Pastor Tom
Johnson, April 13,
2014
“Let the same
mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” This Scripture invites us to reflect
on the life of Jesus so that his humility would change our thinking and our
behavior. In many ways, this is another variation of what we have been talking
about in our Lenten midweek series: “Love as I have loved you,” Jesus says. Paul makes use
of an early Christian hymn. It may be that they were already familiar with
these words in their worship and devotional life. By singing these words, they
sang the truth of the gospel even deeper into their hearts. Music not only adorns
words with form and beauty; it also helps us remember the words. It helps us
slow down and meditate on profound truth. Singing moves us from contemplating
to celebrating God’s love for us.
The story of
Jesus begins before creation. From eternity and before the universe was made,
the eternal Son of God sat at the right hand of the Father. Before time and
space came into being, he was in the form of God. He is the Alpha and Omega,
the great I AM, who is, who was, and who will be. “...who, though
he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be
exploited.” As the Second Person of the Trinity, he was and is and will be God
forever. It was okay that this truth was hidden from public knowledge or
covered with the veil of divine mystery. Instead of a
campaign to promote the divinity of the eternal Son of God—instead of
publishing his omnipotence—instead of making a fuss about his greatness, God
made an even stranger move in the direction of humility. “...who, though
he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be
exploited but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human
likeness.”
It’s not very
flattering to us humans to think that God taking on a human body was a step
downward. But it is good for us to be reminded the Babe born in the manger in
Bethlehem is the Immanuel—God with us. He is one Person
with two natures now—God and Man. By taking on human form, Jesus emptied
himself. He surrendered the right for people to immediately recognize him as
God. Those who met
Jesus, experienced a human being. And though his divinity was veiled behind his
flesh and blood, people also experienced God. They heard the good news of
forgiveness through Baptism. They saw him perform miraculous healing. They
heard him explain the mysteries of the Kingdom of God.
But his journey
did not end there in humbling himself: “And being found in human form, he
humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a
cross.” That is what is
so striking about today’s worship service, songs, and Scripture reading. It
begins with what we know Jesus deserves—welcoming him with palm branches,
shouts of Hosanna, and public recognition. Even though this
story is so familiar to us, we still know that Jesus deserved to be treated as
a beloved Teacher, loving Friend, faithful King, and eternal God. Instead, he
is treated as an outcast and criminal. He endures this to his death.
“Let the same
mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” The effect God wants is for us to be
humble. God wants us to empty ourselves of what we may consider to be our right
to be known and respected. The goal is not
to beat ourselves up or put ourselves down. It is to serve one another and
build each other up. Even for Jesus, it was not an exercise of fruitless
humility. He emptied himself so that our forgiveness and life would be full.
“Therefore God
also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that
at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under
the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father.” Now is the time
for the name of Jesus to be placarded for the whole world to see. Now is the
time to proclaim and sing the glory of the eternal Son of God. Now the veil has
been lifted and we have a glimpse of the majesty of the Second Person of the
Trinity. The time is
coming—and the time has come when all heaven and earth will bow their knees
before the throne of Jesus. And together we will give thanks and praise him for
who he is, always was, and forever will be—Lord.
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