TEXT: Philippians 2:5-11 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
INTRO: R. G. Lee, that great Baptist preacher once wrote: “There never was another Who caused all creation to be ransacked in pursuit of words appropriate to convey to human hearts and minds His glorious pre-eminence. There never was another Who was a human child and also a divine Son; Who was wounded by Satan and Who, at the same time crushed Satan; Who was appointed the Savior of men, yet was crucified by men; Who was Judge of men; yet was led as a felon from one tribunal to another.
There never was another Who died and was buried and yet lived; Who saved others and Himself could not save; Who had no sin in Him, yet all sin on Him; Who was the King of Glory, yet wore no crown but a crown of thorns; Who, in the glory He had with God before the world was, had the angelic hails of heaven and yet, on earth, gave Himself to the murderous nails of men!
There never was another Who was the Prince of life, yet died on Calvary; Who was as old as His heavenly Father and ages older than His earthly mother.
There never was another Who was the victim of a Roman cross and victor at a Jewish grave.
There never was another Who poured all seas, all lakes, all rivers out of the crystal chalices of eternity, yet on a cross said with a mouth hot like a parched desert that cries for rain, ‘I thirst’”.
All of this was written to describe the Lord Jesus Christ. And our text tells us that God has given Him a name far above every name. We speak today of the Righteous, Risen, Reigning Christ!
The earthly ministry of Jesus Christ can be divided into 3 stages. I will speak of this life this morning in a message entitled, "The Cradle, The Cross and The Crown"!!
I. The Cradle.
Jesus Christ was born in a humble manger to common parents. Common, that is by human standards. While the birth of a child would normally be cause for great rejoicing, the joy this birth would bring is to be short lived. For you see, this child was born to die! I can see this little Baby, lying "Away in A Manger". I can almost hear Him coo; I can almost see Him jerk His arms about with the erratic movements. His soft baby skin. Here lies, in a manger, "Immanuel" - God with us. Here He lays -- God’s great gift to mankind; Here He lays -- the perfect Sacrificial Lamb; Here He lays -- the Propitiation for our sin; Here He lays -- a baby born to die!
"But why", the observer might ask "must was this baby born to die?" The answer is found in 1 Corinthians 15:3 "Christ died for our sins ...." There’s the answer --- OUR SINS. Sin, so like a river, beginning in a quiet spring, ending in a tumultuous sea; Sin - the power that reversed man’s nature, and destroyed the harmony of his powers. Sin -- the aggregation of all evils. These 3 little letters can sum up the need for the cradle: SIN!
And in the midst of the sin of the world is plunged a perfect propitiation in the form of this Baby called Jesus! A star shone brightly on the night of Christ’s birth, but if we look closely, we can see a Cross looming in the shadows!
II. The Cross.
Jesus was born with the shadow of the cross upon Him. With the shadow of the Cross upon His heart He learned to walk, He learned to talk, He learned to work.
The shadow of the Cross was upon:
1. The Bethlehem swaddling clothes.
2. The walls of the Nazareth carpenter shop.
3. Gethsemane’s garden.
4. Him Him when they came with lanterns and torches to arrest the light of the world.
5. Him when Judas betrayed Him with a kiss
6. Him when Caiaphas condemned Him
7. Him when Herod mocked Him
8. Him when Pilate condemned Him
9. Him when the Roman scourger whipped Him
10. Him when the Roman soldier crucified Him
The Cross was the cruelest instrument of death know to man. It showed the depths of man’s depravity and inhumanity to his fellow-man. Suspended between heaven and earth, the victim of the Cross waited helplessly for death. After a matter of hours on the cross, the victim would look forward to the arrival of death, in order to relieve him of his awful pain and suffering.
Such helplessness associated with the cross. No-one there to pat your head or cool your brow. Many a mothers looked on in stark horror as their son suffered the inhumanities of the Roman cross. As they writhed in pain and called out for their mother’s touch, but to no avail.
Such finality associated with the cross. There was only one way to come down from the cross, that being in the hands of those who were appointed to carry you to your grave. When the nails were driven in the hands and feet, it was as though the icy hands of death had clutched its victim, and would be patient as the life was slowly, excruciatingly drained.
Such horror associated with the cross. The Hebrew writings gave this dread warning: "Cursed is the man that hangeth on the tree". Any attempt to truly understand the horror of the cross would prove futile. The ripping of the skin; the bursting of the arteries; the severing of the nerves would bring torment almost unfathomable by those here today.
