The Child's Humility
Advent/Christmas 2020 • Sermon • Submitted
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Transcript
Opening
Opening
Two weeks ago we talked about . . .
The Father’s Faith
Joseph’s Faith
Last week we talked about . . .
The Mother’s Obedience
Mary’s Obedience
Both are critical to bringing about the World’s Joy.
But neither would have mattered apart from . . .
The Child’s Humility
God the Son’s Humility
You see that little bundle of joy lying on Mary’s lap is the only human whom to have preexisted, the only human to existed before being born . . .
. . . and an unprecedented action taken by that preexistent one is the critical ingredient of the Christmas story, essential to the World’s Joy.
And the nature of that unprecedented action can be summarized in a single word: HUMILITY.
(Transition: What is the nature of that humility and what is its impact? To answer these questions we turn to a truly amazing text; amazing in it rich conciseness. One of the most gloriously poetic doctrinal texts in scripture: Philippians 2:5-11.)
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This text tells us that the baby on Mary’s lap once . . .
Held the oceans in the hollow of His hand.
Measured the heavens with the width of his hand.
Held the dust of the earth in a basket.
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And marked off the heavens by the span, And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales?
That the baby on Mary’s lap has . . .
Entered the storehouses of the snow.
Seen the storehouses of the hail.
(cf. Job 38:22)
“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, Or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
That the baby on Mary’s lap . . .
Put the moon and stars into place.
(cf. Psalm 8:3)
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
That the baby on Mary’s lap . . .
Put the moon and stars into place.
(cf. Psalm 8:3)
This and so much more is suggested by the phrase: “He existed in the form of God” (Philippians 2:6).
who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
. . . because the word translated “form” refers to the nature, inner essence, or reality of something.
Essentially the word says:
“What God was the baby on Mary’s lap was.”
Every single verse throughout the Old Testament describing the grandeur of God was experienced by the baby on Mary’s lap.
The one to whom . . .
. . . the angels cry aloud . . .
. . . the heavens and all the earth therein . . .
. . . to [whom] Cherubim and Seraphim continually cry . . .
. . . Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Host . . .
. . . this one now lies in the manger.
This is humility. But how can a single word embody the significance of this transformation.
The one whose . . .
Omniscience
Omnipresence
Omnipotence
. . . left Him unencumbered . . .
. . . now embraces a fleshly prison.
How else could we describe it?
We love our bodies because
. . . our bodies are all that we’ve known.
. . . through our bodies we experience the world around us.
But for one who has experienced His creation unencumbered . . .
. . . how else could we describe a body than a fleshly prison.
The one who “rode the wings of the morning” . . .
. . . now is confined to Mary’s lap.
Yet, He “did not regard equality with a God a thing to be grasped” (Philippians 2:6).
who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
Something to be grasped . . .
Something to hold onto . . .
Meaning that the one who had sent forth lightnings . . .
. . . did not hesitate to set aside the self-willed use His of deity . . .
. . . and become a helpless infant.
He did not hesitate to “empty Himself” (Philippians 2:7), meaning He divested Himself of all self interest.
but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
He did not hesitate to “take on the form of a bond-servant” and “to be made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7), meaning He took on the very essence of the human creature meant to serve the divine creator; He became a man, a true human being.
but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
Not only this, but after thirty some years of growing accustomed to experience the world as we experience it . . .
. . . after thirty some years of embracing the fleshly prison . . .
. . . without hesitation He allowed this body to be violently torn apart.
For the humility extended beyond birth to death, an obedience “to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8).
Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Why would He do it . . .
Why would the one
. . . who “caused the dawn to know its place” (Job 28:12) . . .
“But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
. . . without hesitation embrace a fleshly prison . . .
. . . without hesitation allow it to be violently ripped apart?
Why?
Because He saw that you were in trouble.
Because He saw that you were in need.
Because He saw that you were hopeless, despairing, without hope.
. . . in this messed up, sin-sick world.
The hymn writer is exactly right . . .
What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!
When I was sinking down
Beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.
When we truly understand the question
. . . becomes an exclamation of praise.
What wondrous love is this!
The Lord of the Universe . . .
lies of the Virgin mother.
How are we to respond?
The Apostle Paul says, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
Be like-minded . . .
. . . at this time of the year
. . . and at all times
. . . in every relationship
When you’re tempted to grasp at the things that matter to you . . .
When you’re tempted to manipulate to make sure that things go your way . . .
When you’re tempted to put your feelings, your comfort, your enjoyment above the feelings, the comfort, the enjoyment of others …
Have this attitude
Be like-minded
Besides what do you really have to grasp . . .
Is giving up a few selfish pleasures really to be compared . . .
. . . to the glory of giving birth to mountains.
Even if we were to give up everything . . .
. . . could it ever come close to the depth of humility . . .
. . . of God taking on human flesh.
But if selflessness is the command of this season
(the command of Christmas)
Unbounded joy is the benefit of this season
(the benefit of Christmas).
“For this reason, God also highly exalted Him, and bestowed upon Him the name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9).
For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
The name above every name is not some magical, secret title.
It refers to who Christ Jesus is as a person and also to His position of honor and dignity.
And it is really an answer to Jesus prayer in John 17:5, “Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”
“Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
Through His resurrection, ascension, and glorification at the Father’s right hand . . .
. . . the one lying on Mary’s lap . . .
. . . now rides the “wings of the morning” once again.
And He will be acknowledged as such, for . . .
“. . . at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11).
so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Every tongue either WILL confess . . .
. . . either willingly
. . . or compulsively
Jesus Christ is Lord . . .
. . . is the earliest Christian Creed . . .
. . . meaning Jesus Christ is Yahweh-God.
Closing
Being able to confess this, willingly in this life . . .
. . . is really the greatest Joy of Season . . .
. . . to be able to say . . .
Thou art the King of Glory : O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son : of the Father.
When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man :
thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.
When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death :
thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.
And this is all because of the humility of the little bundle of joy laying Mary’s lap.
During this season and throughout this year . . .
. . . have this attitude.
Live selflessly.