In the Footprints of the Servant King
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, 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. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ”
Truly, the descent of Christ is something to behold. This passage should lead us to worship the most humble King, who being God crossed an infinite chasm to become a man who would die the most ignominious death imaginable. I’ll read this passage again, and let’s simply notice the steps Christ took in this humble descent and marvel at him.
Though he was in the form of God,
(He) 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. And being found in human form,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Now this is not an easy passage to understand. There are a few phrases which are complex and strangely worded, which raise difficult questions, for example, what does it mean that ‘Christ did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped’, and what did he empty himself of?
Let’s walk through this passage slowly, taking it phrase by phrase thinking about it carefully.
Though he was in the form of God – This means Christ is God, this is a declaration of Jesus’ deity. The NIV translates the word form as nature, and I think this is helpful for it is saying that Christ was by nature God, it’s not saying he was merely like God, he was God and has been God for all eternity.
Did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped – The word ‘count’ is very important here, Christ being God is obviously equal with God, but Christ did not consider this status and the privileges of this status to be used to his advantage.
But emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant – Christ emptied himself not of his deity, not of his attributes, but he emptied himself of his privileges and his right to use his attributes, instead of using his status to be served, he took the form of a servant.
Being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form – Similarly as it said Christ was in the form of God, meaning he was God, when it says Christ was in the form of a human, means he was human, He is truly God and truly man.
He humbled himself by becoming obedient – Christ came not to be served but to serve as a man, and being the perfect man, he was perfectly obedient to the Father’s will.
To the point of death – This humble obedience to the Father’s will lead Christ into many sufferings, and he knew human weakness more than anyone. When we stop to ponder this we should be left in awe, look back to verse 6, see the glory of Christ in eternity past surrounded by angels continually worshipping him, and now see the Christ who descended into weakness, into dependence, into suffering, and now into death.
Even death on a cross. – A death for the worst of sinners, given to the greatest King. This is Jesus Christ the Servant King who exchanged the glory of heaven for a cross. Why? “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). Jesus came into the world to go to the cross for us. That’s humility.
Christ is the chief example of humility, and so Paul used this incredible poem/hymn to provide a perfect example of what it looks like to ‘Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than ourselves’. As a child attempts to walk in the footprints of his father, we with our small steps attempt to walk in the footprints of our Servant King, and indeed we are able to follow in the way of Christ because we have the mind of Christ in us.
Now this isn’t the end of the poem in Philippians 2, there is much more to come, but I’ll leave that until tomorrow. But, for now, may we desire to be like Christ, living in humility.
