This file can be printed for personal use and study. © Reachout Trust - www.reachouttrust.org
The Imitation of Christ (Philippians 2:5-11)
Quoting an early Christian hymn Paul paints the
most clear and remarkable picture of Jesus from eternity past, through
his birth, death, resurrection and ascension to eternity future - and
calls us to imitate him,
Who, being in very nature God
Jesus is in very nature God and equal to the Father (Heb.1:3-4; 2 Pet.1:17-18;
Rev.1:9-18)
Did not consider equality with God as something
to be grasped, but made himself nothing taking the very nature of the
servant, being made in human likeness
Jesus emptied himself of all that was rightfully his: his glory; his riches;
his intimacy with God, and took the nature of a servant (literally a 'slave')
(Jn.17:4; 5:30; 2 Cor.8:9; 1 Pet.2:24)
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross
His obedience extended even to dying on the cross, a sign to the Jews
of someone being under God's curse (Gal.3:13; Dt.21:23). To Greeks this
was a humiliation no god would possibly suffer (1 Cor.1:23)
Therefore God exalted him to the highest
place and gave him the name that is above every name
Raised from death, Jesus is exalted to the highest place, a place of power
and authority (Heb.1:3), and given the name above all names, the name
of God - Jehovah
That at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow, in heaven and on earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ
is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father
No matter what people claim about him, no matter how often they abuse
his name as an expletive, in the end all will acknowledge him as Lord
of all, of time and eternity (Eph.1:21-22)
Your attitude should be the same as that
of Christ (Philip.2:5)
In other words, think the same way Jesus did. All who believe are 'in
Christ' (Eph.1:2-14) and this is the Christ in whom every Christian finds
their eternal identity. 'This is our God, the servant king, he calls us
now to follow him', as the chorus says.
To be like him we begin in being united with him (Philip.2:1), recognise
who we are 'in him' and what he has planned for us(Philip.1:3-6), adopt
his attitude (Philip.2:5), and commit to his ways in our daily lives (Philip.1:27)
Are you united with this astonishing person Jesus, who was God from eternity,
became a slave for our sake, died in humiliation then demonstrated God's
power in rising from the dead and now sits enthroned at the highest place
and has been given the highest name? Do you understand what that makes
you - who you are 'in Christ' and what God has planned for you? How does
this help you view others for whom God gave his only begotten Son? How
can we make our lives better reflect this as we grow 'in him' and seek
to serve?