The Way of the Cross: Following Jesus with a Sacrificial Love

Following Jesus: The Way of Sacrificial Love

The Humble Path to True Greatness - Philippians 2:1-11

Opening Hook

Picture this: Two coworkers are up for the same promotion. Sarah has worked tirelessly, stayed late, and earned the recognition. But she notices her colleague Mark struggling—his wife is battling cancer, his kids need him, and he's barely keeping up. Instead of highlighting her own achievements in the final meeting, Sarah quietly mentions Mark's dedication and suggests he might be perfect for the role's new responsibilities.

Good morning, church! Today we dive into a powerful passage from Philippians 2:1-11, a text that has shaped the heart of Christian discipleship for centuries. It's a call to radical humility, selflessness, and love that turns the values of this world upside down.

Think about the world we live in: LinkedIn profiles polished to perfection, résumés optimized, influencers curating their lives for likes. We're trained—almost from childhood—to compete, compare, and climb. So when Paul talks about putting others first and letting go of status, it doesn't just sound hard. It sounds impossible. But that's exactly the point—Jesus invites us to live in a way that turns the values of this world upside down. The kingdom He ushers in doesn't look like the world we see, but it's more beautiful than anything the world offers.

Context and Heart Behind the Letter

Paul isn't writing this letter as a distant theologian; he's a pastor who loves the Philippians deeply. Picture him, chains around his wrists in a Roman prison, yet his heart overflowing with affection for this church. This was a congregation that had supported him through hardship, shared in his suffering, and partnered with him in the gospel from day one. They had sent Epaphroditus with financial support and personal care.

So here, Paul's appeal is personal. It's passionate. It's a plea for a church he cherishes to live like Jesus—not only in what they believe, but in how they treat each other. And to show them what that looks like, he gives us one of the most breathtaking portraits of Jesus in all of Scripture—the Christ hymn.

As we explore this passage, we'll look at four movements of Christ's humility and what that means for us as His followers:

Unity Under Christ's Comfort

Others Over Ourselves

Christ's Ultimate Humility

Exaltation Through Service

1. Unity Under Christ's Comfort

Philippians 2:1–3 (NKJV)1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

Paul begins by appealing to the comfort and love we receive in Christ. His "if" statements are rhetorical—he's not doubting these things, he's affirming them: "Since you've experienced the comfort of Christ...since you've known the love of God...since you share in the Spirit..."—then live like it!

But what does unity look like in the church? It's not uniformity. Unity in the church isn't about everyone thinking the same way or acting in the same manner. It's more like a symphony. Each instrument is different, each part distinct, but when played in harmony under the guidance of the Conductor, something beautiful happens. That's what Paul longs for in the church: not a choir of identical voices, but a community so rooted in Christ's love that we move together, even when we're different.

Illustration: I think of Maria, a woman in our community whose teenage son died in a car accident. In those dark weeks, she experienced Christ's comfort through our church family—meals delivered, shoulders to cry on, prayers that held her up when she couldn't stand. Six months later, when another family faced tragedy, guess who was the first to show up with food and tissues? Maria had learned that the comfort we receive from Christ isn't meant to stop with us—it's meant to flow through us like a river.

Now, as we apply this to our own lives, I want to ask you:

Who is God bringing to your mind right now?

Whose needs am I overlooking?

Who have I avoided because it's inconvenient to care?

Let's just pause for 20 seconds. Ask the Holy Spirit: Who do I need to notice this week? Whose needs am I overlooking? Who have I avoided because it's inconvenient to care?

(Take a brief moment of reflection here.)

2. Others Over Ourselves

Philippians 2:4–5 (NKJV)4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

This is where it gets real. Paul says: stop living with yourself at the center. Adopt a new mindset—Christ's mindset.

The Greek word used here implies intentional thought—it's a way of thinking, a posture of the heart. Not just doing kind things occasionally, but becoming the kind of person who instinctively puts others first. It's rewiring our default settings.

Application Challenge: What would it look like this week for you to intentionally look to the needs of someone else? Maybe it's:

The spouse you've taken for granted—what dream of theirs could you help make happen?

The difficult neighbor whose trash always blows into your yard—what if you helped them fix their fence?

The coworker who irritates you—what burden are they carrying that you can't see?

We're not just called to admire Jesus. We are called to imitate Him.

3. Christ's Ultimate Humility

Philippians 2:6–8 (NKJV)6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Paul then shifts to the ultimate example of humility—Jesus Himself. This section isn't just verses—they're a song. A confession. A holy moment that early Christians likely sang together.

We read that though Jesus was in the form of God, He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant. This is the doctrine of kenosis—the self-emptying of Christ. It's the great mystery of the incarnation: God becoming human, not to be served, but to serve.

"Who being in the form of God..."He didn't become God—He already was God. Fully divine, lacking nothing, needing nothing.

"did not consider it robbery to be equal with God..."Imagine the CEO becoming the janitor. Imagine the one with all the power becoming the one who serves. That's what the incarnation of Jesus Christ is: the Creator becoming one of His creatures, not just to serve us but to give us life.

