The Name Above All Names!

Jesus did not exploit his divine rank

Jesus instead emptied himself

He emptied himself through servanthood

He emptied himself through incarnation

Jesus instead humbled himself

He humbled himself by deadly obedience

GOD the Father honored Jesus exceptionally

So everyone everywhere would worship Jesus

So everyone everywhere would acknowledge Jesus’ lordship

Jesus did not exploit his divine rank

Paul inserts this hymn in the middle of his exhortation. The context of his exhortation is that the saints in Philippi be of the same mind and do things out of humility and consider others interests above ones own. In order to fix this in their minds, Paul thinks of this song. Which indicates he agreed with its declaration of Jesus and the Father. Considering what mind Christ had, Paul doesn’t begin with Jesus’ earthly existence, he begins with his preexistence in heaven. In that state, Jesus, the Son of GOD, enjoyed all the glory and splendor of being GOD. But when he considered the will of his father, he did not view his equality with GOD as something to exploit or only use for his own advantage. In other words he didn’t use his divinity selfishly!

Application: If we were judgment day honest, if we were equal with GOD, in all his majesty, it would be extremely difficult not to use that status for ourselves. If you had the status of GOD for a day, knowing what his will is, what would you do? Thus being nowhere near that status, Paul uses this to discourage any ounce of a selfish mindset. If it wasn’t Jesus mind to exploit his divine rank, what did he do instead?

Jesus instead emptied himself

Paul, this song, mentions two major actions of Jesus which reflect what mind he had. Then Paul explains how Jesus carried out those major actions. The first major action is that he emptied himself, meaning he made himself of no importance.

Application: Whereas exploiting ourselves is selfish and focuses on what we can gain for ourselves, emptying ourselves focuses on giving. And this all began while Christ was still in heaven, which proves he existed beforehand. Well just how did Jesus empty himself?

He emptied himself through servanthood

The first way is that he actively assumed the nature of a servant. Rather than exploit the rank of equality with GOD, he voluntarily chose to be servant instead.

Application: It’s one thing to be demoted, that’s an action that happens to us. It’s another thing to voluntarily be a slave. In other words, instead of staying at his rank, he decided to be a slave or servant of GOD.

He emptied himself through incarnation

In addition to a servant, his emptying was through being made and identifying with humanity. This is in parallel with what John 1 say, He was the Word in the beginning, was with GOD, and was GOD. Then that paramount verse 14 says and the Word became flesh. It was not that he was any less of God’s son or GOD the son, the emptying of himself was leaving his glorious status and robe of glory (John 17:5, 10:30).

Jesus instead humbled himself

Paul then states and explains Jesus’ second major act which contrasts the notion of Jesus’ selfishly laying claim to his rank against his father’s will. He humbled himself. This is interesting, because he had already emptied himself, which was a mind he already had in heaven, as well as on earth. But thus active humbling of himself was while he was a man.

He humbled himself by deadly obedience

Well if being made a little lower than the angels wasn’t enough, just how is it that Jesus humbled himself as a man. It was by being obedient to GOD. But the extreme of this was that he had a deadly obedience!! And what brought it so low was that his death was the most degrading type of death at that time. For death on a cross was fit for the worst criminals, yet Jesus was innocent.

Application: We strive to be obedient, as we should. But will we be obedient even when it’s most humiliating? Better yet, will we be obedient when it calls for death? What are you doing Paul? I’m striving to provoke believer’s minds toward humility by the extreme humility Jesus demonstrated.

GOD the Father honored Jesus exceptionally

The previous verses focuses on Jesus’ frame of mind beginning heaven, to his condescension as a human, and his humiliating deadly obedience. Because the son willingly emptied and humbled himself in that way, the Father did not leave him in humiliation. The father responded by elevating him to the highest level and has given him a name that’s above every name. GOD why would you ordain and allow such things, and then turn around and elevate Jesus on such a high level?

So everyone everywhere would worship Jesus

God’s purpose is that everybody would bow down to Jesus! Paul says in heaven, earth, and under earth, which is to capture the sum total of every being.

Application: I realize that many speak about Jesus’ name, but God’s purpose in exalting Jesus to his right hand side is that everyone would bow down to him. As Jesus did to his father, do you bow down to Jesus?

So everyone everywhere would acknowledge Jesus’ lordship

Not only bow, but that everyone would admit and acknowledge that he is Lord over the entire universe, earthly, spiritually, etc.

Application: The words “will bow” and “will confess” are aorist subjunctives which indicate goal and result. The idea is that some will bow and acknowledge Jesus willingly through faith. But there’s coming a day when the remaining of all existence will do so because they cannot resist his power.