As Paul the apostle set
forth an example of the manner in which the church members in
Philippi should “esteem others better than themselves”, he
used Jesus to make his point. He wrote of Jesus leaving His glorified
position to humble Himself not only to be man, but to also make
Himself as a servant unto man. In chapter two and verse eight, Paul
expounds upon the length that Jesus went to serve man when He was on
the earth. He wrote:
And being found in
fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death,
even the death of the cross.
The
verse begins, “And being found in fashion as a man,...”
When Jesus came to be among
people, Paul said he was “found in fashion”
which means “the habitus, as comprising everything in a
person which strikes the senses, the figure, bearing, discourse,
actions, and manner of life” “as a man”. Jesus allowed
Himself to identify with the aspects that belong to the human race by
becoming “a man”, and in doing so He knew the manner in
which man had to live.
The
verse goes on to say, “he humbled himself, and became obedient
unto death,...” Not only did He allow Himself to become “a
man” which is often referred to as the “incarnation”, but
“he humbled himself” which means “to make low, bring
low, depress, reduce to meaner circumstances, or to abase” Himself.
Jesus was exalted in Heaven, and yet He allowed Himself to be
humbled, and not only “humbled” but “humbled”
to the point that He “became obedient unto death” which
infers that He could have been disobedient to the same. Though Jesus
had power over death and could have conquered it at any time, He
allowed Himself to be obedient unto death's power.
Finally
the verse says, “... even the death of the cross.” Jesus'
death was no ordinary death. He died a torturous death when He
allowed Himself to die on “the cross”. This Roman
execution devise was meant to prolong with agony the process of
death, and though the vast majority of people died by suffocation
upon the cross, Jesus released His spirit to the Father above.
Nonetheless, Paul employs the example of Jesus humbling Himself to be
obedient unto death on the cross as an illustration of the extent in
which we should allow Christ's mind to be in us.
As we
think about the depth of love Jesus had for mankind when He made the
decision to humble Himself and be like us, we cannot help but stand
in awe of how wonderful He is. Jesus came as a man to identify with
us, and not only as living beings, but also as dying ones. He went
through the torturous death on the cross as an example of to what
measure He would attempt to have a relationship with us, and even as
we are destined to die, He identifies with us in that area as well.
Since Jesus is the example Paul employed to show us how we are to be
toward others, if we think about it very long we may be humbled
ourselves and realize that the only way this depth of love is
possible will be when Jesus' divine intervention gives us aid. May we
yield to His wonderful identifying hands.
Next
time Paul shares what the result of Christ humbling Himself, so read
ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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