"but made Himself of no reputation..."The Greek word here is kenosis—He emptied Himself. Not of His divinity, but of His rights, His privileges, His status.

"taking the form of a bondservant..."He didn't just look like a servant or play-act servanthood—He became one. A doulos—a bond-slave who serves not for wages but out of love.

"became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."Here's what we need to understand about crucifixion in Paul's world: It wasn't just painful—it was shameful. Roman citizens couldn't legally be crucified. It was reserved for slaves, rebels, the lowest of society. The victims hung naked, gasping for breath, as crowds mocked. It was designed to humiliate as much as to kill.

But we need to see this humility not just as a theological concept but in real life. Think of the upper room in John 13. Jesus doesn't just talk about humility—He ties a towel around His waist and washes His disciples' feet. The King takes the posture of a slave. And He does it knowing one of those feet belongs to Judas. That's the kind of humility we're talking about—not abstract theology, but a towel-in-hand, knees-on-the-floor kind of love.

Jesus didn't climb the ladder of success. He came down it—rung by rung—until He reached the very bottom.

Addressing the Obstacles

This all sounds noble. Even inspiring. But if you're like me, you might be thinking: Can anyone actually live like this? What does it mean when I try and fail—again and again?

Here's the truth: You can't live this way on your own. We need the strength of Christ to follow in His footsteps. Humility isn't weakness—it's strength under control. Jesus wasn't a doormat; He was deliberate. He chose when to confront and when to submit, when to speak and when to be silent.

The fear of being taken advantage of often reveals that we're still trying to control outcomes rather than trusting God with them. That's where we need grace—not just as a doctrine, but as our daily sustenance.

4. Exaltation Through Service

Philippians 2:9–11 (NKJV)9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Paul writes that because of Jesus' humility, God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name that is above every name. The cross became the path to the crown—Jesus embraced humility, and God the Father exalted Him. That's a profound paradox. What the world sees as weakness, God uses for His glory.

This is the great reversal. The one who went to the lowest is now lifted the highest.

I think of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. A brilliant theologian, he could have stayed in safety in America during WWII. But he returned to Nazi Germany to stand with the church in resistance. He was arrested, eventually executed. He never saw the fruit of his sacrifice—but today, his life and writings have shaped generations. The world saw a man cut down in his prime. Heaven saw a servant exalted.

Jesus shows us the way: when we humble ourselves, we're not losing; we're being shaped into something greater. The path to glory is through sacrifice.

One day, every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess. Not just out of fear, but with the recognition that this is true greatness—the God who serves.

The Kingdom Principle: Greatness in God's kingdom doesn't come from being first—but from being last. It doesn't come from being served, but from serving. Down is up in God's kingdom.

The Call to Follow Jesus with Sacrificial Love

So, what does it mean to follow Jesus with sacrificial love? This isn't just moral advice or inspirational teaching. This is the gospel story. That while we were still sinners—self-seeking, self-promoting—Christ died for us. He laid down everything so that we could rise with Him. And now He invites us to walk in His way.

Imagine what would happen if this kind of love took root not just in individuals, but in an entire church. Imagine a community where no one has to fight to be seen because everyone is actively looking out for one another. Where confession is met with grace, not gossip. Where no one walks alone, and no need goes unnoticed. That's not fantasy—that's the kind of church Paul is calling us to be. And through the Spirit, it's possible.

Conclusion & Call to Action - A Vision for the Church

Let's circle back to Sarah from our opening story. She didn't get the promotion, but something deeper happened. Six months later, Mark—who did get the role—approached her. "I know what you did," he said. "Your recommendation changed everything for my family. How can I help you now?" Sarah discovered that in God's economy, what goes down often comes back up in ways we never expect.

Friends, this is the vision God has for His church—a people who don't just live for themselves, but for one another. And as we step out in this sacrificial love, we become a reflection of the love that Jesus first showed us. We show the world that the kingdom of God is real, it's now, and it's worth everything.

Weekly Challenge

As you go out this week, I challenge you to take this humble love into your relationships—at work, with family, in your community. Here are three specific ways:

Perform one act of service that only God will see—no social media, no recognition, just love in action.

Have a conversation with someone you've been avoiding or taking for granted—ask about their dreams, their struggles, their needs.

Ask God to show you where you can serve—and as you serve, remember: the path to true greatness is not through climbing, but through kneeling.

Final Encouragement

I know it's hard. Living this way doesn't come naturally. But as we yield to Christ's love and strength, He empowers us to follow in His footsteps. And by His grace, we'll begin to reflect His glory in a world that desperately needs to see it.

Let's pray together:

"Jesus, help us not only to admire your humility, but to adopt it. Help us not only to worship you as Lord, but to follow you as Servant. This week, show us where you're calling us to lower ourselves for the sake of love. Whose burdens can we carry? What status are we clinging to that you're calling us to lay down? Give us the courage to go down so that others might go up. In your name, Amen."

Remember: Down is up in God's kingdom. Let's follow Jesus—not just in word, but in the way of the cross.