Paul quotes from an early Christian hymn that describes Jesus' humble obedience, even to death, and his exaltation as Lord of all.
Paul is likely quoting an early Christian hymn or poem, so these words connect us to the early church. Paul urges the Philippians to imitate Jesus. Though "equal with God," Jesus "emptied himself" by taking the form of a servant.
slave-to the Greeks, the lowest form of human existence, and something that no one in his right mind would voluntarily choose- the most ungodlike state that could ever be
and yet, this is precisely the form that Jesus takes, pouring out (kenosis) his entire being on our behalf- and this is what God honors?
Apparently so. What does this say to a society that separates itself on grounds of race, position, power, and priviledge?
Maybe it just tells us that we are all equal in God's sight "for we no longer regard anyone form a human point of view"
revgilmer in texarkana
Our adult Sunday School material has been focusing on the Passion of Christ, and I have made the statement several times that we are not saved by resurrection, but by crucifixion. I get some funny looks when I say that- because it comes across as saying that we are not saved by the eventual success (?) of God's program, but by its darkest moment (oh, wait a minute, that's what Scripture says, too!)
In Robert Farrar Capon's wonder-full book on Parables, he talks about right-hand directive, and coercive power as the one we are most familiar with and as the one we think will accomplish the most-"And the beauty of it, is it works. From removing the dust with a cloth to removing your enemy with a .45, it achieves its ends in sensible, effective, easily understood ways.
"Unfortunately, it has a whopping limitation. If you take the view that one of the chief objects in life is to remain in loving relationships with other people, straight-line power becomes useless...
At some very early crux in that difficult, personal relationship, the whole thing will be destroyed unless you- who, on any reasonable view, should be allowed to use straight-line power- simply refuse to use it; unless, in other words, you decide that instead of dishing out justifiable pain and punishment, you are willing, quite foolishly, to take a beating yourself."
Capon calls this left-handed power (a phrase he borrows from Martin Luther- I think Moltmann, in The Crucified God, uses the same reference) and goes on to say this about left-handed power, the imaginative, intuitive use of power
"the only thing it does insure that you will not- even after your chin has been bashed in - have made the mistake of closing any interpersonal doors from your side. Which may not, at first glance , seem like much of a thing to insure, let alone like an exercise worthy of the name power. But when you come to think of it, it is power - so much power, in fact, that it is the only thing in the world that evil can't touch. God in Christ died forgiving. With the dead body of Jesus, he wedged open the door between himself and the world and said, "There! Just try and get me to take that back!" - found in Kingdom, Grace, Judgment: Paradox, Outrage, and Vindication in the Parables of Jesus (Eerdman's, Grand Rapids, 2002) pp. 18-19
So perhaps one way of preaching the cross is say that to us, it looks all the world like failure, like a senseless act- a desperate act of a God who loves so deeply that God is willing to take on any pain, any thing at all to bring us close to him- The cross tells us that God is crazy in love with us- that God is a fool for love, perhaps even a fool for you and I. (this would also fit very well with the kenotic hymn in the epistle reading)
grace and peace;
revgilmer in Texarkana
In our local text study, the issue of the "nominal" Christian was brought up,
those who are unwilling to live a life of visible Christian service. This is in contrast
to the life of Christ, who did not count equality with God as something to be exploited,
grasped, ...
The "nominal" Christian does grasp the promise of God, exploiting it by
reaping the benefit without responding in service. Any thoughts?
