The Humility and Glory of Christ.

The humility and glory of Christ are sharply contrasted in the death and glorification of Christ. Brian Stapley explains.

Equality With God

Our scripture reading today is from Philippians 2, verses 5 through 9.

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,  who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

From all eternity past Jesus’ equality with God was known by every being in heaven … right up to the day he stepped out of heaven and came earth and no longer was universally recognized as God’s equal – in fact, as God himself.

Why didn’t they recognize that He was God?  Listen to those verses again: “(He) emptied himself … taking the form of a servant … he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

He Let Go

He “let go” the praise and glory of heaven and allowed the scorn and abuse of earth. If the Lord Jesus Christ does not do that – if he does not release his grasp of heaven’s admiration, there is no Christianity.

If He does not leave heaven – we cannot go to heaven. If He does not come to earth   – we cannot reign with him over the earth. If He does not live among men – we cannot live with God. If He does not take on human nature – we cannot be partakers of the divine nature. If He does not become sin – we cannot become saints.

Because He Died, We Can Live

But, praise God, because He died – we can live. Because he became the Son of Man – we can become Sons of God. Because he humbled himself – we can be lifted up.  Because he set aside his glory – we can be glorified. Because he bore the cross – we can wear a crown.

St. Augustine wrote this about the humility of the Lord Jesus:

“The maker of man became man that he — the bread might be hungry, that he — the fountain — might thirst, that he — the Way — might be wearied in the journey, that he — the Truth — might be accused by false witnesses, that he — the Judge of the living and the dead — might be brought to trial by a mortal judge, that he — (Who was) Justice itself — might be condemned by the unjust, and that he — Life itself — might die.” St. Augustine

Benjamin Warfield wrote:

“We see Him among the thousands of Galilee, anointed of God with the Holy Spirit and power, going about doing good with no pride of birth, though he was a King; with no pride of intellect, though omniscience dwelt within him; with no pride of power, though all power in heaven and earth was in his hand; with no pride of station, though the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in him bodily.” Benjamin Warfield

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xaltation Follows Humbling

No wonder that the humbling of Christ in Philippians 2 is followed by this exaltation of the Lord Jesus:

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11

Hallelujah – what a Savior!

Are humility and glory possible in the life of Jesus? Share with us. Contact us at HopeStreamRadio,  or comment below.