What would you do for a Klondike bar? Some people would do some strange things.
What would you do if there was little or no reward?
(David Yarbrough, SC.com) The following ad once appeared in a London newspaper: "Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful." The ad was signed by Sir Ernest Shackleton, Antarctic explorer. Amazingly, the ad drew thousands of respondents, eager to sacrifice everything for the prospect of meaningful adventure. (Today In The Word, Aug. 1989, p. 33)
Many of us are familiar with Limbo – the game to see who can go the lowest.
Today, I’d like to introduce you to the world’s record holder – not going the lowest, but becoming the lowest; not the lowest in height, but the lowest in status.
•And He did it for no reward at all.
•I’d like to speak with you today about the world’s most humble Man.
Turn with me to Phil. 2:5-11.
Our passage today is one of the most well-known and well-studied passages in Scripture.
•Because of this, it’s easy to get sidetracked as to why Paul/God wrote it.
In order to understand it properly, we need to put it into context.
In Phil. 1:27, Paul urges the Philippians to conduct themselves in a worthy manner.
•In Ch. 2, he urges them to conduct themselves with humility.
•Now, he gives them the greatest example of humility – Jesus Christ Himself.
It’s possible that this passage was an early Christian hymn.
Whatever the source, this is one of the most complete passages on Who Jesus really is.
Remember, Paul’s primary intent here is not doctrinal, it’s practical.
•Having said that, we still need to look seriously at both sides.
Prayer
5YOUR ATTITUDE SHOULD BE THE SAME AS THAT OF CHRIST JESUS:
I. WHAT IS JESUS’ ATTITUDE? Humility
Remember, Paul urges them/us to be united, and unity can only occur through humility.
The best example of humility is, ironically, the example of Jesus Christ.
Paul writes this passage, then, to show us what real humility looks like.
5YOUR ATTITUDE SHOULD BE THE SAME AS THAT OF CHRIST JESUS: Who is He?
What examples of humility did Jesus display?
II. WHO IS HE? God
6WHO, BEING IN VERY NATURE (form, essence) GOD,
Some religions/cults say this means that Jesus is only “like” God, not fully God.
This was a real problem even in the early church.
•It was hard to comprehend how God could become Man.
Paul makes a bold statement here – Jesus is, in His very nature/form, God.
He possesses in Himself every characteristic/attribute of deity.
Actually, Paul simply reiterates what numerous Scriptures have already said.
Isa. 9:6 FOR TO US A CHILD IS BORN, TO US A SON IS GIVEN, AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE ON HIS SHOULDERS. AND HE WILL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE.
Jn. 1:1 IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD.
Jn. 5:18 FOR THIS REASON THE JEWS TRIED ALL THE HARDER TO KILL HIM; NOT ONLY WAS HE BREAKING THE SABBATH, BUT HE WAS EVEN CALLING GOD HIS OWN FATHER, MAKING HIMSELF EQUAL WITH GOD.
Jn. 8:58 “I TELL YOU THE TRUTH,” JESUS ANSWERED, “BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS BORN, I AM!”
Jesus Christ is, in every respect, in very nature, God!
How could you prove that Jesus is God?
And yet, He DID NOT CONSIDER EQUALITY WITH GOD SOMETHING TO BE GRASPED,
“He did not consider it an advantage.” He didn’t exploit it or use it for His own gain.
•We see this in His miracles. Never once did He use His power for His own purposes.
(Thielman) - “His equality with God led Him to view His status not as a matter of privilege but as a matter of selfless giving” (p. 116)
Jesus is God. But remember, Paul’s point here is to show His attitude of humility.
How did Jesus view His deity?
III. WHAT DID HE BECOME?
7BUT MADE HIMSELF NOTHING, TAKING THE VERY NATURE OF A SERVANT, BEING MADE IN HUMAN LIKENESS.
A. A Man
BEING MADE IN HUMAN LIKENESS doesn’t mean He was “like a human”, but not really human.
