Humble Love

Last week, Jonathan preached on Christ’s love, that is his sacrifice was fueled by love. Today we are going to examine what type of love this is. It is a humble love.

What does it mean to be humble? Our world often sees humility as self-abasing. Kind of an Eeore approach to life. “Why would anyone care about me, I am the worst.” I have nothing to offer anyone.

This is not the biblical idea of humility. Jesus knew his value as the only son of God. So much so he made claims that he was indeed the only way to the heaven and that all should follow him. Yet even amidst this claim Jesus humbled himself and expressed his love for us.

Philippians 2:5–11 CSB

5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I. The Mind of Christ

the first thing we are told in this passage is that we are to adopt the mindset or attitude of Christ.

What is the attitude that we are to aspire to..?

The book of Philippians was written by Paul to the church of Philipi. This church was known to have some internal struggles and divisions. So Paul wrote the letter to encourage Christ-likeness in avoiding silly disputes but also to be Christ-like in the disputes.

The attitude in which we are to adopt gives us a glimpse of how Christ love is expressed toward us.

So then lets look at this type of attitude with the lens of understanding more about our Savior.

Philippians 2:1–4 CSB

1 If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.

Adopting the mind of Christ leads to abnormal behavior.

When you look at the world around us compared to this statement there is a stark contrast. Our world’s version of love ,is to love your neighbor as long as it doesn’t get in the way of your ambitions and it makes you feel good.

But here we see that as believers we are to have a different form of love.

Many years ago now, a good friend of mine and I went to the meeting through the Florida council on aging. the purpose of the meeting was to identify needs in our community in the senior adult community.

The lady asked us to go around the room introduce ourselves and tell the others why we wanted to serve. One by one people said there name and then gave their motivation for their involvement. Each person said a different version of the same thing. They were helping because it made them feel good. Then when it came for us to answer, we both said something similar we were here to show the love of Christ. The tension in the room was palpable. Even the lady leading it was obviously forcing a smile.

Is it true that serving others makes you feel good?

Sure it does, at least for awhile. But what do you do when serving others no longer gives you the warm and fuzzies? I mean heave you ever gotten tired of serving people and wanted to quit?

Children's volunteers have you ever had a Wednesday or sunday that you wanted to quit?

What about serving people that show very little appreciation or worse yet serving people that are actually hostile toward you?

This is how the mind of Christ is different and superior than the worlds type of attitude of service. We serve not because it makes us feel good but rather because we are loved by Christ and love Christ.

So then what does this mind look like?

It is in these next few verses that we get a glimpse of the humble love of God.

Philippians 2:5–6 CSB

5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.

#1 Christ in the flesh used his authority and power to serve others.

If you are a leader in any capacity today whether a business owner, ceo, or military. God has placed you in that position not to exploit the position for yourself but serve.

Jesus is God yet he chose to use His position to humbly serve not be served.

#2 He emptied Himself of all ambition.

We live in a world where even charity is profitable.

Listen to some of these salaries according to charitywatch.org

CEO of Memorial Sloan Cancer Center, 5.7 mil

COO of the same company 4.7 million

City of Hope -CEO 4.6 million

American Heart Association 4.1 Million.

St. Jude 2.3 million

I am not making a value statment on thier work or saying these people shouldn’t be paid well but rather I am showing the upside down yet superior love that Christ has shown us.

Jesus emptied himself. There was no selfish motives in coming into a world that He himself created according to John 1 spoke into existence, a world that would despise and reject Him.

Let’s be clear it was in Jesus power and justice to enter the world setup a kingdom and destroy all those who resisted his authority and while that day is coming. He first entered the World as a servant. He first came to offer salvation a way to escape the judgement that is coming. He came to do the father’s will.

His goal was to to do the Father’s will and bring Glory to Him through paying the penalty of our sin. So that those who would repent and believe would have eternal life and escape the coming Judgement.

When we follow his example and serve without any expectations of benefit, When we adopt the mind of Christ we will look strange.

In fact, almost suspicious. Can a People serve each other out of love without any ambition? Can this truly exist in this world. The answer is with God’s people through the cross of Christ not only is it possible it’s commanded.

But Jesus just didn’t serve by living a perfect life, He also served by giving his life for us.

Philippians 2:7–8 CSB

7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.

Today we are going to remember and celebrate his humble sacrifice through the Lord’s supper.

While we often traditionally call it communion. This word can be misleading The Lord’s supper does not offer any extra access to God. We who are in Christ have complete access not from anything you can do but through what Christ has already done for you.

The Lord’s supper is not a mystical experience that somehow adds an extra measure of grace to your life. All the grace that you will ever need has been given to you through salvation, repentance and faith in the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ as Lord.

Then what is the Lord’s supper. Well Jesus explains that to us.

First we see they were celebrating the passover.

The passover was a remembrance of Exodus when God’s rescue of the nation of Israel from Egypt. God had sent the judgement of the angel of death on a people that refused to repent and let Israel go. But all those who put the blood of the lamb on the doorpost were passed over by the angel. They were saved by the blood of the lamb. Even though the nation of Israel didn’t know what they were ccelebrating completely. This was an image of what was to come. When the lamb of God would sacrifice himself through his shed blood so that we too could be rescued from judgement and death.

Second Jesus say it himself. Do this in “remembrance of me”

The Lord’s table is a remembrance of Jesus sacrifice on the cross. His shed blood that can save you from the wrath to come and give you eternal life. Jesus is the passover lamb.

The Lord’s table is a physical and visceral remembrance, a symbol, of both our salvation and the promise that by the blood of the lamb God’s holy wrath and judgement when it comes will “passover” those who turn in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Those who are covered by the Blood of the lamb.

The Lords table is not give you anything extra but rather a testimony of his Gospel. It preaches through its symbolic nature the Gospel message. This is why later in the passage we are told to do this until he comes. The first time he came as lamb to save all those who would come. The second time he comes as a lion to judge all those who reject the gospel and refuse to allow him to be their passover lamb.

As I read this first passage, I want you both visualize and remember that Jesus is the same God that created all things. He is higher than any earthly ruler and king, yet he humbled himself to bring Glory to the father and offer his love to us.

John 13:1–13 CSB

1 Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 Now when it was time for supper, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray him. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God. 4 So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. 5 Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who asked him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t realize now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 “You will never wash my feet,” Peter said. Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” 10 “One who has bathed,” Jesus told him, “doesn’t need to wash anything except his feet, but he is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For he knew who would betray him. This is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, he reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am.

John 13:14 CSB

14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

As we enter into this time of remembrance. I want you to take the next few minutes to do some quiet reflection. I want us to each search our hearts and as we remember Christ’s sacrifice. As you reflect, confess any known sin in your life and thank Christ for his sacrifice. I will give you some time between reading the scripture and partaking the elements to do this. Then we will partake together.

Children, this is a very sacred and serious thing we are doing. This is a time to sit quietly and think about what you are seeing. So do your best to sit still and also pray. Can we do that this morning? Great

Luke 22:14–18 CSB

14 When the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 Then he said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

Luke 22:19 CSB

19 And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Lord we thank you for your body that you willingly allowed to be broken for us. Lord we are humbled by your sacrificial love for us.

Luke 22:20 CSB

20 In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Lord we thank you for your blood that was freely shed of us. Lord may each of us who have been bought with the price of your life live in eternal thankfulness and praise for this gift of love. May our lives be transformed by the Gospel. May those who are still rejecting your gift come to you .

Let’s stand and worship.