Hebrews 5
Learning Obedience with Jesus — A Journey Through Hebrews 5
Jesus, Our True High Priest
As we journey through Hebrews 5, we find ourselves face to face with a truth that humbles and inspires us: Jesus is our High Priest—not by title, but by divine calling. The chapter draws heavily from the Old Testament, grounding us in the history of the high priesthood, going all the way back to Aaron, Moses’ brother, who was chosen by God to represent the people before Him.
This priestly role was never something a person could grasp for themselves. No election, no popularity contest. It was a divine appointment—rooted in lineage, but even more deeply, rooted in God’s will. The priest wore twelve stones on his breastplate, symbolizing the tribes of Israel, because God desired His people to be carried on the heart and shoulders of their spiritual leader. What a powerful image: our burdens, our identities, and our stories close to the heart of the one representing us before God.
And then we see the difference with Jesus. He was not born into the Levitical priesthood but was called by God in a greater way—“a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” Jesus did not assume His role out of ambition or status, but through obedience and submission. His priesthood wasn't inherited through tradition—it was established through suffering.
The Humanity of Christ
This chapter draws us into the deep mystery of Jesus' humanity. We often celebrate His divinity at Christmas and marvel at His miracles in the Gospels, but here we’re reminded that Jesus learned obedience. This doesn’t mean He was once disobedient—it means that through suffering, He fully experienced what it means to obey in human flesh. The Garden of Gethsemane wasn’t a performance—it was raw, painful submission. “If there’s another way... take this cup from me,” He prayed. Yet still, He chose the Father’s will.
And it’s in this lived-out obedience that He became the perfect sacrifice, the source of eternal salvation. What does that mean for us? It means we don’t follow a God who is aloof or detached. We follow a Savior who gets it. Who walked through pain, who cried tears, who chose the hard way because it was the right way.
Solid Food, Not Just Milk
But Hebrews 5 doesn’t just tell us about Jesus. It calls us to respond. The chapter ends with a strong challenge—we’re told that many of us still need “milk,” the basics of faith, when we should be feeding on “solid food.” The text isn't shaming us—it’s inviting us to grow up. To move from spiritual infancy to maturity. To be people who can “distinguish good from evil” through constant use and training.
And if we’re honest, we’ve all been there. We’ve let our ears go dull. We’ve become passive listeners rather than active disciples. But this passage reminds us: it’s a process. Just as dullness of hearing didn’t happen overnight, spiritual maturity won’t either. It's built day by day, decision by decision. Obedience becomes our training ground. Not easy. Not always fun. But absolutely transforming.
Living in the Tension — Obedience in Real Life
So where does this leave us? For many of us, obedience isn't some abstract spiritual ideal—it shows up in very real, personal ways. Maybe it’s integrity in our finances. Maybe it's how we speak to our families. Maybe it’s showing up to worship, even when we don’t feel like it, or choosing to forgive when every part of us wants to hold a grudge.
The beauty of this chapter is that it points us to Jesus—not just as an example to admire but as a Savior who empowers us. He was obedient through suffering, and now He invites us into the same journey, not alone, but with His Spirit inside of us.
We can take heart. We can grow. We can choose obedience today, even if we failed yesterday. And we do it not to earn God’s love but because we are already carried on His heart.
Let’s be people who trade in milk for solid food—who embrace the hard but holy path of obedience, knowing that Jesus walked it first and walks it with us still.
