God gives to Jesus and Jesus gives to His servants. We are called ‘bondservants’ literally, slaves. This presupposes a relationship in which Christ has absolute authority. He has the final say. Indeed we must obey. When the apostle Paul writes an epistle to the believers in Rome, he introduces himself right at the beginning as a slave of Jesus Christ, a bond- servant and he considers it to be his task to call all the Gentiles (i.e. the non-Jews) to the obedience that comes from faith.1 A relationship with Christ includes obedience as well. The first step of obedience is believing in Him2 – in Him whom God has sent, who came down from Heaven for our sake and for our salvation, and through whom we have forgiveness of sins and deliverance from the power of sin.
Accepting Jesus as Saviour and Redeemer cannot be separated from accepting Jesus as Lord. He saves people from the power of sin and death in order to purify a people for Himself, a people who are eager to do good works.3 The centurion in Capernaum (a Roman centurion, a captain of a hundred men) understood this very well. He placed himself and his sick servant completely under Jesus’ authority. Jesus then said, ‘Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.’4
The word “obedience” implies hearing. (In the Dutch language the word for “obedience” is: ge-hoor-zamen, meaning ‘hoor = hear’ + doing. So hearing + doing in one word). You hear with your ears. In ancient times, when an elderly slave was freed by his master, he as a free man could nevertheless choose to remain serving his master out of his own free will. In that case he voluntarily have his earlobes pierced. ‘If the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out as a free man,’ then his master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently.’5 Thus, “pierced ears” implies “opened ears, hearing and obeying, volunteer slaves and hearing servants”. We are able to relate to the Son in the same way as the Son relates to the Father.6 In Psalm 40:6 (KJV), the psalmist writes that ‘mine ears hast Thou opened’, literally: “pierced”. God opens the eyes and ears of anyone who looks up to Him to listen and obey. He is going to show His servants and let them hear and see things.7 The mysteries will only be opened
up to us if we adopt this attitude of total surrender and obedience. Little by little we shall understand more and more – with our head and our heart. That is how we grow in love towards Him, by holding on to the truth.8 ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’9
Bible References
1.Romans 1:1 and 5 2.1 John 3:23 3.Titus 2:11–14 4.Matthew 8:5–10 5.Exodus 21:5-6; Deuteronomy 15:17 6.Psalm 40:6–9 7.Revelation 22:8 8.Ephesians 4:15 9.1 Samuel 3:9–10