Jesus, in His very essence God, became in His very essence man.
MADE HIMSELF NOTHING is literally translated, “emptied Himself”.
This doesn’t mean He emptied Himself of His deity or that He became less of God.
It simply means that He voluntarily humbled Himself/stooped low as to become human.
We can’t begin to understand the depths of humility that Jesus took by becoming a man.
•And yet, He doesn’t stop there.
How could God become a Man?
B. A Humble Man
TAKING THE VERY NATURE (form, essence) OF A SERVANT (slave),
It’s bad enough for God to become a man, but to voluntarily become a slave?!
Can you picture world leaders or CEO’s or superstars shoveling manure or picking rice?
Slaves had no rights as human beings, even though they were still human.
Jesus gave up His rights to deity even though He was still God.
Not only did He humble Himself by becoming human, He went further by becoming a slave.
Mk. 10:45 FOR EVEN THE SON OF MAN DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE, AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE AS A RANSOM FOR MANY.”
C. An Obedient Man
8BEING FOUND IN APPEARANCE AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF AND BECAME OBEDIENT TO DEATH
This goes along with His role as a slave, but it takes it a step further.
Slaves were forced to obey or else. They didn’t have a choice.
•Crucifixion was a common price to pay for a slave’s disobedience.
Jesus was a willingly obedient slave. And He put no conditions or limits on it.
Illus. I’ve spent the past 20 years working in volunteer organizations (medic and pastor).
•In a business, employees are told what to do and expected to do it.
•Volunteers don’t work that way. Volunteers can choose whether to do it or not, depending on how it benefits or affects them.
Jesus willingly became a humble, obedient slave and not just when it was convenient.
•He didn’t bow out when the going got tough. He chose to obey no matter what.
Jn. 14:31 THE WORLD MUST LEARN THAT I LOVE THE FATHER AND THAT I DO EXACTLY WHAT MY FATHER HAS COMMANDED ME. No turning back, no turning back.
D. A Dead Man
8…HE HUMBLED HIMSELF AND BECAME OBEDIENT TO DEATH—EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS!
Jesus Christ, God the Son, humbled Himself and submitted Himself even to death.
•Even though He had the power/authority to walk away. He voluntarily paid the price.
•And as if death wasn’t humbling enough, He died on a cross.
Crucifixion was considered the lowest form of death.
•It was reserved for slaves and criminals and the lowest class citizens.
Gal. 3:13 CHRIST REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW BY BECOMING A CURSE FOR US, FOR IT IS WRITTEN: “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO IS HUNG ON A TREE.”
Think about this. Almighty, All-Powerful, All-Knowing, All-Sufficient God showed the ultimate humility by becoming a lowly human being.
•Not only that, He chose to become a humble, obedient slave.
•Not only that, He chose to die a most humble, horrible death – on a cursed cross.
Jesus Christ gave us the greatest example of humility in the universe.
•He could not humble Himself any more! He couldn’t go any lower.
What caused Jesus to humble Himself if not for the reward?
IV. WHAT IS THE RESULT?
What happened when Jesus demonstrated ultimate, infinite humility?
A. He gets all the glory.
9THEREFORE GOD EXALTED HIM TO THE HIGHEST PLACE AND GAVE HIM THE NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME,
Some of you are thinking, “I thought you said He didn’t pursue any reward”.
•He didn’t. He didn’t humble Himself just so He could be exalted.
•He humbled Himself for the likes of us!
God the Father exalted Him, not as reward for His humility, but in recognition.
God restored Him to His rightful place of equality.
Because of that, Jesus Christ alone is worthy of the Name that is above all names.
He is far above anyone else, because He became lower than anyone else.
