THE DAYS OF HIS FLESH
Friday – October 6, 2017
My first schoolhouse is still standing. It is a one room schoolhouse with cloak closets on each side of the front door, the main room had a potbellied woodstove in the front center of the room, a two-hole outhouse in the back, and a woodshed. Now let’s turn our attention to our Bible Study from the wonderful Book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 5:5-10 (KJV)
5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
As we plunge into the preceding Scripture picking up with the seventh verse remember that we are talking about Christ. Jesus was able to do what He did with the help of the Eternal Spirit, which is the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 9:13-15 (KJV)
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (Bold added)
Are we making any attempt to deny ourselves and through the Eternal Spirit offer ourselves to God without spot (sin)? Or are we of the belief that everyone sins and it is just inevitable that we sin, we don’t really have any choice, just the way we are. That is utter nonsense (garbage, baloney, drivel, and gobbledygook). Next the naysayers trot out the Scripture that says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). This does not mean that we can’t avoid sin going forward. To sin or not to sin is a conscious choice, what will we choose? Jesus said that we shall do the things He did and even greater things. So, if one of the things He did with the help of the Holy Spirit was to live without sin, then so can and shall we when we decide to.
Our text tells us that in the flesh Christ “offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;” Let’s listen in on His prayer. Jesus knows that He is about to go to the Cross, that is the whole reason He is upon the earth.
Luke 22:40-44 (KJV)
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
The phrase “strong crying” from our Hebrews text means Christ was loud during this particular prayer. The Anointed One, the Messiah cried loudly shedding many tears and His prayer was so animated that He was sweating profusely. Please notice that the text does not actually say that He sweat blood but that “his sweat was as it were great drops of blood”. The sweating of blood is a very rare condition called Hematidrosis. This is a disease and therefore I do not believe Jesus sweat blood. Jesus knew the will of God yet He was praying for another way. In the midst of the agony of knowing what lay just ahead He was continually submitted to the will of the Father. These were the very things He had agreed to before the foundation of the worlds and between those pieces of animal sacrifice in Genesis chapter fifteen. In Genesis fifteen we find the New Blood Covenant being put in place with surrogate blood for man and God. When Jesus came He was both man and God (Immanuel) so His blood satisfied the needs of the Covenant.
I think it is commonly assumed that Jesus came into the earth much different than you and I but that is not the case.
Luke 2:52 (KJV)
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
As we look at Hebrews 5:8 we see that Jesus had to learn obedience by the things He experienced (temptations). This does not mean that He learned via the consequences of sin not to do that again. It means that He sought the right, the righteous way, walking in it in obedience. We can do the same.
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
CONTACT E-MAIL: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
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