The Submission of the Believer

You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am —John 13:13

Obedience is only possible between people who are equals in their relationship to each other; like the relationship between father and son, not that between master and servant. Jesus showed this relationship by saying, “I and My Father are one” ( John 10:30 ). The Son was obedient as our Redeemer, because He was the Son, not in order to become God’s Son.

 

He came that we might have the same relationship. ²⁶ He told the religious leadership: But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. ²⁷ My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. ²⁸ And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and My Father are one.”

 

We are like sheep. We follow the shepherd because of our relationship with Him. We know Him. We know His voice. The shepherd provides everything for the sheep: water, food, protection. Our obedience flows out of our relationship and not our of His authority, although authority He clearly has. We follow because following is by our new nature the only thing that makes sense.

We follow and we are blessed.

Nick