“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”Philippians 2:8 ESV
Reflection: what does love have to do with obedience?
We talk readily about what Jesus did, as an act of love, the biggest demonstration of love throughout time. A selfless, sacrificial love, that started a long time ago. The plan for our salvation, for providing a way to restore what God had intended and first created. This plan involved God Himself stepping into His own creation, to offer Himself as the only sacrifice sufficient to atone for our sins. To help us understand, Paul outlines this beautifully in chapter 2, saying “Christ Jesus, 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 2:5b-11 ESV.
If you noticed, Paul adds some context of what this love actually cost Jesus. Yes, cost him, as it wasn’t a warm and fuzzy feeling. He says first that “he emptied himself”, meaning he gave up his “equality with God” to become human. Right there, when we start thinking about what Jesus gave up just to enter our world, that cost alone is unimaginable. To be exposed to temptation in human form, to wickedness and sin, the corruption in the world. We can forget that this was a decision. Secondly we see Jesus taking the form of a “servant”. The creator of all, the King of kings deciding to be a servant, even washing his followers feet. Thirdly, we see him “humbling” himself throughout his life. And lastly, as Paul mentions, he was obedient. To what? To his Father. To his purpose and mission. His obedience demonstrated for all to see, even to the point of his death on a cross.
The cost of his love.
And what was the point, the reward, if you will? Was the cost worth it? ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”” John 3:16-21 ESV
We looked yesterday at the Christian walk, the commitment we must make for Jesus Christ to be Lord in our lives. To give up of self in obedience of following Him. Jesus own walk for our sake was difficult beyond anything we will ever experience, nor comprehend. It was a full display of what true love is, in humility and obedience to his Father, serving those who choose to follow him. Jesus is our example to follow, as Paul started out this section saying “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 2:5 ESV. What is the cost of our love?