Joel M Bradshaw

 3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10so that 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.–Philippians 2

Let us look at three basic points in this pivotal section of Scripture.

1. THE COMMAND. Paul commanded the Philippians to be unified in their humility. They were each to intentionally uplift and care for the needs of others. To lower themselves in importance in order to serve another first. This would have been completely countercultural in his day. It still is. We see this echoed Ephesians 5 with the commands to husbands and wives. Just think of all the marriage arguments that you would never have if you lived this way. Just think of the type of person or friend you would be, how your relationships would transform, if you made it your goal to be a selfless, sacrificial servant for the sake of the Gospel in order to intentionally mimic Jesus.
2. THE EXAMPLE. In order to wrap your mind around this, you are going to have to think of a theological timeline. We hold that the Triune God, (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) has always existed. God had no beginning. But God the Son took flesh in the person of Jesus. John 1 tells us, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God…and the Word became flesh.” Our chapter today speaks of God the Son who humbled himself in nature to take flesh and also Jesus, the Son of God who humbled himself in obedience even unto a sacrificial death for others.
3. THE PERSPECTIVE. Jesus died a humble death, but he will one day be fully and finally exalted in a manner that even every doubter or scoffer will recognize. We learn here a foundational New Testament truth. Three Greek Words that just might sum up the basic message of the New Testament. KYRIOS IESOUS CHRISTOS. Jesus Christ is LORD. KYRIOS is the Greek word used to translate the LORD used in the Old Testament for Yahweh. So there is unity between Jesus and Yahweh. We are not surprised when Jesus says what he did in John 10 (with emphasis)…

Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

“We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” (John 10:25-33)

Jesus Christ is LORD. And yet he was humble. Be humble like Jesus. Maintain the Jesus attitude in your relationships.–JMB