Jesus' Selflessness

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-6

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

Insights: In verses one through four Paul has told us there is hope for unity and joy.  He then turned his direction and began to give four examples of what that kind of life looked like in the real world.  He started with Jesus.  At this point I am going to change verb tenses because all I am about to say regarding Jesus’ past is also true of Jesus present.  In other words, Jesus never changes.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  He IS God.  His is one essence of the Triune community which comprises the ONE true God.  In principle these words are what the second phrase found in verses five and six is describing.  Jesus is God.  Before His incarnation, coming to earth in flesh as a baby, Jesus existed in the form of God.  Yet, the last phrase describes Jesus’ selflessness.  Even though He existed in the form of God, He did not grasp, strive, battle, manipulate, conspire, twist, or bully His way to equality with God.  Jesus knew He was God and was very comfortable with this reality.  At the same time, He was completely selfless and new He must leave eternity and come to earth in order to save His creation.  Think with me for a moment all Jesus gave up as He existed in the form of God in eternity.  His selflessness cost Him a perfect environment.  There were no hurricanes or blizzards and even if God did desire to create one, it had no devastating effects.  God and His heavenly creation would just enjoy the immense power found in God’s expression of creativity.  Jesus left perfect obedience.  Even in the Lord ’s Prayer, Jesus said, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  When Jesus gave a command in heaven it was perfectly obeyed right then and there.  Jesus left perfect bodies.  I am not saying Jesus had a body before His incarnation, but there were celestial beings who existed and they did not face sickness or death.  Jesus left perfect praise.  If your mind wonders even one second while you are worshipping God, then it is not perfect praise.  Yet, in eternity, Jesus experienced the worship of perfect praise being given to Him by the celestial creation.  Jesus did not find any of these perfect things worth grasping.  He selflessly left them all in order to come to earth to save humanity from their sins. Amen!

Questions:

1. Do you have this same selfless attitude in you that is in Christ Jesus?
2. Are you still driven by recognition and accolades?

Prayer: Father, forgive me for my selfish behavior.  Let the attitude of Jesus become my attitude as well.  May I not grasp for power and position, but rather genuine humility.  Amen.