Philippians 2:1–11
Christ’s Example of Humility
2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(ESV)
Humbled for Our Sake
One of my favorite things about Christmas is getting to eat my aunt’s famous apple pie. On the
other end of the spectrum are the times I have had to eat humble pie. I will never forget the
moment I was playing soccer as a kid and I scored a goal on the wrong net. I jumped up with joy
and excitement, but as I looked around, nobody else was celebrating my accomplishment. This is
one element of the human experience that, whenever tasted, surely promotes feelings of
uneasiness, embarrassment, and self-doubt. Being humbled is challenging . . .
No one in history more perfectly demonstrated humility than Jesus. In our passage today,
the apostle Paul reminds us that Christ “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of
death” (Philippians 2:8). Unlike our humbling, Christ voluntarily humbled Himself.
Let us rejoice, brothers and sisters, that in all of Christ’s splendor, glory, and power He
willingly set aside His divinity for our sake. Christ did not come to this world to conquer the
rulers and principalities. He came to this world to offer Himself up as a sacrificial lamb.
You may be thrilled to participate in the festivities of this season of Advent, or perhaps
you are experiencing a sense of longing. Wherever you are today, I urge you to consider with me
the hope we have because of Christ’s willingness to humble Himself.
The story does not end with Christ’s humbling. It says, “God has highly exalted him” (v.
9). Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father as the reigning King. Let gratitude fill your
hearts in this season for the One who defeated sin and death. Thanks be to Jesus Christ our Lord!
Joseph Lesh