The Humility and Exaltation of Jesus
There is a TV show called “Beast Games” hosted by a famous YouTuber known as Mr. Beast. In the first season of the show, one thousand contestants started the multi-week journey to win a coveted prize that for that season ended up being 10 million dollars! Apparently that is the largest prize ever awarded on a TV show. 10 million is a 10 with six zeros. It is a hundred years’ worth of salary for someone who makes a decent 100k per year… Wow! But only one person can be the winner so, as the show unfolds, the participants compete against each other to eliminate their opponents… it can get brutal.
In some of the games, people are grouped in teams first, so they lock arms to compete against other teams. They also live together in a village so they get to know each other and develop friendships, but then later they have to compete against their new friends. When a contestant is faced with the possibility of winning 10 million dollars, there is no former partnership or allegiance that counts. They betray each other, they lie to each other, they manipulate and break promises, as their selfishness and greed is revealed in full display. Each one wants to win the prize at any cost and at the end of the day, each looks to their own interest, rationalizing that their situation justifies minimizing the significance of others. The show portrays a sadly accurate picture of the selfishness and self-centeredness of our human nature.
Last week, we learned the Philippians were wrestling with this innate selfish nature. Even as Christians, they were struggling with the propensity to count themselves more important than others and look to their own interests rather than the interests of others. Therefore, Paul, at the beginning of chapter 2 of his letter addresses that propensity and calls them to change, to be different from the world. This week Paul presents Jesus himself as the supreme model of selflessness, and calls the Philippians to follow the example of Jesus as they also regard the Father’s exaltation of Jesus because of his humility.
Would you please open your Bibles in Philippians chapter 2. We will read verses 3-11
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
[Let’s pray]
The focus of today will be verses 5-11 and we will divide the message in two sections
- The humility of Jesus (5-8)
- The exaltation of Jesus (9-11)
In the first section we will cover verses 5-8 and we’ll speak of the example of humility of Jesus. In the second section, that covers verses 9-11, we will see how his attitude resulted in his exaltation.
1. The humility of Jesus (5-8)
Let’s read v. 5 again “Have this mind among yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus”
This is a transitioning sentence, which connects what came before to what is about to come. Have this mind, this attitude, this mindset among yourselves. It is an exhortation, it is addressing a problem. When they interact with each other they may potentially have a different mindset. They have a natural tendency that is warned against in verses 3 and 4.
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit”, Paul exhorts the Philippians and us in verse 3.
Selfish ambition, vain glory, conceit, pride are embedded in our DNA, our default mindset. We are self-centered, proud, vain, even self-obsessed and narcissistic.
“Wow, wow, time out, Jose!”, you may say. “Speak for yourself. I know I am not perfect, but narcissistic, self-obsessed? Come on!”
Ok, do this experiment. Identify someone close to you, someone who interacts with you often and regularly. Your spouse, a sibling, a parent, a very close friend or coworker, your boss. Take them out for a coffee and ask them some questions: “when I interact with you, do you feel I look to your interests more than mine? Can you give me some concrete examples of when you feel I put my own interests over yours, when it seems I just care about myself, when I come across arrogant towards you or others?” You may have scheduled the coffee time for 30 minutes, but they may take their chance and spend the rest of the day giving you examples.
You are not alone. The Philippians had the same issues and that is why they have to be reminded:
“3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Now this is the context in which Paul states in verse 5
“Have this mind among yourselves”
What mind, what attitude, what mindset is he talking about? One that counts others as more significant than ourselves, one that looks to the interest of others.
A mindset “which was also in Christ Jesus”. It is Jesus who has that attitude, that mind of looking to the interest of others, of counting others significant even at the expense of himself.
In what way did he show this other-centeredness, this self-denial, this self-abasement?
v. 6-7 “though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”
Jesus was in the form of God. As the pre-incarnate Son of God he was eternal, with no beginning, always existing, self-sufficient, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, equal with the Father in every way. Reigning, governing, ruling sovereignly, over all creation and over all his creatures. In human terms, he is like a lord, a master, and in this analogy we are his servants. He created us, he sustains us. We owe him respect and honor. He is high, we are low! He is the Master, we are the slaves.
But he did not hold on to his high status. He did not cling to his equality with the Father. He did not say: “I am the highest Master and these are my low servants”. He did not use his raw power to demand the allegiance of his creatures. He could have, he had the right to do it, but he didn’t.