The cross was hell on earth! One can almost see the imps of hell as they dance around humanity -- poor humanity, made in the image of God -- impelled on the cruel wooden cross. It is a scene that would send shivers through the soul of man!
Yet, Jesus, God’s Son was born under the shadow of the Cross! It loomed before Him as His greatest exploit. All the challenges of His life would wane in significance when compared to the challenge of the Cross.
He didn’t relish the sight of the cross. In the garden of Gethsemane, He asked the Father to "let this cup" pass from Him if there might be another solution to the sin question. However, He resigned Himself to the will of God. Scripture tells us He "endured the cross, despising the shame ..."
I doubt we will ever fully understand the awfulness of Christ’s crucifixion. I would today that God would help us see it a little clearer. At Calvary we find the CREATOR being put to death at the hands of the CREATION. Or, allow me to make it even plainer: The sins of Richard Deem caused Jesus Christ to be crucified. It was my sins that caused Him to go through such torment. A debt had to be paid --- one I was unable to remit. As the song says:
I was guilty with nothing to say
And they were coming to take me away
But then a voice from heaven was heard that said
Let him go, take me instead!
I should have been crucified
I should have suffered and died
I should have hung on the cross in disgrace
But Jesus, God’s Son took my place!
Is it any wonder then, that the great Apostle Paul stated "But God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world"!
That great preacher Spurgeon advised young preachers thusly: "No matter what text you take immediately cut cross the country to the cross and begin there. The cross is the strength of the minister and I would not be without it for the world. I would feel like a soldier without his weapons or a laborer without his tools; like an artist without a pencil or a pilot without a compass. Let others preach the law and preach morality; let others preach about sacrament and preach the church --- BUT GIVE ME THE CROSS. Let me preach the cross, let me glory in the cross. This is the only lever that has ever turned the world upside down and made men forsake their sins".
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it Lord that I should boast
Save in the death of Christ my God:
All the vain things that charm me most
I sacrifice them to His blood.
See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down:
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were an offering far too small,
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all!!
Thank God for the Cross of Calvary, upon which our freedom was purchased! Thank God for the Christ of the Cross of Calvary, upon whom our judgment was poured!!
III. The Crown!
Friends, the cross was not the end --- it was only the beginning!! Make no mistake about it, neighbor, Jesus Christ reigns! Our text declares that ".. at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in the earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father".
Jesus Christ is a conqueror. He never leads to defeat. He never commands a retreat from or surrender to Satan.
He is a conqueror in heaven: "Every knee should bow ... in heaven". He is a conqueror on earth. "Every knee should bow ... on earth".
"I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, ... And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed" (Dan 7:13,14)
Paul said: "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet" (1 Cor. 15:24,25)
Christ is the conqueror in HELL. "At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow ... things under the earth".
Matthew tell us how the devils, as Jesus drew nigh, begged Him not to torment them before their time. They understood that every tongue shall confess that He is Lord!!
All hail the power of Jesus name
Let angels prostrate fall
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of All!!
As Matthew Bridges urges:
Crown Him with many crowns
The Lamb upon His throne
Hark, how the heavenly anthem drowns
All music but its own.
Awake my soul and sing
Of Him who died for thee
And hail Him as thy matchless king
Through all eternity.
Crown Him the Lord of years
The Potentate of time
Creator of the rolling spheres,
Ineffably sublime:
All hail, Redeemer, hail!
For thou hast died for me:
Thy praise shall never, never fail
Throughout all eternity!
If you’re searching for Jesus this evening, don’t look in the cradle -- the cradle is empty. If you’re searching for Jesus this evening don’t look at the cross -- He is no longer there. If you seek the Lord this evening, don’t stoop to peer into the tomb -- for it stands forever vacant -- a memorial to the Resurrected Lord!
If you’re searching for Jesus this evening turn your gaze heavenward.
STEPHEN saw Him standing at the right hand of God;
PAUL heard His voice thunder from heaven while on the Damascus road;ISAIAH saw Him sitting on His throne, high and lifted up; DANIEL saw Him reigning as the "Ancient of Days"; THE PSALMIST saw Him riding on the wings of the wind; and JOHN THE REVELATOR saw Him as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, unto whom is due all power, and glory and honor and praise!
He came as a babe to a cradle, but now He wears a crown. The cross was once an object of shame, but now it has become a symbol of His glory!