**Rev. 19:11-16 I SAW HEAVEN STANDING OPEN AND THERE BEFORE ME WAS A WHITE HORSE, WHOSE RIDER IS CALLED FAITHFUL AND TRUE. WITH JUSTICE HE JUDGES AND MAKES WAR. 12HIS EYES ARE LIKE BLAZING FIRE, AND ON HIS HEAD ARE MANY CROWNS. HE HAS A NAME WRITTEN ON HIM THAT NO ONE KNOWS BUT HE HIMSELF. 13HE IS DRESSED IN A ROBE DIPPED IN BLOOD, AND HIS NAME IS THE WORD OF GOD. 14THE ARMIES OF HEAVEN WERE FOLLOWING HIM, RIDING ON WHITE HORSES AND DRESSED IN FINE LINEN, WHITE AND CLEAN. 15OUT OF HIS MOUTH COMES A SHARP SWORD WITH WHICH TO STRIKE DOWN THE NATIONS. “HE WILL RULE THEM WITH AN IRON SCEPTER.” HE TREADS THE WINEPRESS OF THE FURY OF THE WRATH OF GOD ALMIGHTY. 16ON HIS ROBE AND ON HIS THIGH HE HAS THIS NAME WRITTEN: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Because of His infinite humility, Jesus gets all the glory.
What name do you give to Jesus?
There’s another result of Jesus’ example of humility.
B. We give all the glory.
10THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH, 11AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.
Because He proved Himself worthy, every creature in the universe will humbly give Him glory.
Some day soon, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
•Believers will confess and rejoice. Unbelievers will confess with regret.
•Satan and his demons will confess with rage.
•But everyone will acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord!
So how does this powerful doctrine of Christ fit in with what Paul is teaching?
Paul says, in humility consider others better than yourselves, and if you’re looking for a great example of what that looks like, look to Jesus, the very Source of our worship.
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not exploit His deity, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a humble, obedient servant… humbling himself even to death on a cross!
The challenge to us is very clear and very humbling.
There are 3 key questions we’re all forced to ask.
V. WHO AM I?
Jesus is the Son of God, Who loved us so much He displayed the ultimate humility.
•He could not become any more humble! And He did it willingly for us!
How can any sane person grasp that and not bow their knee to Him?!
Who Am I? (Casting Crowns, ©2003 Club Zoo Music)
Who am I that the Lord of all the earth would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt?
Who am I that the eyes that see my sin would look on me with love
And watch me rise again?
Not because of who I am, but because of what You’ve done,
Not because of what I’ve done, but because of Who You are!
I am a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean, a vapor in the wind,
Still You hear me when I’m calling. Lord, You catch me when I’m falling,
And You’ve told me who I am. I am Yours.
Who are you? Are you His? Are you His child? Are you willingly bowing your knee?
•To say that Jesus is my Lord means that I am completely surrendered to Him.
VI. WHAT AM I BECOMING?
Jesus became a humble servant. Do I have that same attitude?
He became obedient unto death. Am I willing to do the same?
Serving God is not a volunteer position! It’s not a matter of convenience or benefit.
•It’s not about what’s in it for me? It’s not something we can take or leave.
Again, how can we see how much He humbled Himself for us and not humble ourselves and bow the knee and serve Him?
Are we becoming humble servants, putting others needs above our own?
•Or are we becoming fat and happy, content to be blessed instead of being a blessing?
Has the revelation of Who Jesus is and what He’s done for you changed your life?
VII. WHAT WILL BE THE RESULT?
The result of true humility/obedience/service is unity in the Body which brings God glory.
We’re not in this for the reward, even though God promised us a reward.
Living for/serving the King of kings forever is infinitely more than we could hope for.
Who is Jesus? He’s God, Who became a humble, obedient Man, Who died for me.
Who am I? What am I becoming? What will be the result?
10AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE will BOW… 11AND EVERY TONGUE will CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.
When we grasp His infinite humility on our behalf, how can we not humble ourselves before Him?
5YOUR ATTITUDE SHOULD BE THE SAME AS THAT OF CHRIST JESUS: How is my attitude?
The Bottom Line: My attitude should be like Christ’s. Is it?
Prayer/Invitation
Hymn #596 I Surrender All
Sermon Outline and Power Point are available by emailing the author.