Instead he emptied himself! He denied himself, he abased himself, he astonishingly demoted himself by “taking the form of a servant”, he became like one of his creatures. Being the Lord and Master he became like a slave.
This is so counter-cultural, so counter-intuitive, so unnatural! We human beings run up the ladder, and we step over others to get as high as we can, we seek out for ourselves. The most powerful people do not get there because of their humility, they get there because they are loud, demanding, and strong-headed. They become leaders, CEOs, presidents and emperors, because they persuade others to do their will whether by intimidation or manipulation.
But not Jesus. The Son of God, God himself, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Have you watched the TV show “Undercover Boss”? In this show a high rank executive, sometimes a CEO, decides to go undercover and work with the company’s low rank workers, doing menial tasks and sometimes being mistreated by customers or even supervisors or other workers. They are blown away and sometimes embarrassed when the identity of the executive is revealed. They cannot believe that the big boss became just like one of them and worked with them, had lunch with them and interacted closely with them. This person is not their boss, not even the boss of the boss, this person has a much higher rank, far away from their league. And yet this person was right there with them, just like the rest. How would you react if this happens to you? If the CEO of your company would roll their sleeves and work with you, chat with you and have lunch with you.
Jesus is not only a high rank executive. He is not even the president of a nation or a powerful emperor dominating the world. Jesus is God! There is no one above him, he is equal with the Father, there is no angelic or earthly creature that gets even close! He created them all. He is the boss of all bosses, he is the Master and Lord of all Lords, he is God! And without stopping being God, he emptied himself and took the form of a lowly slave, he was born in our likeness, he came to dwell with us, to walk with us, to sweat and cry and suffer just like us.
But wait! That is not all
v. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross
He didn’t stop there, but as a man he humbled himself even further. He did not wear nice clothes. He didn’t live in a nice palace, served by others. No, he became a simple, normal man. And as a man he humbled himself even further by becoming obedient to the point of death on a cross. He died as a lowly criminal.
Why?
Because he was obedient. To whom?
To his Father.
How far did he obey?
To the point of death, even death on a cross.
Why a cross? Why such a humiliating death, why dying between two criminal thieves. If he was innocent and pure and obedient and high, why was he treated even worse than a vile slave? Why did he endure the spits and slaps, the mocking, the flogging, the bleeding, the pain, the disgrace, the humiliation. Why? Why did he empty and humble himself from God to slave, and from slave to dying as a criminal?
With his actions and attitude, he was registering for eternity this supreme model and example of humility, of an infinitely superior being abasing himself for the sake of others, he was looking for their interests. He was exchanging his perfect righteousness and his sublime purity with the grotesque filthiness of undeserving slaves. He took our place! He lowered himself, so we may have a chance, the only chance to be saved. He emptied himself and came as a man and died as a criminal for the sake of others, for our sake.
So what is the application of this first section? To have his mind, to be like Jesus! To behave like him. If even God, high above everyone, was willing to lower himself for us, how would we not be willing to do the same for others? Let us do nothing from selfish ambition and conceit, let us not only look to our own interests but also to the interests of others. Let’s seek opportunities to lower ourselves, to humble ourselves for the sake of others, for their good. Let us reflect and honor the character of Jesus the God-man who emptied and humbled himself for the sake of others.
That is the end of section #1, the humility of Jesus.
Now, point 2
2. The exaltation of Jesus (9-11)
V. 9: “Therefore God has highly exalted him”
“Therefore”, the verse starts, making a logical connection with what was just presented. For this reason, because of that, “God, the Father has highly exalted Jesus”
What is the reason?
That Jesus emptied himself, he humbled himself, he lowered himself by becoming a man and dying for his servants. That is the reason why the Father has highly exalted the Son. The Son, being equal to God, was willing to go to the lowest of places, and his Father was extremely pleased by that and therefore hyper-exalted his Son.
In our world, the ones who are exalted and honored are the powerful, the rich, the popular. But it is not so in the Kingdom of God. In the realm of heaven the Father sends his Son not to be served, but to serve his servants by dying for them. The Son humbles himself to the point of death, and this act of unspeakable humility prompts the Father to exalt the Son to the highest place.
This is a remarkable statement of the type of God we worship as he reveals how much he values humility. Humility is one of the most perplexing and distinctive attributes of Jesus. He is equal to God, and yet he lowers himself, he humbles himself for the sake of his servants, and therefore the Father exalts him to the highest place.
