Heb.5:7-9 – 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; though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Its really hard for us to think of Jesus learning anything or needing to learn about anything. That is what becoming human was to Him. Even though He never sinned, He still had to grow in obedience throughout His life. The final test was Gethsemane and then Calvary. He passed the test yielding totally to the Lord and grew in maturity through His obedience. He actually did this for us that we too could walk in obedience. Here is how Henry describes this.
“By these his sufferings he learned obedience, though he was a Son (v. 8). Let none, then, who are the children of God by adoption expect absolute freedom from suffering. Though he was never disobedient, he never performed such an act of obedience as when he became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. We should learn by all our afflictions to humbly obey the will of God. In doing so, he has become the author of eternal salvation to humanity. This salvation is actually given to none except those who obey Christ. We must listen to his word and obey him. He is exalted to be a ruler to rule us as well as to be a Savior to save us, and he will be a Savior to none except to those to whom he is a ruler. But to those who obey him, he will be the author — aitios, cause or source — of their salvation.”
Our salvation is not just got forgiving our sins, that’s where it starts. Salvation is finished when He brings us to maturity through obedience. Actually He becomes the source of this marvelous transformation. As we yield to God in obedience, Christ Himself begins to work in and though us. He is the One Who provided forgiveness through His blood and provides a willing heart through His Spirit working in us. He begins the work and then finishes the work. As Paul says, “He is the Author and Finisher of our faith”.
What is He looking for in us? He is looking simply for a willing heart. We say yes and He does the rest. He is working in us to will and to do for His pleasure. This is what ultimately glorifies God, our changed life. Once we were rebels doing whatever our sinful heart wanted to do. Now we are changed and we are obeying God with joy from a brand new heart.