Jesus- humbled and exalted

Introduction

Christmas is the celebration of one of the greatest events in history. The incarnation of Jesus Christ. The eternal Son of God, the second Person of the Trinity took on flesh. He became a human being and lived among us in order to save us.

In our passage we have a description of what Jesus has done we see why Christmas is so amazing. Paul describes the incarnation. He tells us of Jesus’ divine nature, Jesus is God. Yet he became a real human being. He humbled himself. He willingly laid his life down. Even by the death of the cross. But now he has been exalted to the highest place by the Father. One day every one will see it and honour him.

Humiliation and exaltation.

In this magnificent description of Christ we see three stages of the work of Jesus. Paul brings our minds to The manger, The cross and The throne.

The manger- Jesus’ incarnation- Jesus was humble in his birth

The cross- Jesus’ atoning sacrifice- Jesus was humble in his death

The throne- Jesus’ exaltation- Jesus has been exalted to the highest place

Paul clearly believes the truth of Christmas should affect us and change us. Paul tells the Christians in Philippi they were to look out not only for their own interests, but also for the interests of others (v.4). In order to move the Christians to do so he describes to them the incarnation.

So lets walk through the passage together, try to grasp what Jesus has done so that God will take his truth and transform our hearts.

I. The manger- Jesus was humble in his birth v.5-7

a) He is God v.6

Who being in the form of God-

form- Nature, essence, he has the same attributes. This does not mean he was like God in some ways but not actually God. Rather it is telling us he is God. He has the same natures as the Father.

Jesus is God- Second person of the Trinity.

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Romans 9:5 “of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.”

Titus 2:13 “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,”

Yet he did not consider equality with the Father something to be held on to tightly. Grasped tightly so as not to lose it.

Illustration-Black Friday Chaos.

He was willing to veil his glory and appear to men as a man.

b) He became a man v.7

He made himself of no reputation- He emptied himself. Not that he stopped being God. Or laid aside his attributes. But that he was willing to hide them.

The form of a Bond servant- he took the nature of man.

Took a real human nature- only a real human being could die for the sins of other human beings and satisfy God’s justice.

He came in the likeness of men- This doesn’t mean he wasn’t a real man. He was a real man, yet different from all other men. Because human was only one aspect of who he was. He was also True God.

2 Natures in the one person.

Let earth and heaven combine, Angels and men agree, To praise in songs divine The incarnate Deity, Our God contracted to a span, Incomprehensibly made man.

Why did God do this?

Application

This is what Christmas celebrates.

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

How ought we to respond as Christians? We ought to be dumbfounded, awestruck, speechless, moved to worship and a life of service.

Another effect it ought to have on us is what Paul said earlier. We should be willing to imitate Christ and look out not only for our own interests but also for the interests of others.

If you don’t believe in Jesus you ought to be amazed at the love of God that he would go to such extreme lengths to bring you back to himself.

What has God ever done for me?

II. The cross- Jesus was humble in his death v.8

a) He was obedient until death

Who was he obedient to?

He was obedient to the Father- John 18:11 “So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?””

This was God’s eternal plan. Slain before the foundation of the world.

I lay my life down and I take it up again.

death- human nature.

Here we see why God had to become a man. God cannot die. Yet no man is good enough to die for others because we all have our own sin. So God came as a perfect man to do for us what we could not do.

b) Even the death of the cross

Even the death of the cross.

The humiliation of the cross.

Roman citizens couldn’t be crucified. Slaves or the lowest criminals.

Cicero was a Roman Statesman he died 40 years before Jesus was born. , ‘Far be the very name of the cross, not only from the body, but even from the thought, the eyes, the ears of Roman citizens.’

Explain the purpose of the cross- atonement

Romans 5:6,8.

Application

If this doesn’t generate humility in the Christian nothing will.

If you have not yet trusted in Jesus Christ then I urge you to stopped rejecting such amazing love and pity.

What has God ever done for me?

III. The throne- Jesus has been highly exalted v.9-11

a) The Father has exalted the Son

Humiliation- Incarnation, sufferings and death

Exaltation- Resurrection, ascension, heavenly session

God the Father is the agent.

Highest name- Authority

Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”

b) everyone will bow and confess

Jesus came in humility with his glory veiled. One day everyone will seem him as he really is and will acknowledge his majesty and authority.

These words are used of God in Isa 45:23. Another indicator of the deity of Christ.

Heaven- angles and saints

Earth- those alive at his return- believers and unbelievers

under the earth- Those in hell.

Application

Now is the time to honour Jesus Christ as Lord. You will one day anyway. Why not do it willingly and joyfully now. Knowing what he has done for you. He promises you every good thing if you do. Forgiveness for your sins. Peace with God. Freedom from sins power. Eternal life.

It would be foolish not to.

You now know one day everyone will honour Jesus as Lord. Do it now friends if you haven’t already.

Christians how good it is to be reminded one day everyone will rightfully honour Jesus.

Conclusion

The truth of Christmas should change us. As we learn what the incarnation of Jesus Christ means. The eternal God becoming a man and experiencing shame and suffering at the hands of those he had created. Doing so in order to rescue us from the punishment we deserve.

Here we are reminded of the whole picture. The manger, the cross and the throne. Jesus incarnation, death and exaltation.

The main point of the passage is that it ought to cause Christians to look beyond themselves to the needs of others. This is what Christ did.

But there are other ways we ought to respond as well.

Believer-

Worship

Repentance

Resolve to live for him

Unbeliever-

Brokenness

Repentance and faith