Philippians 2:6-8

Is Jesus really and truly God in human flesh? This is a critical question for if He is it changes everything. Listen to how Jesus is described in Philippians 2:6-8.

“Who, being in the very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness… he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.”

In the context Paul is using Jesus’ humility as a reason for us to humble ourselves. The thing that makes Jesus such a great illustration of humility is the great gulf that exists between what He deserves by right of who He is versus what He in humility accepted for Himself. He deserved the exaltation of a crown, but accepted execution on a cross. Such a death in the First Century would have been, and for many was, humiliating enough. But for Jesus the extent of the humility was all the more acute, because as Paul said he was “in the very nature God.” So what’s the point? To understand Jesus as the epitome of humility we must assume this: In the crucifixion of Jesus, we don’t just have an innocent human being dying on the cross, but almighty God dying on the cross. Although Jesus had the right, because He is God, not to become a human being and not to suffer crucifixion, yet for our sakes He did not invoke that right, thereby leaving us an example. In Jesus we see God as a suffering servant, and this forces us to change our understanding of God and ourselves. Indeed, it changes everything.

Something to think about from “The Kingdom Perspective.”