Are you praying? Look what happens when you do.

“I’ll pray for you” is often said and we often say it.  But there are times when behind the scenes where no one is hearing and seeing you feel like you are crying out to God to change your circumstance and to do something so that what looks inevitable doesn’t happen! Do you know those moments? Of course you do and you maybe in one of them right now. That’s what our next verses speak to us about today.

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. ⁸ Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered ⁹ and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him ¹⁰ and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5 v 7-10)

He prayed, was heard but was not saved from death but through death.

Perhaps the thought here is Gethsemane and though there are other times we see Jesus praying and there are many occasions we are not privy to, but what is written here would suggest his time in that garden. A place of grief and sorrow. He knows what it is to be hard pressed. Gethsemane means oil press.

He prayed to the Almighty, the all-powerful One. To Him who placed the stars in the sky and created the gardens of Eden and Gethsemane. The Father of Jew and Gentile, of all. He prayed to the Covenant-maker. Jesus was fully aware of the prophecy of Jeremiah in 31:31-33 where God promises a new covenant, for the old was broken. That’s why Jesus personally battles with the cup before him. He has Isaiah also racing through his mind where the prophet is alarmed at Gods people drinking the cup of terror (51:17). He knows he will drink the cup of wrath and judgment in order to create the new covenant made with his shed blood.

He learned obedience not because he was disobedient but because of his submission to what he suffered.

The mark of any disciple is obedience.

“Son though he was” reveals that the One who had it all needed to submit.

There are times for whatever reason that we should not stop and admire the view but submit. We should just go through it as best as we can. This place is not your destination nor is it a resting place. It is a going through place. Do not be distracted or attracted to whatever you see around you, just keep walking through.

He was declared as High Priest.

The ‘Pastor’ will speak more about this in chapter 7 and it seems like we are being simply introduced to this name Melchizedek for that reason, whetting our appetite for more!

But Jesus was called, appointed, designated High Priest not by ambition. This role is as we know from the Old Testament system one of intercession and we have seen this already.

Today Jesus is interceding for you.

Gethsemane and submitting to the destiny on your life will crush you. He hears your cries. He hears and He is praying for you.

To learn obedience is to know we are not first but second. We are not leading everything but following. We are not in charge but conforming ourselves to Him and not to our rights. But in doing so we cry through the battle of that transformation. He hears and He is praying for you.

Finally, this war with your soul is the prayer that brings the eternal part of you, the God-focused, Christ-centred, Spirit-dwelt part of you to the surface and to make this the loudest voice, the clearest vision and the most powerful thought over what your body is experiencing. He knows this, He hears this and He is praying for you.

Thank you Jesus!