Jesus' Incarnation
Php 2:7,8 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
While people try to make something of themselves, Jesus made nothing of himself. And such should be the attitude among Christians. John the Baptist said, "He must become greater; I must become less." John 3:30 Are you trying to make something of yourself or are you trying to make nothing of yourself?
Jesus took on a human nature. "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity" Heb 2:14a He took on a nature which was subject to the temptations we all face. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are— yet was without sin" Heb 4:15 It was a humiliating experience in which "although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered." Heb 5:8 For obedience is only experienced when you submit to things of which you would rather not. So "consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Heb 12:3
In humbly submitting to the will of God we are going to end up in circumstances of which we may not have preferred. Jesus "was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not." Is 53:3 and likewise for those who follow Jesus. If the LORD's life and dignity were expendable to accomplishing the mission, so should ours be.
Php 2:7,8 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
While people try to make something of themselves, Jesus made nothing of himself. And such should be the attitude among Christians. John the Baptist said, "He must become greater; I must become less." John 3:30 Are you trying to make something of yourself or are you trying to make nothing of yourself?
Jesus took on a human nature. "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity" Heb 2:14a He took on a nature which was subject to the temptations we all face. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are— yet was without sin" Heb 4:15 It was a humiliating experience in which "although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered." Heb 5:8 For obedience is only experienced when you submit to things of which you would rather not. So "consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Heb 12:3
In humbly submitting to the will of God we are going to end up in circumstances of which we may not have preferred. Jesus "was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not." Is 53:3 and likewise for those who follow Jesus. If the LORD's life and dignity were expendable to accomplishing the mission, so should ours be.