Michelle
I think that we walk on thin ice when we begin to differentiate between
"kinds" of Christians. Are we not all saved by grace alone? Are we not all
called to be rooted in that grace, to find our being in that grace? Can we be in a state
of receiving only a little grace? The question of works is about how we relate to each
other, how we live in the grace that is freely ours. It does not determine a hierarchy of
Christians with the "really active ones" at the top and the slovenly ones on the
bottom rung. All this is not to say that what we "do" as Christians is
unimportant; rather, it is important that we do not mix up our being with our doing. Being
is about grace; doing is about living out of grace... Bill in S'toon
"Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus." This ancient hymn of
christology is in the above verse a radical call for each disciple. Can we empty
ourselves, humble ourselves, even die to self in the pattern of Jesus? Christ is the
foundation of the church and to bear his image we must continue in the "way of
service." Is our church a community of "servant" disciples that represents
Christ to the world? A world of need cries out for help and only servants answer. This is
how Christ is glorified, when we die in order to love. I will try to place this text in
the context of world affairs as we face a world of uncertainty and fear- What is our
comfort: Jesus suffered for a world that didn't know how to love, by example he gave the
world hope. HOw can we bring life to a world that doesn't love: we die each day and learn
the heart of service-helping a neighbor who is alone, taking time to tutor school kids,
volunteering to reach the poor in the community with transportation, etc. For each of us
it will be a different list, but we will be servants of the ONe who emptied himself for us
and the world. bobby in Tx.
Since we will be reading the whole Passion narrative this Sunday, I will have a short
sermon. But I was thinking about this hymn which Paul records for us. As with everything
about this God we worship, it had to be quite a stretch for anyone to believe in a
suffering, humble God.
I was thinking in particular about the gods of ancient Greece-- I don't have much
background about those old stories-- but I remember something about how it was the
greatest ideal for a human to strive to be like the gods. And even about some
catastrophies that happened when in that striving, humans ended up with all sorts of
problems.
How different from this idea, and foreign to that culture, to have a God who is willing
to humble himself to become human-- and not just human, but a slave-- and not just a
slave, but one who is willing to die a horrible death.
OK-- now that I've shown my total ignorance about ancient Greece, are there those out
there who can help me get a better grasp of this whole idea. What do you think? Will it
preach? joinva
I am stuck on the NLT's version of verse 5. It starts, "Your attitude should be
the same as Christ Jesus had..." Some definitions of 'attitude' are as follows: 1) to
dispose or interest oneself in; 2) a mental position or feeling in regard to an object; 3)
the position of something in relation to something else; or 4) position of an aircraft
relative to a reference datum (ie. horizon)
I find myself drawn to the fourth definition. If Jesus' attitude was one of humility,
or flying under the clouds, under the glory, under the upturned noses of the proud, even
below the earth in death, and we are to have that same attitude (having our aircraft in
the same position relative to the fixed point), the question is, what is your attitude?
Paul concludes this by writing (v. 9) "Because of this, god raised him up to the
heights of heaven..." In order to truly soar, we must be willing to crash! Just
ramblings on a Thursday. Tell me what you think. UMPREACH
Does the "should" in these verses mean that even after Jesus is apparent to
all to be the Messiah, that even then some will bow down to honor and worship Him? And if
they do bow down, does that mean that they are indeed "saved" at that point?
Marty@cfmc
Marty - I don't believe so. I believe that the passage speaks, regrettably, of those
realizing, too late, that Jesus indeed is Lord.
However, I am a Baptist, and many here may have other thought. However, one point is
vital to note. People often speak of making Jesus Lord of their lives. They cannot do
this. Jesus is indeed Lord of their lives. He is Lord of every Christian, every atheist,
every Hindu, every ... whatever. He is Lord. The question is, will you kneel to Him now
... or when it's too late?
Hope this sheds some light and that, through your message, many will kneel ... now.
JG in WI
JG in WI, Thanks for your input. I do think too that many will realize too late that
Jesus is Lord and realize that they have failed to bow before in life and will find that
it is then too late. I do wonder though if Jesus can really be Lord of someone's life if
they refuse to acknowledge His Lordship? Maybe this is just a matter of semantics?!
Marty@cfmc
JG in WI to Marty@cfmc
Well, perhaps it is semantical. But, as an American, Bill Clinton is my president. I
may choose to obey him as such or not, but that doesn't change the fact.
Jesus Christ is Lord of the universe and Lord of every person.
