Philippians 2:5-11
Q.1. Why did Paul direct the Philippians to the example of Jesus? How did Christ display His humility? – (Phil.2:1-8)
Paul challenged the believers at Philippi to pursue an ‘other’ centred life, by following the example of Jesus (Phil.2:5). He explained about Christ, that – although He existed in the form of God, He did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied Himself … (Phil.2:6-7). Jesus literally emptied Himself of self, by surrendering the independent exercise of His divine attributes. He was God, but never acted independently. He always acted in submission to His Father. He humbled Himself by becoming a human being, even lower than a servant, then lower still, by dying as a criminal on a cruel cross at the hands of those whom He had made (Phil.2:7-8). He had placed the interests of sinners above His own. The Philippian believers were to follow in His steps (Phil.2:5).
Q.2. How did God reverse the fortunes of the Saviour? What future plans will God unfold regarding Jesus? – (Phil.2:9-11)
As the only sinless Man, it was impossible for Jesus to be held in the grasp of death. Neither was that appropriate since He is in truth the almighty God. Peter summed it up this way on the Day of Pentecost – 23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. 24 But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power (Acts 2:23-24). The Saviour rose, to be acknowledged by believers from generation to generation. However, that is not all. We await a day, predetermined by God when – 10 … at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil.2:10-11). Soon all of Heaven and earth will acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of Glory.