In the Course of the present series, we have had occasion to mention Paul’s well-known comment on the death of Christ in Philippians 2:8, “…he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea the death of the cross” (RV as all quotes). The Revised English Bible similarly brings out Paul’s sense of wonderment: “He humbled himself, and was obedient, even to the point of death, death on a cross!” We cannot miss the connection established here between humility and obedience. In the Lord’s experience, this humility found its supreme expression in the acceptance of crucifixion. From this we can conclude that we cannot be humble in God’s sight unless we obey Him. If there is a vital link between humility and obedience, by the same logic, disobedience is its opposite. Eve and then Adam chose to disobey; they thus asserted their independence, or so they thought. It was an illusory independence as we know full well; they forfeited everything, eventually life itself. The major heresy of the modem world is that it can do without God and the consequences of this folly are seen on every hand.
Sons of disobedience
You and I are children of Adam by nature, descendants of the one who disobeyed. Hence Paul can refer to “the prince of the power of the air…the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience!” (Eph. 2:2). How expressive are those words, “The sons of disobedience”! Appropriately, the concept of obedience finds clear expression in the great chapter on baptism: “Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness” (Rom. 6:16; see also v. 17).
Obedience is accordingly the condition of acceptability before God, but as our obedience is too often faltering, or inadequate, we need a redeemer to rescue us, one who was in all points obedient. This is brought out by Paul in Romans 5:19, “For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous.”
Prince of this world
In the quotations we have used, there is what might appear a curious expression in Paul’s words, “The prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2), but he enlightens us as to its meaning when he goes on to say that it is the spirit at work in the children of disobedience.
It is no coincidence that when our Lord was drawing near to the end of his ministry and knew the cross was drawing near, he declared, “Now is the judgement of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out” (John 12:31). This declaration significantly precedes the passage where the Lord speaks of his forthcoming death, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth.. .this he said, signifying by what manner of death he should die.” Then in those final words spoken to his apostles, he twice said, “I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of this world cometh: and he hath nothing in me” (John 14:30) and “…of judgement, because the prince of this world hath been judged” (John 16:11).
Thus, as the Lord contemplates what now lies so near, he is conscious of the tremendous challenge presented to him by sin in all its forms. As for “the prince of this world,” we can turn once more to Paul who speaks so powerfully in Romans 6 of sin that can reign in our mortal body. A further statement by our Lord enables us to identify the prince of this world, for, speaking of what lay ahead of him, he declared, “…the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners” (Mark 14:41).
We know that the plot to arrest and finally crucify the Lord was orchestrated by the sinful princes of this world. We recall the comment in Acts 4:26-27, “The kings of the earth set themselves in array; and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Anointed: for of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together, to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel foreordained to come to pass.”
This application of Psalm 2 to the first rejection of the Lord Jesus is interesting and, as mankind has not changed, it can be no matter of surprise to know that the rulers of this world will resist him when he comes again.
He overcame evil with good
What is so remarkable about our Lord is the way he prevailed against all the forces of evil arrayed against him — it was not simply a matter of stoically enduring injustice and extreme physical suffering. To do this was an achievement in itself. The Lord did more and we have already dwelt upon this moving aspect of his behavior — he overcame evil with good.
It is when we bring together the passages which demonstrate his compassion and concern for others that we begin to appreciate the total uniqueness of his character. In sight of Jerusalem, he wept over it (Luke 19:41); in the garden he put himself forward so that his followers could escape arrest (John 18:4-9); on the way to Golgotha he told the women not to weep over him but over what awaited them and their children (Luke 23:27-31); on the cross he prayed for the forgiveness of his persecutors (Luke 23:34); sharing the torment of crucifixion with “the penitent thief” he responded graciously to his plea by promising him a place in his kingdom (Luke 23:43); knowing his mother’s grief as she saw her beloved son, the promised Messiah (cf. Luke 1:32-33) hanging on the cross, he entrusted her to the loving care of his beloved disciple (John 19:26-27).
Full of grace and truth
When we ponder his awesome character, we understand John who was an eyewitness recording his tribute, “And the word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Glory indeed it was.
There can be no question that as the apostles thought back upon the years spent with their Lord and remembered their occasional shortsightedness and “hardness of heart,” they felt a deep sense of shame. But they would remember too, the grace and love which their Lord has shown toward them. That they could never forget indeed transformed their lives and characters.
What of ourselves? We have not enjoyed the same privileges as the twelve. We have also been spared the trials they endured. But we have their writings and they can truly transform us if we respond to our Lord’s example.
“For hereunto were we called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps” (I Peter 2:21).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One