If it's semantics, then it is. However, with this in mind, I tend to preach to
Christians that they have already decided (supposedly) to yield to His Lordship. But I add
that this yieldedness is a moment-by-moment expression of what should have been a
once-and-for-all decision.
God bless, friend.
I'm not preaching this week, but love to read the postings anyway, to hear the
questions and inspirations that everyone shares. This passage, and much of Philippians,
does something to my heart. It feels ...rapturous with joy, triumphant, ecstatic ...
Perhaps I'm not tracking the issue about "semantics," but I hope you don't lose
the joy and the awe and the wonder of this passage as you preach it.
I offer these comments in a spirit of love, and mean no discourtesy with them. Grace
and peace, Janice, Ks.
Marty, this passage has giving me years of food for thought. Given that, I still have
not come to grips with it. About 12 years ago I asked a beloved professor, "if they
do bow down, does that mean that they are indeed "saved" at that point?" It
was in slightly different words but you asked the gist of my question. The dilemma that I
face in this reading is that I am unable to resolve the continued existence of evil in the
coming kingdom. In my mind either one of two thing must take place; 1) All must be
converted in the end even Lucifer, 2) Those that are obdurate in wickedness must cease to
exist. This is contrary to the doctrine that there is a Hell with ever lasting punishment
- something that I do accept as true.
The good doctor and I spoke of Origen and he suggested that I read C.S. Lewis'
"The Great Divorce." In that book Lewis portrays evil and its proponents
becoming ever smaller and ending in total darkness ever approaching nothingness but like a
hyperbolic curve never quite reaching zero.
This is not anything that I would preach on because it all it would do is muddy
people's thought and would be unhelpful. It is my own problem that evidently you share. I
don't see resolution of this question anytime soon and probably the answer will only be
forthcoming when time ceases.
J.G., you may be right, but it still doesn't wash with me. I have a staunch belief in
that God will never violate free will forcing anyone to "bow". This issue was
discussed on the WTS site last year when the subject was "The Theodicy."
Deke in Texas - Pace et Bene
To Deke in TExas,
Have you ever considered the different approach between the LAmb of God and the Lion of
Judah? In the tension I see the gentle savior returning as the conquering Lion of the
Tribe.
Just something to think about as we stretch towards Sunday.
Pastor Bill in NY
I love to come to this site and read the postings. You are all an inspiration to me and
I appreciate your words. I don't often contribute but feel led to say something. In the
case of believing that God would not "violate free-will forcing anyone to bow,"
when the day comes that we are face to face with the Savior of the world, the King of
kings and Lord of lords, we won't be able to keep from bowing!
Since this passage falls on Palm Sunday, I'm going to approach it this week from the
standpoint of exaltation. That Jesus is (just like the hymn says) "hope of earth and
joy of heaven!"Pastor Mark in IL
JG in WI to Deke in Texas
Interesting article. Thanks for sharing it.
I could clarify by saying that the confession that "Jesus Christ is Lord"
will not necessarily "forced" against the free will of even Satan, but that
those who rebel will be faced with the incontrovertable fact that He is Lord and will bow
down, not in violation of will, but having no other choice.
If I were falling from an airplane, it may be against my will to continue falling, but
I have no other options. Jesus' lordship, and the rebels' confession of it, will be like
that; no choice and too late (regrettably) to change the inevitable.
There is no joy in speaking of such things. Would to God that all would bow in this
life to Christ's lordship. Such is my prayer.
Peace to you all, and may many bow before Him in your various churches this Palm Sunday
and every Sunday thereafter.
I am taking a different take from the postings I've read so far. Paul's exhortation is
that the same "mind" that was in Christ be formed in the believer. From what
follows one can see that the "mind" of Christ is one of humble servanthood. With
Holy Week beginning, I want my congregation to consider if humility and service are active
traits of their discipleship to Christ.
Humility and service are not popular themes in our culture. Our competitive consumer
mentality rejects such values as being inferior.
D. Morris Alabama
