The Lord Jesus Christ was not a creature, to be sure, but nevertheless he took it upon himself to prove that God's will was indeed good, pleasing, and perfect, even though it involved the pain of the cross, which in itself hardly seemed good, pleasing, or acceptable. In the garden Jesus prayed that the cross might be taken from him, adding, "Yet not as I will, but as you will" (Matt. 26:39). The author of Hebrews says, "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered" (Heb. 5:7-8). In the Book of Philippians Paul speaks of Jesus humbling himself and becoming "obedient to death - even death on a cross!" (Phil. 2:8).