Obedient to Death

Too many times in this world, "obedience" is considered a foul word. People equate obedience with legalism, and in so doing paint the world in shades of gray outside the perfect will of God. Christ, on the other hand, made obedience the focus of His day to day life. He obeyed His Father when He surprised John the Baptist in the River Jordan. The muddy waters swirled around the sandals that none of us would have been worthy to untie. When the protest began, "I can't do this! Don't you know who I am compared to you?" Behind those words must have been thoughts of worship, awe, reverence. It was John who needed to be washed. It was John who was the lesser, the one who would become less and less. But it was Jesus who came to Him. Jesus came to fulfill all righteousness, in obedience to commands of God. Jesus didn't need to be baptized. He needed to obey. Never had a river been so clean as that day, when the sinless son of man plunged down in obedience and came up to begin His ministry to the world.

His ministry was to die.

The foulness of death hung in the air on the cross. Black ravens hovered over the three men. No doubt they flew in worship of the one to whom God turned His back. All creation was glorifying His name. Obedient to death, even death on a cross. His love for His Father radiated from His dying body. His lungs breathed out His grace on the crowds who gathered to mock Him. The clouds made the day more gray, more black and white. It seemed the whole countryside was decorated with the theme of obedience. No shade of gray would do for the Christ, no half compliance or partial acquiescence. There was no shadow of turning in His decision to submit to the Father's will. This was a black and white issue. There was either full, total and immediate obedience, or there was disobedience. And Christ was poured out fully, totally and without question.

He went to the cross to obey, and we are all called to take up our cross and follow in His footsteps. Will we obey in the black and white, or will we settle for a little gray?