“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.” Philippians 2:6-7 ESV
Reflection: how would you describe Jesus Christ, in your own words?
After spending just a few minutes with someone that we never met before, we start forming an opinion about who they are. It is actually amazing how quickly that happens, without even thinking about it. Most have built up a discernment, a gut instinct about the people they meet, perhaps relying on many interactions from the past. And, just from a handshake, watching the body language, and listening to a few words, many can describe a lot about this individual. In fact, most job interviews happen exactly like that. It is literally the first few minutes that most hiring managers determine whether they want to hire the candidate or not. But what about people that we have never met physically, only read about, heard about, and perhaps talked with over the phone? Can we describe them?
Have you tried to describe Jesus?
I came across a new description of Jesus today, that I just found so amazing. In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he described Jesus like this, “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. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:6-11 ESV.
Like me, you have probably read this many times, being so blessed by these few words describing Jesus. But there is one phrase that I never caught before, that I thought was kind of odd in a way. Notice how he starts out “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,”Philippians 2:6 ESV. The first part of that verse is pretty clear, that Jesus was and is fully God, part of the trinity together with the Father and the Spirit. But, the second part of the verse and description, “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,” What in the world does that mean? If you read different translations, you will also find varying ways this aspect of Jesus is explained. NKJV writes “who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,”Philippians 2:6 NKJV
Robbery to be equal to God?
Bible commentator Ellicott has a rather lengthy explanation of his findings here, of what the Spirit through Paul explained of Jesus. I will paraphrase. He describes the idea that Jesus could certainly have kept His full equality with God, and not have become in the likeness of man. It was His to begin with. But, the word Paul used that was translated into “robbery” was harpagmos, which really “means a thing to be seized upon or to be held fast, retained”. Jesus let go of being in the form of God, to be in the likeness of man, fully aware of what He was giving up, what He was “trading off”. And this alone, describes such endlessly deep love for His creation, for us. He could have held onto what was His. But He grasped the opportunity to save mankind, by humbling Himself, giving up His form of God to come in the likeness of man. For what purpose? To sacrifice Himself, for His beloved, to establish a new covenant in His blood.
Can you see Jesus, having what He had, considering what He had to do, and still choosing what He did?
So, back the opening reflection again, to describe Jesus in our own words. Who really is He, for you? Spend some time today, perhaps together with a brother or sister in Christ, and write down what you know about Him. Start with what you know from the words and descriptions you have resonated with in the Bible. Then, based on our own experiences with Him, turn this into your own words.
And, finally, read this out loud to Him. Tell Him who He is to you, using these of your own words.
