Living the Crucified Life Easter remix

Open: The UNC vs Duke Final Four semi-final was played last night in New Orleans. The lead up to the game over the past week has been intense, with some calling it the greatest game ever played. The price of tickets increased rapidly as soon as UNC won last Sunday’s game against St. Peters, and many fans were scrambling to get to New Orleans.

I want to highlight one fan in particular - Eric Church, a county music superstar. I am not a fan and I can not name one song which he wrote or sings. I do know he is a native of Caldwell county and is a big UNC fan. Church definitely wanted to be in New Orleans for this game even though he had a concert in Texas scheduled for last night.

“Church canceled his “Gather Again Tour” stop in order to support his home state basketball team, the North Carolina Tar Heels, in an NCAA Final Four game scheduled for that same night. In a letter to ticket-holders, Church said that watching his beloved Tar Heels play the Duke Blue Devils in the Final Four was “any sports enthusiast’s dream.” He wrote that calling off the concert four days before showtime was “the most selfish thing” he had ever asked of his fans. Tickets were refunded.”

Transition: Why mention this? Is it unfair to highlight one person’s choice? I have absolutely no knowledge of his personal life or his spiritual beliefs. I do not know if he is a Christ - follower. If Eric is a believer his choice spot-lights the world’s way of thinking, not the way of the Cross. At least he was honest in revealing his motivation for his choice - this was the most selfish thing he could ask of them - but that’s what he did, and he didn’t really ask. He just did it, and now he has to live with the consequences.

And that is what we are going to look at this morning - The Way of the Cross or what it means to live the Crucified Life. Turn with me in your copy of Scripture to the book of Philippians. We are going to be in Chapter Two, and will be reading verses 5 through 11.

READ TEXT: Philippians 2:5-11

When we have the mind of Christ we can sacrifice position for service (Phil 2:5-7)

Explanation: The text we just read is one of the grand Christological passages in the NT. The Deity of Christ is revealed in a glorious manner. Paul is declaring the essence of Jesus’ approach to life through a condensed account of His Eternality, His Incarnation, His Suffering, and His Glorification. This is truly an amazing passage!

Note that in v. 5 which is immediately prior to this descriptive passage on the essence of Jesus, we are told this is how we are supposed to live as Christ-followers. Paul states, “Let this mind be in you.” This is not a suggestion - it is an imperative.

Paul is informing the Philippians that their position in life is not the important thing. In the previous four verses he had told them it wasn’t even about themselves. As believers they were to honor others and think of others before they considered their own desires. After Paul told them that, he then showed them how it could be accomplished: by looking at the life of Jesus.

Specifically, they were being told that serving God is more important than position. Paul is reminding them that Jesus was willing to yield His privileged position in the corridors of Majesty and to descend to this physical earth and enter into His own Creation!

Please don’t miss the impact of that simple statement!

Illustrate:

Argument: Jesus is much, much more than our Example, but He is our example. He did not have to quit trying to get somewhere, He was Eternally already there! He wasn’t trying to achieve God status, He was and always has been God. Yet, He willing chose to yield His position of being worshiped in glory to come to the earth to be rejected. He chose this - He lowered Himself to the position of a servant.

Very IMPORTANT: Jesus did not stop being God when He came into the world. In the Incarnation, Jesus as God took on the addition of humanity. He became the God-Man. He voluntarily chose to temporarily lay aside some of His attributes (E.g., as the God-Man, Jesus was no longer omnipresent; He could only be in one place at a time)

Application: What does this mean for us? We are not God and we will never achieve God status, but the example of Jesus reveals that we CAN quit striving to achieve recognition and status just to have it. We CAN give up (at least by the world’s standards) in order to serve God. We CAN choose to honor God by serving others as our priority.

When we achieve Christ-like humility, our obedience, even when it involves suffering, is more apparent (Phil 2:8)

Explanation: Paul continues to reveal the essence of who Jesus is. Not only was Jesus willing to sacrifice His Exalted Position for one of serving in isolation, He also embraced suffering as He willingly and perfectly obeyed God. The Scripture reveals that Jesus came to earth in order to pay the sin debt of the world. As we know, Jesus didn’t just unload silver or gold or platinum to pay the debt. Scripture reveals that He paid the debt with His own life. He died a gruesome and painful lingering death by the process of Crucifixion.

Crucifixion is the most painful and undignified way ever devised by man to bring about the death of another. It was so deplorable that it was reserved for barbarians and common criminals. Roman law decreed that a Roman citizen could not be executed by crucifixion. This is the death that Jesus chose, and He knowingly chose it before the foundation of the world!

Argument: Jesus is the embodiment of humility. He was not obligated or forced to enter into His own creation; He was not forced to take the mockery of a fake trial or to be placed on that Cross. He had the Authority to call down 10,000 angels and wipe the place clean of unbelievers. Instead, Jesus walked the way of suffering in humble obedience to the Father’s will. (A will, by the way, that He Himself approved of in Eternity Past)

Application: Let us heed the directive of the Writer of Hebrews when he encourages us to look “to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross” (Heb 12:2). Though He is worthy of worship of the entire world, Jesus condescended to meet the need of others. What a contrast between the selfless actions of Jesus and that of the selfish action of Eric Church!

But before we get too hard on Eric Church, let’s examine our own actions and compare them to the actions of Jesus. Eric has a bigger stage than us and his actions, including the selfish ones, are very public. How would you like the last 5 selfish things you did showcased to the nation? How much of our lives are spent for us? How much of our time and energy is spent on doing things for our own benefit instead of a Kingdom benefit?

When we look at the Cross it should remind us that this is the life that all believers are to embrace. Paul wrote to the Galatian believers “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20)

When we embrace the Crucified Life we can trust God’s timing for our exaltation (Phil 2:9-11)

Explanation: Paul reveals that Jesus has been and continues to be exalted through His obedience of the Cross. Jesus’ death on the Cross provided redemption for lost humanity, but the greatest action of the Cross was bringing Glory to God. Because God is worthy of all worship and glory as the self existent Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, He is the One who receives glory.

Paul displays this truth when he relates that Jesus has been given the Name that is above all other names and that everyone and everything will most definitely bow in worship before Him. Jesus endured the suffering and humiliation and He will be validated through the act of all people and angels, even unbelievers and demons, confessing (agreeing) that He is actually the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings. And all of this will be for the purpose of bringing Glory to God the Father.

Argument: The validation of Jesus came after the Cross, not before it. Jesus has been Glorified and He has Ascended back to Majesty on High. But there is still a future and final Validation when He is recognized by all. At present, there are many who ridicule and mock the sacred Name. There are many who blaspheme and heap insult upon the Prince of Glory, but judgment, though slow by human perspective, is certain and the acknowledgment of Truth will take place.

We don’t understand the delay (at least I don’t) but then God is not asking our opinion. The point, however, is that Jesus is continuing to endure scorn and rejection. Since this is true, why should we expect instant recognition for our stand for truth. If they scorn the Master, why should the servant expect a free pass?

This is where many believers struggle. We know the world isn’t going to acknowledge our godly lifestyle so we struggle to live for Christ. We know the world isn’t going to applaud our sacrificial lifestyle so we claw and fight to get ahead just like unbelievers. We don’t want to wait for the payoff so we compromise and blend in so we don’t have to suffer for our beliefs.

Too many of us want a Cushion not a Cross. Too many of us want to be respected and admired by the world. Living for Christ does not line up with either of those approaches. Instead, we are called to remember that it’s not about us - It really is about Him. We are called to remember and live by “the last shall be first.” We are called to remember that we have the mind of Christ and we CAN live the Crucified Life.