Sonrise 2024 Series

In his letter to the Philippians Paul mentions Jesus' death and resurrection a couple of times. Firstly, in chapter 2 when he writes of Jesus humility as an encouragement for his readers, he states this.

2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 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.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

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.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

And this is in chapter three.

For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Paul had been a hard-nosed, learned Jew, well educated in the ways of his religion and zealous in his persecution of the Church, but after encountering Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus after Jesus resurrection, he was transformed by grace through faith in Christ. He was humbled as he understood that God himself in the person of Jesus had come to earth, lived as a man, lowered himself from his place as our creator, even to the point of death on the cross, to the glory of God. As Jesus says in his own words, in John’s gospel chapter 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life and have it abundantly.” Jesus came that all of humanity could, and where they chose to would have abundant life.

From that point of encounter on the road to Damascus, Paul wanted to know the power of Jesus resurrection, he saw all his earthly attainments as garbage and was willing to suffer and die for Jesus, his reasoning was as it has been with many who are martyred for their faith, that they see adversity for the sake of Jesus not as a penalty but as a privilege, that there is intimacy with him in that suffering. Then in suffering to gain his own resurrection from the dead.

Today as we stand above the town of Tawa as we celebrated this Easter Sunday, let us celebrate the resurrection of our Saviour, rejoicing in his message of life eternal for all who recognise his Lordship and resurrection from the dead to God be the glory.

Song: To God be the glory