THE GOSPEL OF JOY IN ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES - PHILIPPIANS - KENOSIS TO KING - THE HUMILIATION

TEXT: Philippians 2:5-11 (CSB) – “Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man,  he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth— and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Chapter One showed us the philosophy of Christian living – “To live Christ.”Now we are viewing the pattern of Christian living –

·      NOT imitation

·      But, IMPARTATION

The mind of Christ should be in us, and this comes through the power of the Holy Spirit of God.

The first four verses of this chapter challenged us to make others the important part of our Christian life. Now, Paul is going to tell us about the mind of Christ – which should be in us.

The mark of this mind is humility We are going to see the kenosis of Christ – the “emptying.” Not the emptying of His deity, but we could call it the humiliation of Jesus. Oh that we could grasp how high He was – and how low He came.

First, we will look at the Mind of Christ – His Humiliation.  Then, we will see the Mind of God – the Exaltation of Christ over the next couple of days.

In the Mind of Christ, His Humiliation we are going to look at the seven downward steps, which Christ willingly took for you and me.

The First Step was when he left heaven’s glory. Paul said, in Philippians 2:6 – “who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.” You see, He came all the way down to earth. It is really beyond our comprehension – what He left to come and be with us. He never jeopardized His position as part of the Godhead. He came with joy!  Not reluctantly.  Not grumbling. He came facing the cross with joy – because He loved us!  Oh, what magnitude of that love.

That brings us to the second Step – what is termed “The Emptying.” We see in Philippians 2: 7 above – “Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity.” The Greek word used – KENOO means to empty.

So, of what did He empty Himself? NOT His deity. He was and remains 100% God all the time. Even as a babe in Mary’s arms – He could have spoken the universe out of existence. We can see this in John 1: 1, 14 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

So, of what did He empty Himself? He emptied Himself of the prerogatives of deity. He took on self-imposed limitations.

What a measly welcoming committee for a King when He came into the world.

·      He chose a dirty, filthy place to be born (contrast to Christmas Cards)

·      He was willing to grow up in the “cesspool” of Israel.

·      He was willing to be an unknown carpenter.

Where was His glory?  Where was His power and might?  He willingly laid it aside. Note in the garden He prayed – “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”

We looked at two of the seven downward steps of His Humiliation today. We will finish the remaining 5 steps tomorrow.

Today, consider how great a Love of Christ, that He would just do these two steps, and prepare for the remaining ones tomorrow.