WHO IS THIS GUY?
Philippians 2:5-11
INTRO:
Today is Palm Sunday, named in honor of the day Jesus entered Jerusalem amidst a noisy crowd, hailing him with palm branches. It marks the beginning of the last week before his death. Let’s review the scene, as I read Matthew 21:1-11.
Did you notice the end? The whole city is stirred up, and they ask, “Who is this guy?”
That’s a pretty good question. In fact, I don’t think there is a better question, a more important question for you to answer. Especially this week…
Our text today answers this question. In our text today we will see some important answers about who Jesus was, who he became, and who he is. Turn with me to Philippians 2, beginning in verse five. As I read Philippians 2:5-6, notice what this text says about who Jesus was.
5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. Philippians 2:5-6
These first two verses say some very important things about who Jesus was.
A. He existed before his birth
The first thing to take note of is that the subject of these verses is Jesus Christ. And these verses are talking about Jesus’ existence before he was born. That little word ‘being’ in verse 6 means ‘existing.’
Unlike you and me, he existed before he was born. Unlike us, his birth was not his beginning. This is not talking about reincarnation or some ‘previous life.’ This is stating something significant about Christ as a person – that his existence pre-dates his birth.
B. He existed as God
The nature of this existence was that of deity. He existed in the very nature, the text says, as God. This phrase literally means “in the form of God.” And it refers to the outer manifestation of his inner nature. His essence, his nature, is that of God.
The NLT says it plainly: “Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God…”
Phil 2:5-6 NLT
The end of verse 6 mentions something else: equality with God. Now our text will describe some important things about Jesus’ reaction to his equality with God, but here it is enough to say that he possessed equality with God – he was equal with, equal to God. This is a description of deity.
Notice how else Paul says this:
Note how else Paul describes it (Colossians 1:15-20)…
15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Col. 1:15-20.
The nature of Jesus continues to be debated.
Have you ever noticed how Jesus is constantly on the cover of magazines such as Newsweek and Time, especially at this time of year? In those articles Jesus is always considered to be one of the great religious leaders of all time. He is placed right alongside Buddha, Confucius, Moses, and Mohammed as one of the greats.
But this is not where Paul places Him.
Paul states that Jesus, by His very nature, is God.
The first part of the answer to our question, “Who is this guy?” is:
I. Jesus was God
Not only did Jesus exist before he was born, but he has always existed in the very form of God – his nature is the nature of God. He was already God.
Transition: What else does Paul tell us in answer to the question, “Who is this guy?” After making the point that Jesus was God, Paul says something very alarming at the end of verse 6. Did you catch it? Let’s read it again:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped Phil. 2:6
A. Jesus didn’t cling to his equality with God
Although he was equal with God, had equality with God, he did not consider it something to be grasped. That means “to hang on to.” Although he was God, he resolved not to cling to it. Think about this for a moment.
In our time past, He was the Co-creator with the Father and Holy Spirit.
Life in heaven was characterized by all that was perfect, including the ideal relationship they had with each other.
Christ had a limitless existence with all the glory and privilege that go with it at His disposal.
And what did Jesus determine about that? He determined that that was not something he would cling to.
Does that alarm you? I mean, if you were God, if you had equality with God, would you cling to it? I think I’d be like Bruce, the guy who is endowed with all of God’s power in the film Bruce Almighty. [show “I’ve got the power” clip from Bruce Almighty]
That would be me, if I had equality with God. But not
Jesus. He didn’t view it as something to grasp onto.
Why not? Why didn’t Jesus cling to his equality with God?
B. He emptied himself
The answer is in verse 7. Notice what it says that Jesus did:
“but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Phil. 2:7
He make himself nothing means literally that he “emptied” himself. From the Greek word used here in the original, this has come to be called the “Kenosis” passage. If you ever want to sound really up on your theology, next time someone is having a discussion about who Jesus is, just throw this out. Just say, “What about the Kenosis passage,” and they will think you are real smart…
Jesus emptied himself, became nothing in order to become human. It means he took on humanity – in addition to, not in exchange of his deity.
He voluntarily became nothing, emptying himself of his equality with God. He didn’t give up his deity, his essence. But he gave up independent use of his divine attributes.
Illus.: Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper.
He still had his divine abilities. We see them revealed sometimes in the NT – his miracles, the transfiguration, etc. But this was only under the direction of the Father and he Holy Spirit. Jesus is always saying things like, “I only do what my Father does. I only say what my father says.”
Cf. John 4:14, 5:19, 8:28, 14:10
Jesus imposed limitations on His earthly appearance.
For 33 years, the privileges of being God in glory were set aside and He became limited by space and time.
In the person of Jesus, God experienced flesh and bones.
He suffered and grieved.
He got thirsty and hungry.
He was frustrated and disappointed.
He could no longer be everywhere at one time.
He had to have clothes to wear.
If you hit Him, it would hurt.
If you cut him, He bled.
Jesus didn’t cling to his equality with God and emptied himself, meaning that
II. He became human
Not only was he God, but he became human. He was God, who took on humanity, not a human who took on divinity.
What an extraordinary thing!
Illus.: When Richard Nixon was the President of the United States he said in a speech that the greatest moment in human history was when man walked on the moon. But Billy Graham corrected him and said, “No, the greatest moment in history was not when man walked on the moon but when God walked on earth.”
[Paul Decker, SermonCentral.com]
Transition: What is the point of all this? Why did Christ go to all this trouble? What motivates him? The answer is found in what is the final answer to our question, “Who is this guy?”
Notice the reason, the purpose for becoming human as I read verse 8:
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Phil. 2:8
A. His death made him savior
The shocking point of God becoming human is so he can die. And not just any death, the humiliating death of the cross – that despised instrument of torture reserved for the basest of criminals. That’s why he did it!
The reason for his death was to save us from our sins. As we have been talking about the last few weeks, each of us is infected by, stamped with sin. As a result we face death – physically and spiritually. The cost of sin is death. Loving us so much he would do anything for us, God remedies the situation by having Jesus, perfect because he was God, an fitting because he was human, die in our place. In the great reversal of all time, God let’s Christ become human, and die in our place. He accepts Christ’s death in your place. You are saved from the impact and consequences of sin! Jesus is truly the Savior. Your savior.
But there’s more. He didn’t just die for your sins. Notice what else besides your savior Jesus is as I read Phil. 2:9-11:
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 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. Phil 2:9-11
B. His resurrection made him Lord
After his death, God exalted Jesus Christ. This is a reference to his resurrection from the dead, and then is return to heaven where he now sits, glorified, at the right hand of the Father. This exaltation gives him the highest possible place. It means he is Lord. He has the highest place, one requiring the bowing of every knee, and the confession of every tongue.
III. He is Savior and Lord
Who is this guy? The Scriptures lay it out. He already was God. He became human. He is savior and Lord. The only right, fitting response is to bow your knee and confess it with your mouth.
CONCL:
When the crowds asked that question, “Who is this guy?” that day, their ultimate response showed their answer. They said “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” A good guy, maybe even a great guy. But no one to change your whole life over. They quickly lost their enthusiasm. They were nowhere to be found by the end of the week.
Even his disciples had some trouble at first. They too were nowhere to be found at his death. But the resurrection clinched it for them, and secured their response. He was their savior and lord!
Our culture asks this question all the time. Their answer is apparent by their response. What is your answer? How does your response reflect your real answer?
This week, I want to encourage you to think real hard about the question, “Who is this guy?” I want you to search the scriptures and your own heart. I want you to measure your response and see what it says about your answer.
Conclude with "That’s My King" video
[Thanks to Paul Decker, SermonCentral.com, for his contributions to this message]
