Who is Jesus / why did he die? Philippians 2:1-11
Introduction
On the train down to Cornwall this week I started chatting with the man opposite. It transpired that he was a Christian who had experienced a number of traumas in his life but was now on the road to recovery. When I revealed that I was a vicar he said “I thought you were”. I wonder what made him think that – I wasn’t wearing a dog collar. Whether we are aware of it or not we constantly classify people – we look at their outward appearance and behaviour and we think we know who they are.
People tried to do this with Jesus and were constantly having their assumptions challenged. They though he was the Messiah – and he was, but not the sort they were looking for. They thought he was a prophet, or even a ghost (John the Baptist), they called him Rabbi – teacher.
We do the same ourselves. We think we know who Jesus is – based perhaps on what we learned at school or have heard in the media. Many today would not argue with the assertion that Jesus was a historical figure, a teacher and supposed miracle who lived in Israel some 2,000 years ago. However there is much more to Jesus than this.
C.S. Lewis said: “The man we are talking about (Jesus) was and is just what he said or else a lunatic or something worse. Now it seems to me obvious that he was neither a lunatic nor a fiend; and consequently, however terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that he was and is God. God has landed on this enemy occupied world in human form”
Countless people have come to the same conclusion as Lewis among them those who had a very different view of who Jesus was. The apostle Paul had previously seen Jesus as a dangerous heretic and had joined with those who persecuted Christians. However after his conversion on the road to Damascus he came to know Jesus for who he truly is, in the words of Thomas “My Lord and my God”.
The verses from Philippians express this belief in poetic form. Many commentators think this was an early credal hymn which Paul has adapted in order to express his personal faith.
This hymn / poem has a very simple structure: high, low, high.
High v.6
The poem starts with the bald statement that Jesus is God v.6. As the prologue to John’s gospel puts it “ In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the word was God.”John 1:1 One cannot imagine a more highly exalted position than this – equality with God. (I know my place sketch)
Descent vv.7-8
Starting from this place of exaltation Jesus voluntarily relinquishes the throne-room of heaven. A step-by-step process is described: made himself nothing, taking the nature of a servant, humbling himself, becoming obedient unto death
Ascent v.9
The low point, death on the cross, was not the end. God exalted him – resurrection and ascension
New High v.10-11
Jesus receives a new name and new honour at the right hand of God. A name of glory
Application
What does this hymn say to us today? Firstly the descent of Jesus means that He truly comes alongside us in all our trials and temptations.
His ascent reminds us of the victory that is ours in him