What does the cross mean to you? Is it just a symbol used on a church building, or worn around your neck? Philippians 2:6 and 8 speaks of Jesus like this: “Who, being in very likeness God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped …
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross.”
For Jesus, the cross meant humility, obedience and death. In the previous devotional we looked at how Jesus humbled himself, and now we will focus on his obedience.
All through his life Jesus chose to be obedient. First to his earthly parents, and then to his Heavenly Father. He was able to say, “I love the Father and I do exactly what my Father has commanded me to do!” He is the only one who has perfectly done so. Even in the face of suffering, humiliation, rejection and death, he chose to be obedient.
Jesus says to his followers, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.” In John chapters 14 and 15 Jesus repeats similar words six times. He is not speaking of an obedience that comes from fear or compulsion. Rather he is speaking of obedience that flows from love. Jesus did what the Father wanted because he loved and trusted him. The more we understand how much our Heavenly Father loves us, the more we will want to do what pleases him – even when it may be costly.
