The Great Example Pt. 2

Great Example

Philippians 2.5-8 Pt.2

Good Friday Service 2012

Introduction

A F. B. Meyer once said, I used to think that Gods gifts were on shelves one above the other; and that the taller we grew in Christian character, the easier we could reach them. I now find that Gods gifts are on shelves one beneath the other. It is not a question of growing taller but of stooping lower; that we have to go down, always down, to get His best gifts.

1 On a wall near the main entrance to the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, is a portrait of a man with this inscription underneath. "James Butler Bonham--no picture of him exists. This portrait is of his nephew, Major James Bonham, deceased, who greatly resembled his uncle. It is placed here by the family that people may know the appearance of the man who died for freedom."

No literal portrait of Jesus exists either. But the likeness of the One who died to set all men free can be seen in the lives of those who truly follow Him. If we are truly following Christ others will see it in our appearance, our attitudes, and our associations. They will see that we have truly been with Christ.

II The Second Step: Humbled Self (v.8)

A Jesus was the form of God (v.7), took the form of a bond-servant (v.7b), and entered into a new state of being by become a man.

1 The Old Testament tells us that Christ had made occasional visits to earth before Bethlehem (Preincarnate appearances)

a These visits were brief/temporary.

aa Gen. 18.1, appeared w/ two angels to Abraham, telling him that his wife Sara would soon give birth to a son.

aa Gen. 32.24,30; Jacob wrestling with Christ all night long.

bb Joshua 5.13-15; Appears as “the Captain of the host of the Lord” and receives the worship of Joshua.

cc Daniel 3.23-25: Three Hebrews in the furnace but four are walking around.

b When Jesus was born as a baby in Bethlehem there was no going back; there would forever be a permanent bond/union with humankind from point forward.

aa He wasn’t an actor playing the part of a man . . He was a man.

bb Although He was/is a Person, He never stopped being God.

cc One person with two natures: one absolute deity and one humanity.

2 “ . . . in appearance as a man.” Lit. means He looked like everybody else in Israel.

a The Great I Am, The Lord of Hosts/God Almighty/ of all/ Glory/ Lords/ Our Righteousness, Consolation of Israel, Consuming Fire, Cornerstone, Wonderful, Counselor, Desired of Nations, Horn of Salvation, Glory of the Lord, God Over All, The God who sees me, Immanuel, King of Kings, King of the Ages... to be a dude.

b 700 years before Jesus was born Isaiah (53.3) prophesied that the Messiah would not be esteemed (acknowledged.)

aa John 10.10-11, John 6.42; John 7.5, 27; John 10.33, “You’re a dude, but you make yourself out to be God.”

bb Jesus went from being the object of worship & adoration to obscurity & anonymity.

c Can you imagine how Jesus felt helping Joseph build a yoke in his daddy’s house? (I created the universe in less time that it’s taken you to put this together dad.)

aa Can you imagine Jesus wearing a towel and a servants apron washing the feet of His disciples? (I was clothed in glory and being worshiped by angels and here I am washing your dirty feet.)

bb Jesus humbled Himself!!

cc Remember that the next time you get the impulse to become self-assertive/self-seeking because these are not of the attitude/mine of Christ.

d Jesus refused to assert His rights as God or even as a human being.

aa Even at the most dramatic/poignant time of Christ’s life (His arrest, trial & crucifixion)...

bb He was mocked, falsely accused, spat upon, beaten with fists, scourged, part of His beard painfully plucked out . . .

cc He was never defensive, never bitter, demanding, never accusing . . .

dd He was guilty of giving up His rights, not just in relationship to the Father but in relativity to other men.

(How many of us could be found guilty for that charge?)

B Christ being obedient to the “point of” death doesn’t mean He became obedient “to” death.

1 Even at Calvary Jesus was deaths master.

a He gave over His own life . . . He laid down His life (John 10.17) . . .He gave up His own Spirit . . . Death didn’t take anything from Jesus that He didn’t give. . . He never became obedient “TO” death.

b Choir sings a song: “Did you know you were born to die?” The answer is “Yes, He did.”