The Way of Release

From Norman Grubb's book The Law of Faith:

"It is most interesting to note that the early days of the Saviour, perfect Man as well as God, give the same indication of a definite attitude that had to be taken towards self [as the Old Testament saints]; though, in His case, of course, 'without sin'; and this fact in itself is an interesting pointer to the truth that the human self is not sin, only the poisoned, fallen self of unregenerate man . . . We read that He 'increased in wisdom and stature', and that He 'waxed strong in spirit', indicating that in all three realms--spirit, soul (mind) and body--there was growth.

"A stage in that development was plainly the scene of the visit to Jerusalem, the three days spent with the Rabbis in the temple, and the surprised exclamation to his parents: 'Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?' Clearly it had not occurred to Him that He was offending and giving anxiety to those whose charge He still was. To Him, the Father's business was all that mattered, but in came the warning note. Does that 'must' come from the Father? Has the divine call yet come for the public ministry? Without hesitation, without a moment's inner conflict, He rendered perfect obedience, returned with His parents, was 'subject unto them' another eighteen years. He 'learned obedience'.

"He worked out as a Man the perfect submission and interaction of the self-life with its true Indweller. He went the way of probation and self-abnegation that Adam failed to go, which was to have had its consummation at the Tree of Life. By Him, that was realized in the descent of the Holy Spirit like a dove upon Him. It was the full sunlight of realized union. 'This is my beloved Son.' 'I and My Father are One.' 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me.'

"And, in the glorious ministry which followed, no emphasis of His was stronger than upon the fact that 'the Son can do nothing of Himself'; 'I came not to do My own will'; 'The words that I speak, I speak not of Myself'; 'I came not of Myself'. Always it was 'The Father that sent me', 'He that sent Me', 'I do always those things that please Him'.

"Total self-emptying, total God-filling: and, in that holy and perfect relationship, the greatest life was lived in three years that ever has been, or can be lived, the greatest words spoken, the greatest death died. How plainly the lesson comes home: self-realization begins, continues and ends with self-emptying."