Dec 18, 2022
Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:5-11
This passage is the most theological section of Philippians and one of the most majestic passages in the Bible. At the same time these verses speak of the glorious divinity of Christ and the inestimable humiliation involved in the humanity of Christ.
Philippians 2:6 is built on the eternal existence of God the Son before His incarnation. When the verse says, "he was in the form of God," the meaning is that Christ possessed the very essence of God prior to His being born as a human being. This is the divinity of Christ.
Philippians 2:7 describes the humiliation of Christ after "taking on the form of a servant." To become a man and to die as a man was an indescribable and infinite veiling of divine dignity.
The uniting of divinity and humanity in one person is inscrutable enough, but the death of God the Son in human form is mystery upon mystery. "'Tis mystery all! Th' Immortal dies! Who can explore His strange design?" Gloriously, the Christmas story gives way to the Easter story … incarnation … crucifixion … resurrection!
We must not forget the context of this marvelous description of the work and exaltation of Christ. The humility of Christ is presented here to be an encouragement to us to humble ourselves before one another. We cannot consider the willingness of God the Son to humble Himself, even to death, for our salvation and then remain proud when we interact with each other. This passage is a clear call for church harmony, with Jesus as the supreme example of humility.