Hebrews 5:8-10 (NASB) Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the living God, was born innocent, pure, but not perfect. What?! That’s right, He was born innocent, but made perfect. We celebrate Christmas for the day of Christ’s birth, but that was just the beginning. What Jesus accomplished in the salvation of man kind was the result of a process, a refining process to create in Him the only perfect being to walk the face of the earth.
Born of the line of David, from the tribe of Judah, He wasn’t even born of the priestly tribe of Levi. In Jewish tradition, only those from the tribe of Levi were permitted to enter into the priesthood, allowed to enter into the inner most court of the 3 court Jewish tabernacle.
David found another way. David cried out to God. He desired to know Him, be near Him. He pursued Him. He wanted to be in His presence. He discovered this access through the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek was the king of Salem (peace), a priest, but not of the tribe of Levi. David recognized this and in doing so understood it’s importance and its foreshadowing of the coming Messiah. By Jewish tradition, much of what David did, prophesying, offering sacrifice, etc was an outright atrocity. However, he could do so, without reproach, because of his desire and full on pursuit of God. His heredity didn’t make him eligible, justify and sanctify him. God made him worthy because of his unwavering desire to know Him.
Jesus, the Son of God, is a priest of this order. He’s granted access to God the same way that David was, through desired pursuit and obedience to Him. He wasn’t born perfect, He was made perfect by His pursuit, obedience, suffering, love, victory over sin and unceasing desire to do His Father’s will. Jesus summed it up from the cross, when He said, “it is finished”. The process was complete. He had been made perfect.
All of us will fall short of the glory of God. None of us are perfect, but Jesus’ atoning work, through His life’s process and His ultimate sacrifice are our assurance of the perfection that awaits us in glory. Have a blessed weekend.
In full pursuit of the greatest Trophy,
Scott Pace
