Jesus emptied Himself Philippians 2:1-11
1. Today Jesus talks about emptying oneself
• Emptying is what Jesus did and he asks us to likewise by doing so he brings Christ Joy , He says, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
• Emptying is being related to Christ 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus
• Emptying is making oneself to be nothing 6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness.
• Being empty is And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
• Because Jesus emptied himself God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every nam10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
2. Jesus was focused on humility
• “… he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross.—Philippians 2:8
• Jesus was not focused on the things that are upward or moving towards wealth, the betters of life, the self-centered advancements, acknowledgments from others
• Jesus was focused on downward humility, humbleness, the other he was selfless
3. Jesus was not self-centered but other centered
• He could have rode into town on a horse ( meaning war horse, power, king with authority) but he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey ( a beast of burden, carry’s others stuff)
• The crowd on that day as he entered Jerusalem they were chanting, cheering, palm-waving crowd they was looking for a leader on his way up, not down!
• He’d started out in No-wheres-ville, a forgettable little village called Nazareth.
• They thought Jesus was a rising star with fame and power
• But Jesus of Nazareth was quite the opposite as he rode into the great city.
4. Jesus started at the top and descended to the bottom for humanity
• Paul talks about who Jesus truly is, and why he came to earth the way he did.
• Jesus begins from heaven down to Earth it’s a downward journey. He starts at the top, and goes sliding downwards into the deepest, darkest of ravines.
5. Jesus was of great Stature status
• “[He] was in the form of God.” As the only begotten Son of God, Jesus’ began being equal to God the Scripture says But he “did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited.”
• Yes, he was born a human being, but before that he’d lived through all eternity.
• Jesus already had it all: the highest status in the universe.
6. But Jesus emptied himself
• “He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.”
• He emptied himself and becomes the lowliest form of humanity you could imagine. He takes on the role of a slave. He sets aside his divineness devoting himself to the service of others.
• He emptied himself to point of death “He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross.”
• The death Jesus dies is the worst death imaginable. A shameful death. A painful death. A criminal’s death.
7. Because Jesus emptied Himself
• Because Jesus emptied himself He becomes the king of kings Lord of Lords
• “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!”
• Jesus became as low as one can become in a horrible agonizing, humiliating way on a cross
• Jesus emptied himself, But God raised him up,
• Three days after the horrific low, was an unbelievable High Sunday Morn an angel rolled the stone away, and the resurrected Jesus emerged —
• Because Jesus emptied he is exalted to have many names Immanuel – Matthew 1:23
• Lamb of God – John 1:29 ,Alpha and Omega – Revelation 22:13
• King of the Jews – Matthew 27:37 Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace – Isaiah 9:6
The Bread of Life – John 6:35 The Redeemer – Isaiah 59:20
• The Living Stone – 1 Peter 2:4-8 Now remember “At the name of Jesus every knee should bend … and every tongue confess that he is Lord!”
• Do you want to be a follower empty yourself
