Philippians 2:5-11 (NRSV)
Read Philippians 2:5-11 on biblegateway.com
Verse 5Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, Verse 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, Verse 7but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, Verse 8he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death- even death on a cross. Verse 9Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, Verse 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, Verse 11and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Devotion
The events of Holy Week reveal the truth of these
powerful hymn verses. Hear the surprising reversal: Jesus
did not exploit his divinity. He did not consolidate his
power to conquer, but released it, emptied himself and
took on the form of a slave. We will hear again what it
cost him: shame, public humiliation, rejection by his own
people, excruciating death—even death on a cross. He
humbled himself in order to be born in human likeness,
to be one of us. This is the God who walks with us on our
journey. In this season we remember that death was not
the end. In his resurrection and ascension, Jesus Christ
is Lord. To walk such a journey is not the way humans
are normally wired, and yet we are invited to follow, to
choose servanthood rather than lordship, humility rather
than dominion. We are invited to believe that love is a
better way.
Prayer
We bend our knees at your name, Jesus. Give us the
courage to confess you as Lord. Amen.