(5) Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (6) who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, (7) but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men.  (8) And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death  of a cross.  (9) Therefore God has also highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, (10)  that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, (11) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The letter to the Philippians was written by the Apostle Paul. The verses we study today are the most profoundly Christological in the bible.  Doctrine as in these verses is thought by many to be academic and impracticable and difficult to understand.  But it is important to remember that Paul was writing to ordinary people and they understood what he was telling them.

The doctrine of incarnation and the failure to understand the full implications of it is perhaps the central problem of Christianity.   God chose to manifest Himself through humanity – not by angels appearing as men, not by prophets or by fire and clouds, or through godly men living godly lives but  by the ultimate incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ as true man while also being true God. Jesus voluntarily set aside His essence of God to assume the lowest position on this earth to rescue people who didn’t deserve it.

Jesus did not cease being God but took on true human nature – but without sin. In this form He was subject to aging, hunger, thirst, weariness and death. And the death he took on was considered by the Jews as cursed by God – this death on a tree.  It was considered so terrible and so shameful that Roman citizens and Roman soldiers were exempt from such a death.  Jesus could not come from any higher  place to any lower. And there is no greater a model of love, humility and obedience than our Lord. We are not to become subject to others whims or desires but we are to be obedient to God no matter what the cost – compared to Christ that cost is nothing.

In Mere Christianity, c.s. Lewis writes  about pride – “as long as you are proud you cannot know God.  A proud man is always looking down on things and people:  and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.”  We are told in today’s verses that every knee shall bow to the Lord and every tongue will confess Him as Lord. Maybe that is what hell is; those in hell will acknowledge Jesus as Lord but will forever be denied His presence.