This is a remarkable passage of Scripture.  It deals primarily with the human nature of Christ.  It is in this nature, the Divine humanity, that God manifests himself to man.  This humanity brought with it the infirmities to which flesh is heir.  This same apostle tells us that Jesus Christ was “tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.”  Innocence, freedom from all sin, is the orderly following of obedience.  In this happy consciousness he challenges the whole Sanhedrim to convict him of sin.  They could not do it; and Pilate acknowledges before the infuriated mob:  “I find no fault in this man.”  From the part of the text, “yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered,” we are rather to understand that he learned or REALIZED the blessedness of obedience.  In his own words:  “He came not to do his own will, but the will of him that sent him.”  In his last great prayer with his disciples he says:  “And now, Father, I come to thee, having finished the work thou didst give me to do.”  These words portray his immaculate righteousness.

But let us look at some of the glorious testifications borne by the Father to the honor of the Son.  Let us turn to the first public act of his manhood.  I guess your minds all turn at once to the scene of his baptism.  Here are the pellucid waters of the Jordan coursing their way to the Dead Sea.  “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him.  But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?  And Jesus said, Suffer it to be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.”  This righteousness is the righteousness of obedience.  And notice, a few moments later, the glory and honor with which it is crowned.  The opened heavens, the dove-like descent of the Spirit, the Father’s recognition, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased,” must have thrilled his heart with joy unspeakable.  In this instance he realized the blessedness of obedience; and the hearts of many since that time have been made to thrill as they have gone up out of the waters of other Jordans, with kindred joy.

We now turn to his temptation in the wilderness.  Here, our Lord, during forty days and nights, suffered all the privations and all the temptations arising therefrom, which man is capable of suffering.  But never for one moment did his heart or hand swerve a hair from the line of perfect obedience to his Father’s will, even in the darkest hour.  And how did it turn out?  Why, he resisted the devil, and the devil left him; and, behold! angels came and ministered unto him.  Brethren, have you ever thought of the precious food these angels brought to the exhausted human nature of our Lord?  He ate and drank with angels from the skies.  They poured the spiritual oil of joy and comfort into his burdened soul.  They brought fresh tokens of his Father’s approval; and we read of no more sore conflict with the powers of darkness until the “last hour.”