Imitate Christ's Humility (Message Part 2)

      Now we know that humility promotes unity, so how do we inspire humility? Let’s read verse 5 together please. “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus (v. 5).” I don’t know about you guys, but for me, the easiest way to learn is by example. It’s one thing if someone simply tells you how to do something, but it’s a different thing if they show you how to do it. How many of you know who Kobe Bryant is? This should be quite easy since I just showed you a picture of him not too long ago. Now how many of you know who Michael Jordan is? Michael Jordan is widely considered the greatest basketball player to have ever graced this earth. Recently, as some of you may know, Kobe Bryant surpassed Michael in career points. How did Kobe get to be so great at basketball? Take a look at these photos comparing Kobe and Michael. You probably noticed that Kobe and Michael play basketball in a very similar manner. This is not a coincidence. Kobe learned much of his game by studying and emulating Michael’s game. Although Kobe may never be considered quite as great as Michael Jordan was, Kobe is still a great basketball player because he took Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player ever, as an example. We should be like Kobe, and take Jesus, the most humble person ever, as our example.
      Of course, in order to follow someone as an example, you have to know that person. Paul explains who Jesus is in verses 6-11 in a very poetic passage. Let’s read verses 6 and 7 together. “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness (v.6-7).” Last Sunday, we had a guest speaker, Todd Beall, who shared on Hebrews 2. Todd Beall reminded us that Jesus is fully God, but is also fully man. Hebrews tell us that God became man so He could help us in our weakness and temptations. One thing that Todd Beall reminded us of is the importance of God becoming man, and how we often take that for granted. The verses we just read together remind us that Jesus was indeed God, but He did not use that as an advantage. Think about who God is. God is the creator of the universe, and has full authority and power over everything. Jesus could have used all of His power and authority to rule over people, but instead, He took the nature of a servant. I really like the wording Paul uses to describe this- “Being in very nature God” and “taking the very nature of a servant.” Although Christ was by nature God, He took the nature of a servant. He chose to forgo His nature as God and become one of us. This tells us something significant- humility is a choice. Jesus was not in nature a servant, but He chose to become a servant and He chose to be made in human likeness.
      Let’s continue on to verse 8. Let’s read that together please. “And being found in appearance of man, He humbled Himself, by becoming obedient to death- even death on a cross (v. 8)!” The greatest example of Jesus’ humility is the cross. Paul tells us that Jesus “humbled himself by becoming obedient to death- even death on a cross (v. 8b)”. The cross is the single most important event in Jesus’ life. It was the fulfillment of His mission to save us from our sin. Jesus could have chosen to put His own comfort over ours and avoid the cross, but He did not. He instead chose to put us above Himself. He suffered and He died, all for us. Two particular incidents on the cross further illustrate Christ’s humility. The first is in John 19:25-27, which reads “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home (John 19-25-27).” Even though Jesus was hanging on the cross, suffering excruciating pain, He remembered His mother. He told John to take His mother as His own, and to take care of her. The second incident is in Luke 23. Jesus was crucified between two thieves. Verses 39-43 tell us that one of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:39-43).” Again, Jesus chose to help those around Him, instead of Himself, even though He was suffering the pain from the cross. “Hallelujah, what a Savior!”
       Lastly, Paul tells us of the glorification of Jesus. Let’s read verses 9-11 together please. “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (v. 9-11).” Jesus was able to be exalted to the highest place because He fulfilled His mission on earth. In order to fulfill His mission, He had to have great humility. Jesus set us the greatest example of humility, and now He sits at the right hand of God. If we want to share in Christ’s glory, we have to show the humility that He showed.
       So what can we learn from this passage? We have to remember that the source of unity is found in Christ, His love, and His spirit. Without Christ as our motivation, we cannot have unity. We can also learn that unity takes humility. We cannot be united unless we show humility in our lives. Otherwise, pride and selfishness will destroy our relationships with each other. Third, humility is a choice. Humility does not come naturally, it is something that we have to cultivate in our lives. Fourth, we have to follow Jesus’ example. He is the greatest example of humility. Instead of using His power and authority to rule over us and establish Himself by force, He chose to become one of us. Furthermore, He chose to become the least of us, even though He deserved to be the greatest. He died on the cross to set us free from our sins. Lastly, we learn that Jesus is Lord. God exalted Him to the highest place, and every knee should bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. Let’s pray.
-Smart