Friday 14 September 2007
- Bible Book:
- Philippians
"And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on the cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father". (v.8-11)
Background
This passage is thought to be an early Christian hymn, whichexplores the mystery of the incarnation - God taking human form inJesus Christ. Paul quotes the poem in a letter to the newly formedChristian congregation at Philippi. This letter was probablywritten before any of the four Gospels, with the story of Jesus'life and death, had been written down.
The revelation of the mind of Christ is presented here as the storyof a great change. It begins with one who was in the form of God,that is, one who possessed inwardly and displayed outwardly thevery nature of God himself.
There is great stress on the fact that this change came about byvoluntary decision and in this we begin to enter into the 'mind ofChrist'.
It was by his own decision, freely chosen, that Jesus divestedhimself of all kingly power and authority and chose for himself theroad of obedience which would lead to death throughcrucifixion.
The cry of dereliction by Christ as he hung on the cross(see Mark15:33) shows how truly and completely he entered into the placeof rejection and with what horror he was enfolded in so doing; hewho was in the form of God came down to earth, down to the cross,down to the curse of the cross.
To Ponder
If one, such as Christ, could so completely giveof himself in selfless, loving obedience for you, how much moreshould you give of yourself this day to Christ?
Christ humbled himself so utterly to open a newway, a new beginning for people, in humility what new way, newbeginning can you open for someone today?