What Took Place in Jesus During the Days of His Flesh?

“In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard for his godly fear. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 5:7-10.

We read that His prayers were heard. Thus it could not have been His death on the cross of Calvary that He prayed to be saved from, for He had to suffer that death in order to reconcile all things to God. Colossians 1:19-22 and 2 Corinthians 5:19. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die . . . .” Romans 8:13. It was on account of this death that He offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death, His prayers were heard; and death could not hold Him. Here again we have both parts of the gospel.

In Hebrews 2:14-15, we read, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage.”

In Genesis we read how the serpent, by a lie, deceived Eve into thinking she would become like God, by knowing good and evil. The serpent tempted Eve with a glory that he said she could gain by disobedience; but the result was death. However, Jesus came with death first, and through death he destroyed him who had the power of death. He came with death to the lusts and desires of the flesh, which are the cause of all the corruption in the world, and which end in death. 2 Peter 1:4. But by the death that Jesus came with, we come—through obedience—to that glory with which the serpent tempted Eve.

Nearly everyone believes the same lie Eve believed, and they end up in corruption. Jesus, on the other hand, by first putting to death all the lusts and desires, destroyed him who had the power of death; and for those who believe, the power of him who had the power of death is also destroyed. This was proven by Jesus’ resurrection from the dead on the third day. Paul had come to faith in this, and by the knowledge of Jesus he could say, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21-23.

“For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do; sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh.” Romans 8:3. This was the first part of the gospel; it made the second part possible.

Romans 8:3 is the foundation of the gospel which is offered to us in verse 4: “. . . in order that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Preachers usually do not read verse 4. They teach that what is written there is something Jesus did for us—in our stead. Their reason for teaching this is that they also explain away the first part of Paul’s explanation of the gospel in Romans 1:3. Consequently, they have no basis for believing that they can fulfill the just requirement of the law. When they preach Jesus, they can only preach the forgiveness of sins on the basis of Jesus’ death on Calvary. Actually, they have no gospel at all.