“IN thee do I put my trust.” This is quoted in Hebrews 2 to prove His humanity. There are two things make perfection in a man, dependence and obedience. They were in Christ, the contrast to what was in Adam when he sinned. Christ was ever the dependent and the obedient one. Independence is sin: there is the principle of sin in it. All thought of freedom from the will of another, where one’s own will is at work, is a terrible thing. With Christ there was no will but His Father’s. This was not any check but motive. It is most blessed for us to see Christ taking this place of dependence. It is natural to us to say, I must do something. But no! you should not eat or drink unless He tells you. Whatever you do, do all in the name of the Lord: yet it is all liberty.
So in family life, no person who has his father in his affections at all times would do anything without a desire to please him. Love makes it perfectly indifferent to the child what is to be done. It is done to please the father. Would not a childlike even in eating and drinking to please his father? It is not the thing that is of consequence, but the relationship and affection to him, Satan tempted Christ to make the stones bread, when He was hungry, and he could have done so. He might have had twelve legions of angels, but He has taken the place of dependence and waits.
His heart could be moved with compassion; not only could He she’s His power in working miracles. And it is in seeing the place of this dependent obedient One down here that the heart gets food. What traits are seen in Him! Asleep on the pillow, He can rise to still His disciples’ fear. When sitting wearied on the well, He could converse with the poor woman who came there in need. He was able in love to go through all.