I loved the Bo Knows campaign.
Nike nailed it with this cross-trainer ad.
From baseball to hockey, from MJ to McEnroe - Bo knows.
Recently I was struck with something incredible:
The Servant knows. Above all, He knows obedience.
And far too often I don't know diddley.
Note the Servant’s words in Isaiah 50:4-5:
The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pullout the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.
The Servant knows obedience.
In my estimation no other OT passage captures the fullness of Christ’s absolute surrender quite like Isaiah 50:4-9. From the monotonous grind of daily existence to the peek of human suffering, Isaiah skillfully portrays the Servant as mastering the art of submission.
The monotonous grind. Morning by morning, day-in-day-out the Servant is seen as having his ear awakened, to hear as those who are taught. The Christ would assume a daily posture of receptivity, combining information with implementation. His ear not dull, the Servant would grow in experiential submission to God’s will and ways.
I like how Eugene Peterson describes this manner of rugged, disciplined surrender. He references it as ‘long obedience in the same direction’. No short cuts, no excuses. The Servant methodically approaches this daily obedience with lunchpail in hand. Ready to work. Sunup, sundown. Morning by morning, not my will but yours be done.
The peek of suffering. With spittle dripping down his swollen face, the Servant would learn a different sort of obedience. Beard plucked and back gapping, His ear would be opened to a new degree of surrender. Through gut wrenching interpersonal abandonment, incomprehensible physical trauma, and emotional torment the Christ would experience an untold degree of submission.
Hebrews tells us that Christ learned obedience through the things he suffered (5:7-8). Isaiah captures this same idea, the Messiah would die as a result of his undeterred obedience.
The Servant knows obedience.
From daily minutia to the depths of misfortune, He knows.
In fact, He has mastered the art of obedience.
There would was no legitimate accusation levied, no one to accuse (8-9).
In times self-pity I’ve lamented that the Christ knows nothing of
my struggle. How could He? He's God. Passages such as Hebrews 4:14-16 make good Sunday morning sound bites but deep down I held them in deep suspicion.
How is the Christ, our high priest, able to sympathize with our weakness?
How was He tempted in every respect as we are yet without sin?
Deep down I assumed the Christ had an 'Easy Button' from Staples.
A bit of temptation coming his way? No worries, push the 'Deity Button' and all manner of cravings or threats would cease. Crisis diverted.
Yet Scripture teaches otherwise, the Servant would learn obedience. We read of him wrestling to submit His will to the Father. We see him facing unheard temptation straight from Satan's hand. Yet in all of this, He stood tall. No compromise. Exercising reliance on the Father, scripture, prayer, and grit the Servant chose obedience using the same human faculties afforded to all of Adam's children.
Whatever the contours of your temptation, He knows.
Whatever the nuances of your circumstance, He knows.
Whatever might be raging within, He knows.
He knows and He will offer aide.
In our ongoing effort to work out our salvation may we find perspective and strength from our Lord and Savior for He alone is our champion. Listen deeply to Isaiah 50. With the same tenacity as Christ look for the way out of temptation. Do not cave. Do not regress.
While the old patterns might feel so ingrained and familiar, they lead to nothing but chaos and brokenness. Deep down we know this. Deep down we know that only He can grant grace, grace that will abound to you so that having sufficiency in all things at all times we may abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8).
Blessings.
Just for kicks, check out the commercial...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjpSH8qJ7c4
