The Example Of Christ Our Lord

THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST OUR LORD (PHILIPPIANS 2)

A young man hired by a supermarket reported for his first day of work. The manager greeted him with a warm handshake and a smile, gave him a broom and said, “Your first job will be to sweep out the store.”

“But I’m a college graduate,” the young man replied indignantly.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that,” said the manager. “Here, give me the broom -- I’ll show you how.”

The Greek word “Lord” or kurie” is one of the most important words in the Bible. It occurs 717 times in the New Testament alone. It is the favorite title for Jesus. Jesus embraced the title more comfortably than the title “Son of man” (88x) or “Son of God” (47x) Further, NIV used the phrase “Lord Jesus” 102 times, 59 of 102 times for the phrase “Lord Jesus Christ.”

Why does the Bible call Jesus Lord? What has He done to qualify for this prominent and powerful title? Why is His lordship a personal declaration and commitment rather than a designated or formal title?

Let the Mind of Christ Be Manifest

1 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 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 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. (Phil 2:1-11)

Many years ago many books and T-shirts and merchandises proudly display the slogan “WWJD,” or What Would Jesus do? Have you wondered, What Would Jesus Think? How do we think like Christ? What kind of person is Christ? What path did He take? What power is in His mind?

The first imperative in the chapter is “complete,” which is translated as fill (19x), be full (7x), complete (2x) and end (2x) in KJV. The above five - united with Christ, comfort from his love, common sharing in the Spirit, tenderness and compassion – the divine, vertical relationship and the personal internal strengths - are godly, gentle and good, but something is missing, which is the horizontal, mutual relationship.

The purpose is to be like-“minded” (phroneo), where we get the word schizo-“phrenic.” Phroneo is translated as think (5x), regard (4x), mind (3x) in KJV.

It means to be on the same page, same track or same wavelength, not sing a different tune or out of alignment, not in sync. The first two ways (participles) are having the same love, being one-in-spirit, one mind versus, others and above yourselves.

Three participles

having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind (v 2)

esteem other better than themselves (v 3) 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Same (autos) Others vs themselves (allelous “one another” vs heautou) Own (heautou) vs others (heterox)

The verb “attitude/mind” (v 5) is key in Philippians. It occurs eleven times in Philippians’ four chapters – one short of the 12 times in 16 chapters of Romans. Translating this word is clumsy. The same word has eight different translations in NIV: “feel” (Phil 1:7), “mind” (Phil 2:2, 3:19), “purpose” (Phil 2:2), “attitude” (Phil 2:5), “view” (Phil 3:15), “think” (Phil 3:15), “agree” (Phil 4:2), and “concern” (Phil 4:10, 4:10). The verb occurs more than the popular “rejoice” that occurs nine times in the book. It’s been said, Mindset is everything.

The verb “attitude” (phroneo) is surprisingly a verb and an imperative, not a noun or an afterthought. An imperative is for abiding and not for admiring, for acceptance and not for approval, and for appointment and not appeal. The whole passage from verses 5-11 is an extension of this imperative. The action “phroneo” is the verb form to the noun mind or “phren,” as in schizophrenia, a split in the mind. It occurs twice in this chapter, 11 times in the book (1:7, 2: 2 twice, 5, 3:15 twice, 16, 19, 4:2, 10 twice), more than any book in the Bible, even more than the popular “rejoice” verb that occurs nine times in the book!