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 mark of this mind of Christ in us is humility We are looking at 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.
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 We started looking at this Humiliation yesterday, and saw the first two downward steps of Christ – when He left Heaven’s glory, and what is technically called “The Emptying.”
The next, the third step – He Took the Nature of a Servant. As Paul states,“ assuming the form of a servant….” Jesus grew up and worked as a carpenter. He probably heard, “Hey Jesus, I’ve got a door that needs fixing.” “Sure, I’ll be right over.”
He was a King, but made no claim to it. He came as one of us, the “little people.” He left glory and got right down here with us.
The fourth step – “taking on the likeness of humanity.” Sounds dignified to me. How about you? Let me share this in a story about some ants. One time we had ants in the house – all over – in the house! So, we had to poison them. I thought, if I could just get a message to them to leave to save their lives. Suppose I could be an ant (don’t want to – someone might step on me.) From a man to an ant – that pictures what Jesus did, but yet that is nothing to the God of Creation becoming a man.
We come to the fifth step – He Humbled Himself – “And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself …” We are usually humbled by someone or something that humiliates us. Christ willingly humbled Himself. I thought of a story about Charles Wesley crossing a narrow bridge –
He met a liberal preacher of his day – the man swelled with pride and said – “I never give way to a fool.” Wesley paused, smiled, backed up, and said – “I always do.”
We find it hard to humble ourselves. Many times we are humbled – but not by our wishes.
The sixth step – Death – “obedient to the point of death…. “ Death is not what we seek. We plan to live. I honestly don’t plan to die – I want to live. Jesus came to die. I have to die, but I don’t want to. Jesus didn’t have to die – but He wanted to. Why? To provide what you and I truly need – Salvation.
The final and seventh downward step – The Cross – “even to death on a cross.” Not only die – but disgracefully on the cross.
He came from the highest glory to the lowest place of humiliation. Why? For you and me! Thank God for that!
Tomorrow, we will ponder on the Mind of God the Father – Christ’s Exultation.
No comments:
Post a Comment