Humbled Himself
Waiting for Light to Come | Erik Reed
WHO, THOUGH HE WAS IN THE FORM OF GOD, D ID NOT COUNT EQUALITY WITH GOD A THING TO BE GRASPED, BUT EMPTIED HIMSELF, BY TAKING THE FORM OF A SERVANT, BEING BORN IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN. AND BEING FOUND IN HUMAN FORM, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF BY BECOMING OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF DEATH, EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS. PHILIPPIANS 2:6-8 (ESV)
A reoccurring theme of human history is mankind’s propensity to play God. Kings and queens of the earth have exalted themselves as deities. Rulers of armies have deemed themselves invincible. People of power love to deceive themselves and others to believe they have more power than they truly do.
But it isn’t only powerful people who do this. Everyday people do too. Each of us is prone to make ourselves the center of the universe and ask others to comply. We want to do what we want, when we want, with whomever we want, and wherever we want. We live as if we have all power and authority to do as we please, but those illusions come to a screeching halt when we’re faced with death. We are mortal. We may live like we are gods, but we die like all men.
Our passage today reminds us that the gospel is an entirely different story. Men pretend to be God, but the Bible reveals to us that the Living God became a man. The Son of God became a human being. He was in the form of God (spirit) but did not count equality with God as something to be held. He didn’t fight to maintain His exalted status as the Son of God. Hailed by angels and saints alike, this was not something he sought to keep in His grasp. Rather, He emptied Himself of countless privileges and powers and took on the form of a servant. He came as a man. The God of the universe entered the world He created through the means He established. He became an embryo that matured into a baby delivered by a young girl. Jesus learned language, customs, and culture. He ate food, drank water and wine, and stubbed His toe on furniture (and it hurt!).
But the greatest act of humility displayed by the Son of God who became a Son of Man was His willingness to die a sinner’s death on a cross. Even though He knew no sin, he became sin, so that His children could inherit the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). This defies all worldly wisdom. Paul called the gospel and the cross the foolishness of man, but the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18).
The world is full of men pretending to be God, but the One True God became a man and came into the world. While we seek to exalt ourselves, our Savior humbled Himself. He emptied Himself. And for what reason? To become obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. There are no words that capture the full splendor and glory of this story. But Advent is a time of reflecting and rejoicing on this reality to recount the wonders of His love displayed to us in the coming of Jesus.
Questions for Reflection
This advent devotion, Waiting for Light to Come, was written by Erik Reed and borrowed with permission from Knowing Jesus Ministries. You can find the original publication and more information at https://www.knowingjesusministries.co
WHO, THOUGH HE WAS IN THE FORM OF GOD, D ID NOT COUNT EQUALITY WITH GOD A THING TO BE GRASPED, BUT EMPTIED HIMSELF, BY TAKING THE FORM OF A SERVANT, BEING BORN IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN. AND BEING FOUND IN HUMAN FORM, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF BY BECOMING OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF DEATH, EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS. PHILIPPIANS 2:6-8 (ESV)
A reoccurring theme of human history is mankind’s propensity to play God. Kings and queens of the earth have exalted themselves as deities. Rulers of armies have deemed themselves invincible. People of power love to deceive themselves and others to believe they have more power than they truly do.
But it isn’t only powerful people who do this. Everyday people do too. Each of us is prone to make ourselves the center of the universe and ask others to comply. We want to do what we want, when we want, with whomever we want, and wherever we want. We live as if we have all power and authority to do as we please, but those illusions come to a screeching halt when we’re faced with death. We are mortal. We may live like we are gods, but we die like all men.
Our passage today reminds us that the gospel is an entirely different story. Men pretend to be God, but the Bible reveals to us that the Living God became a man. The Son of God became a human being. He was in the form of God (spirit) but did not count equality with God as something to be held. He didn’t fight to maintain His exalted status as the Son of God. Hailed by angels and saints alike, this was not something he sought to keep in His grasp. Rather, He emptied Himself of countless privileges and powers and took on the form of a servant. He came as a man. The God of the universe entered the world He created through the means He established. He became an embryo that matured into a baby delivered by a young girl. Jesus learned language, customs, and culture. He ate food, drank water and wine, and stubbed His toe on furniture (and it hurt!).
But the greatest act of humility displayed by the Son of God who became a Son of Man was His willingness to die a sinner’s death on a cross. Even though He knew no sin, he became sin, so that His children could inherit the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). This defies all worldly wisdom. Paul called the gospel and the cross the foolishness of man, but the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18).
The world is full of men pretending to be God, but the One True God became a man and came into the world. While we seek to exalt ourselves, our Savior humbled Himself. He emptied Himself. And for what reason? To become obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. There are no words that capture the full splendor and glory of this story. But Advent is a time of reflecting and rejoicing on this reality to recount the wonders of His love displayed to us in the coming of Jesus.
Questions for Reflection
- Why do people work so hard to live and pretend as if they are God?
- What makes the gospel, as we find in this passage, so shocking? How does it contrast what we think about what God should do?
- What example does Jesus provide for us in our own lives for humbling ourselves? What are some practical ways we can do that?
This advent devotion, Waiting for Light to Come, was written by Erik Reed and borrowed with permission from Knowing Jesus Ministries. You can find the original publication and more information at https://www.knowingjesusministries.co
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