard-bearer and so forth. We often use the word perfection to mean without flaws and meeting the target eerytime.  Now that’s a hard marker to live up to.

Well recently my understanding of perfection was broadened and deepened when it come to the meaning of perfection in God’s word.  As usual God operates differently from the world standard and as Master Creator reshapes our perspective to his original perspective.

Rev. Dr. Stephen Jennings defines perfection in this context as “complete, mature, well-rounded,   well prepared, broadly experienced, inclusive in one’s dealing with people, able to handle any kind of person or situation”. Now for full understanding of this revolutionary definition we turn to the experiential Jesus, our big brother who has already walked this journey.

Hebrews 5: 8-9: tells us that “though [Jesus was] a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;  and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him…” . What do you mean I hear you ask?  Jesus as God was perfect in the traditional sense (flawless) prior to coming to earth.  However, it is precisely because Jesus was God that he had to learn  perfection (complete, mature, well-rounded,   well prepared, broadly experienced, inclusive in one’s dealing with people, able to handle any kind of person or situation) as a human being, from the inside.  God had made humans but he was never human before He came in Jesus so he never knew what it was like to be us.  WOW !!!!!  Can you just imagine!!!!  Jesus learned what it was like to be like us so that He could be well prepared for His role as Humanity’s Saviour, High Priest (Mediator and Intercessor).

So Jesus knew and knows what it means to go through: Highs & Lows, Ups &Downs, Joys & Sorrows, Triumphs & Tragedies, Successes & Failures, Prosperity &Adversity, Plenty& Scarcity, Temptation &Frustration, Sickness & Health , and ultimately Life & Death.

What a mighty God we serve who was not content to be flawless but came and experienced humanity in order to save us and in the process becomes humanly “complete, mature, well-rounded,   well prepared, broadly experienced, inclusive in one’s dealing with people, able to handle any kind of person or situation” so that right now as Divine He is intercessing for us with the Father at the throne room of grace.  Hallelujah

PRAYER

Jesus we lift up your matchless name for you alone are God.  There is none like you.  We praise you and thank you for loving us so much that you died and rose again to save us from our sin and shame and even now you are working for us in heaven.  We love you Jesus Christ.  Amen