How exactly is he exalted? Let’s keep reading
Second part of verse 9: The Father “bestowed on him [Jesus] the name that is above every name”
The Father grants, graces, entitles, invests Jesus with the name and title above all other names and titles. As we think about this, we can imagine a scene where a Knight is honored or a King is anointed and installed. It is a picture of honor and blessing and empowerment and exaltation.
Many of you may have fresh in your minds the inauguration of the new president of the United States. The inauguration is an interesting ceremony. Several people take part in it, but they all ultimately point to the new president. Their aim is to install him and empower him as he starts his role as head and president of the nation. Sometimes even the richest people of the whole world are invited. At some point the new president stands and gives his inaugural speech. As he develops his discourse, his eloquence increases and people at some points are motivated to stand from their seats and applaud him in ovation. As his speech approaches the end, people do this more frequently and they stand and clap for longer periods of time as they, at least nominally, express their allegiance and support to the one who has been bestowed with the title of head of state, the highest rank leader of the most powerful nation on the planet and maybe in the whole history of humanity.
Jesus is not the president of a powerful nation, and he is not like any president or king or emperor in human history. He is the omnipotent Lord who emptied himself by becoming a man, and as a man he humbled himself to die for his people, and therefore he has been graced with the name and title that is above all other names and titles of presidents and emperors and lords in the whole universe! There is no other name above the name granted to Jesus!
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow
“So that” the verse starts. God has exalted Jesus and bestowed on him a name, so that everyone shall bow down before him. Walter Hansen in his commentary says:
“The purpose for God’s exaltation of Jesus is the universal worship of Jesus as Lord.”
The Father granted Jesus a name and title that is so high that when everyone hears it they immediately should fall down on their knees before him as a symbol of honor, respect, exaltation, fear and worship. Both his followers and his opponents should bow down before him.
Note also that the scope of submission is universal and comprehensive: “every knee should bow down, in heaven, and on earth and under the earth”. All creatures and beings should kneel before Jesus. In heaven, the seraphim and archangels, all the powerful and fiery celestial creatures, even the demons should bow down at the name of Jesus. And not only them. Also everyone on planet earth should bow down as well. Even the dead, who are under the earth, cannot resist the power of the name bestowed on Jesus! They are raised from the dead so they can kneel down before him.
Everyone created throughout all history, heavenly beings and humans alike, the living and the dead, from the first man, Adam, to the last one, everyone “in heaven and on earth and under the earth” should bow down at the name of Jesus.
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
The absolute universality of this worship continues being unfolded. Every tongue and language and ethnicity. Without exception of color, race or status. Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Africans and Europeans, and heavenly beings, everyone and everywhere, should confess in celestial and earthly tongues that Jesus Christ is the Lord above all.
In Isaiah 45:22-23, God says, “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other… To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance”
And here in Philippians, Paul references that passage and applies it to Jesus! Again Walter Hansen from his commentary says that: “By applying this text to Jesus, [these verses boldly assert] that Jesus bears the name of God and is to be worshipped as Lord.”
The Father has exalted Jesus and granted him the title of Lord, so that everyone universally should bow down before him and confess him as Lord.
Note also the historical context in which Paul writes this letter. The Roman Empire of that time demanded allegiance, respect and total submission to lord Caesar. And here Paul says, no! Caesar is not ultimately the lord. The ultimate Lord is Jesus, he is the Lord of Lords, above Caesar and any other power or empire, and everyone should bow down and confess Jesus as the Lord!
The same applies today, whether you are a believer or not, this is a call to submit to the Lord Jesus. The highest name and authority does not belong to your boss, your CEO, or the president, it belongs to Jesus, and our allegiance, reverence and submission should be aimed primarily at him.
And this exaltation and worshipping of the Son turns out to be also
End of verse 11, “to the glory of God the Father.”
You cannot but marvel at this revelation and self-disclosure of God, in the persons of the Father and the Son. We see Jesus in his pre-incarnate state as the Son equal with the Father. We see the Son emptying himself by taking the form of a human servant and further humbling himself to the point of death on a cross in obedience to his Father, the Father highly exalting the Son and bestowing on him the name above all names, so that all creatures should worship and honor the Son, to the ultimate glory of God the Father.
Everything that God does, from beginning to end, is designed to magnify his name to the utmost. God reveals and discloses himself supremely in Jesus so that we may know and understand his character, his values, his nature, his glory and his humility. And as we marvel at this revelation we should fall down on our knees in worship and adoration and submission before the Lord Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father.