seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Philippians 2:1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.
a. Philippians 2:6 Or in the form of
b. Philippians 2:7 Or the form
c. Philippians 2:15 Deut. 32:5
I'm sticking with the easy English site.
Jesus had always been God, even before the beginning of time. We read this in other places in the Bible:
‘Christ existed before anything existed’ (Colossians 1:17).
‘Before Abraham was born, I am’ (John 8:58).
Jesus did not need to seize the same honour as God. It was always his by right. Nor did he try to hold on to the same honour as God. He laid it aside on behalf of all people.
Jesus gave up his riches in heaven in order to become a servant. ‘He was rich. But he made himself poor to help you’ (2 Corinthians 8:9). He left his home in heaven. And he had no home on earth that he could call his own (Luke 9:58). He gave up the glory that he had with his Father. He had that glory with the Father before he created the world (John 17:5). Even angels gave honour to him. But he became a person to whom people refused to give honour.
He became a real man. He was like men in every way except that he did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). He became hungry (Mark 11:12), thirsty (John 4:7) and tired (Luke 8:23). He was very happy (John 15:11), but he could weep (John 11:35). Jesus said, ‘I am among you as a man who serves’ (Luke 22:27). He became a servant. He even performed a very humble task. He washed his disciples’ feet (John 13:5). His stay on earth was not permanent. ‘The Word became human and he stayed for a time among us’ (John 1:14).
Paul emphasised that Christ obeyed God even as far as death. Death on a cross was a cruel punishment for slaves and criminals. Jews believed that anyone who died on a cross was beyond God’s grace. (See Deuteronomy 21:23.) Therefore it was hard for Jews to believe that Christ’s death on the cross was on behalf of all people (Galatians 3:13).
Nobody can explain how Jesus can be both God and man. The mystery of God’s great love and Jesus’ great sacrifice can only cause us to worship. And, as Paul hoped for the Christians at Philippi, it can cause a humble attitude towards other people.
‘protests’ describes the way in which the Israelites spoke to each other about Moses as their leader (Exodus 15:24). When they argued with each other, the Christians at Philippi were showing a lack of unity. They were proud of their own opinions and they were not willing to think about those of other people. Perhaps they were even trying to take their troubles to the law courts (1Corinthians 6:1-11).
I got a picture while I was reading this. Jesus was there when God was sculpting the humans. I bet they had a lot of conversations about the number of toes on each foot... the need for ligaments and even the development of the toe nail to protect the toes from everyday blows. Humans were more than pets to them... humans were their creation.... and they understand the human body, soul, and mind... they could have turned us all into single project actors if they wanted.... they could have set humans on earth with only one goal... say eating... and all the humans would have done all day was eat.... [not pandemic eating... I'm talking like what cows do all day long... eat.. fart... eat....] Instead they decided to make humans so that they could "decide" about stuff. That way they would be fun to talk to in the garden.... until man messed it up by playing in the tree he had no earthly business in in the first place.So... in this thought I had this morning.... while Jesus was on earth.... He washed the feet of those disciples..... and I wonder.... while He was kneeling there washing the feet of a human He probably had a hand in designing.... did He think of the conversations He had with his Father... God? Was it the same feeling of accomplishment I would get washing the tailor's chalk off of a doll I just finished.... or pulling the extra little threads off of a teddy bear I made from an old blanket? Was it like that?
Jesus was happy with what He had. He was happy in Heaven... and then He came here. He experienced hunger, thirst, happiness, sorrow and anger. Jesus found out what it was like to be a human.... and the whole time He was here... bringing the antidote to death to humans.... He never gave in to any temptation.... He kept His human body in top performance shape... He was happy without a home... a bed... a family.... all the stuff humans accumulate. Jesus didn't carry a wallet or ID. Jesus walked everywhere He went... He didn't have a limo or even a skateboard. He did it all for us... He showed us how to be a rich guy... I mean who could be richer than someone in Heaven... as well as a servant... who washed the feet of His disciples and then let humans hang Him on a cross.
Jesus commanded angels... He didn't have to do it... His Father would have accepted His decision.... but His Father knew what He would choose... God controls time... Not Jesus.... so His Father knew He would be a good son and do what He had to do. God knew Jesus would complete the task... that's why He could tell Adam and Eve that someday things would go back.... and that's why He could tell Moses that they would be ok..... Because God controls time... and He can see the final chapter of each of our individual stories. God knew Jesus would walk away from the tomb.... and come home.....
God knew that Jesus would make God, His Father, proud...... Jesus became human.... very human.... like you and me human.... not like a king or a prince... but like a carpenter... a work with your hands ordinary human being.... with the capacity to love even the stupidest, most ignorant, bowl legged, bald headed, ugly bully.... and me.
Jesus could have come to earth as the King... but instead... He came here like a regular human.... and He felt all the regular urges we humans deal with.... but He didn't give up... He completed His mission.... without a home of His own... or a regular place to preach... Jesus was Human.... Jesus understands humanity.... He knows what it's like to be tempted.... He was tempted but He kept His balance.... He didn't falter... He proved the Human Body could go a complete life without giving in to temptation. He proved it.
Jesus became a human......
