The Humiliation and Exaltation of Jesus (Philippians 2:5-11)

In this very well-known and much loved passage the Apostle Paul urges the Christian community in Philippi to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.  How are they to do this?  By having the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus.

Although He was in the form of God, and had equality with God, Jesus did not use this equality to His own advantage.  He humbled himself in a downward movement which involved becoming human, taking the form of a servant, stripping himself of all the privileges and securities that were rightfully His.  God, in turn, exalted Jesus to the highest place so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Is it possible for us to follow this example?  Yes, we can!  Having experienced God’s love and grace, having been blessed through the gracious ministry of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives we can both acknowledge the weight and pain of the Cross and rise with Christ to walk with Him into the dawn of a new day.