Suggestion: the objective of this lesson is to improve the bond a person has with Jesus as a man. The power of Jesus' example to a Christian's life is proportional to the person's ability to relate to Jesus as a human being. When a Christian says, "Oh, he was the Son of God, so I do not have anything in common with him," he or she destroys the force and relevance of Jesus' example. Help Christians relate to Jesus the man in a powerful, basic way.
Responding to God with obedience is not instinctive. Rebelling against God is instinctive. When tempted, the person who follows his or her "natural inclination" without consideration, evaluation, or reflective thinking will rebel against God.
Suggestion: help people understand that no one is obedient because he or she finds obeying "easy, simple, and natural." Advance the understanding that obedience to God is a learned behavior.
The free will of the human can make unselfish decisions that consider the best interests of another person, the family, other Christians, society, or the nation. However, the free will of the human may make selfish decisions that only consider "what I want."
Satan always has known that the human free will can be selfish. The most effective avenue available to temptation exists because the human free will can be selfish.
Suggestion: focus attention on the fact that selfish considerations can be a part of the free will's expression even in a sinless environment.
Consider Eve's first temptation (Genesis 3). Evil did not exist in the realm of human reality. Eve was not in need. All her needs were supplied in ideal circumstances. She was not inadequately fed. She was not deprived. She was not stressed. She was not in pain. She was not struggling with peer pressure. She was not in a state of anxiety.
How could Satan tempt a person living in the perfect situation under ideal circumstances? If Satan could get Eve to focus on herself, he effectively could challenge her to rebel against God. He could challenge her to rebel even though she had every reason to obey and no reason to rebel.
What were her thoughts when she examined the forbidden fruit? Read Genesis 3:1-7. Satan altered her view of God by suggesting that God (a) lied to her, (b) was bluffing, and (c) deliberately deprived her. His deception was successful. Because Eve was deceived, she thought of herself as she examined the fruit. Though she did not want for food, the fruit appeared to be a good food source. Though she was surrounded by beautiful things, the fruit was beautiful. Though she had sufficient knowledge, the fruit offered her the apparent opportunity for wisdom. She used her free will to act selfishly. Her temptation was not need driven. It was driven by self-centeredness.
Suggestion: Help people focus on this fact: In a sinless condition where all physical needs were more than adequately met, Eve still could think and reason from a self-centered focus. Discuss the things that appealed to her. Emphasize the fact that temptation's appeal was not based on her need.
From that moment on, people used (and use) the human free will to pursue selfish considerations. Temptation successfully deceives us by exploiting our preoccupation with self.
Suggestion: discuss how we are like Eve in our self-centered considerations. The origin of the majority of our temptations begin with the conviction, "This would be good for me."
From the beginning, the Bible affirms these truths:
Obedience is learned even when evil does not exist as a part of the human reality. This provides us a powerful, essential insight into Jesus' human existence. We find it too easy to disregard Jesus' example in specific circumstances. "He was different. Because he was God's Son, he was not like us. It was easier for him. It was natural for him to obey God. It is not natural for us to be obedient." Not true. He became obedient in the same way we do--he learned to obey.
Suggestion: challenge the students to struggle with the truth that obedience is learned. The fact that it is learned increases each person's level of responsibility. One reason we find it so simple to justify disobedience is our common conviction, "this is not my fault."
Hebrews 5:7-10
At the time of his death; he offered them to the One who was able to save him from death.
Yes, he was heard because of his piety (godly fear, reverence). He prayed for deliverance from death, but he did not abandon or renounce his mission.
From the things that he suffered; the education that produces obedience comes through suffering. Following God, surrendering to God, submitting to God is not a painless process. The joy of obeying God does not arise from physically feeling good. The joy of obedience arises from realities that are deeper and more central to life than physical feelings.
To all those who obey him; he knows the meaning of obedience and the cost of obedience. He knows the relationship between obedience and suffering. His obedience required a price that few of us will ever understand. He understands the price we pay when we devote ourselves to obedience. He respects and responds to that heart, mind, and attitude.
A high priest for us (see Hebrews 2:14-18). "In the order of Melchezedec" had special meaning to a Jewish Christian or a Christian with knowledge of Jewish history. The point is simple: according the Jewish law, Jesus could not be a high priest because he was not a descendant of Aaron. He was a member of the tribe of Judah, not the tribe of Levi. He was a descendant of kings, not of priests. In Judaism, the position of king and priest were never combined. Jesus could be appointed by God to be high priest because he was like Melchezedec who was not an Israelite (see Genesis 14:18-20). Melchezedec was a king and a priest. Perhaps this was in anticipation of a rebuttal that would declare Jesus could not be a priest.
Matthew 26:36-46
He was grieved and distressed. Discuss those two emotions.
Three times. Multiple petitions reflect the depth of anguish and distress.
(a) Removal of the need to die or (b) the strength to "drink the cup."
Luke 22:39-46
The removal of the cup; removing the need to die.
Strengthened him.
His fervent prayer produced sweat that poured from his body as though he were bleeding.
Did Jesus want to die? In this matter, was his personal desire in conflict with God's purposes? How did Jesus resolve the conflict? Do you see any visible differences in Jesus when you compare his behavior during this conflict with his behavior after this conflict is resolved? If your answer is yes, state the difference you see.
He did not want to die. His human will was in conflict with God's divine will. Jesus resolved the conflict by surrendering to God's will. [That is when "he learned obedience."] Before the prayers he had a high level of anxiety. After the prayers he functioned with calm resolve.
We do not demonstrate the highest level of obedience by doing what we want to do. Mature obedience is demonstrated by yielding to something that we do not wish to do. It is doing what we do not wish to do that reveals the heart and soul of obedience. That is why obedience is learned through suffering.
Link to Student Guide Quarter 1, Lesson 9