Advent Reading for December 18: Philippians 2:5-11
Reflection: Son of God All-Glorious Becomes a Babe Weak and Helpless
The depth of God's Word is amazing—that one small passage of Scripture could convey so much about ourselves and about the Savior whose birth we prepare to celebrate in just seven days!
Ok. Don't panic. Deep slow breaths. Yes, only seven days 'til Christmas. Does that thought make your heart race? Is that because there are only seven more days to shop, only seven more days to plan the food and prepare for guests, or only seven more days until you get that special gift you've been wanting (or not)?
The birth we're preparing to celebrate is actually the most precious gift this world has ever been given, and there are only seven more days to prepare our hearts. Only seven more days to contemplate the birth of our Savior, looking at but a few of the many facets of that event as you might look at a beautiful ornament on your Christmas tree. You know the one. That special ornament that stands out above the rest for all of its meaning and beauty, the one that makes you smile whenever you see it, the one that shines brightest in the glow of the lights on the tree.
But why is this birth we look forward to celebrating each year such a precious gift, and what does Philippians 2:5-11 have to do with the birth of Jesus anyway?
This passage of Scripture shows us how, in that birth, Jesus emptied himself for us, for sinful man whose relationship with our God was severed by pride and self-worship. He chose humiliation, laying aside the visible presence of His deity, laying aside His authority, and renouncing the privileges that were His own. He "left the air of heaven / To breathe the dust of earth / And dwell among the outcast and the poor" ("Glorious Christ," Bob Kauflin, 2012). Willingly setting aside all that identified Him as God, "He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him" (John 1:11); "having no form or majesty that we should even look at him," He was instead "despised and rejected…and we esteemed him not" (Isaiah 53:2-3).
All of this Jesus chose freely, obediently, emptying himself because only His sinless life and His blood shed at the cross could restore us back to right relationship with God the Father.
We see in today's reading that the birth we are preparing to celebrate with Christmas trees and ornaments and pretty lights and presents was the birth of one who took "the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" (Phil 2:7). And Jesus lived not merely as a man – experiencing the needs, challenges, desires, and temptations we experience – but as a meek and lowly servant with no advantages, no privileges, no recognized earthly authority.
Though given little in this life, Jesus gave of Himself to all who would seek Him. He served continually, humbling himself again and again, choosing not to exercise the divine power that was His to avoid the labor and weariness a servant experiences. In love He poured out His life daily and in death for our needs, for our salvation.
We also see in this passage the Father's heart toward us and for us. His heart toward us is seen in the truth that in all this Jesus was being obedient to the Father, "obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" for us (Phil 2:8). It was the Father's desire to save all who would seek Him. His heart for us is seen in the command to "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus" (Phil 2:5). In ourselves, that is, among us – the body of Christ – we are to have Jesus' attitude of humble commitment and self-sacrifice toward one another. It is a call to empty ourselves as Christ did, laying aside our rights and privileges to serve the needs and concerns of others, not only sharing in grace together but also sharing in suffering. It is also a call to do all this remembering that Jesus laid aside His heavenly glory, humbling himself not for honor or profit but for our benefit and salvation.
And then, God turned the Humility of Jesus Christ into glory. In Matthew 23:11-12 Jesus tells the people that "the greatest among you shall be your servant...and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." How true this is! Jesus was and is the greatest among us, and 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 2:9-11
I marvel that this one small passage of Scripture contains so much truth, and surely more than even mentioned here. In it we see Christ's preexistence, our sin, Christ's incarnation, death, and resurrection because of our sin, and His ascension as well as the perfect example of ultimate humility that we are commanded to follow.
In it we see that the babe we are soon to celebrate – "so weak and helpless, child of a lowly Hebrew maid, / Rudely in a stable sheltered, coldly in a manger laid" (William Walshalm How, "Who Is This, So Weak and Helpless") – is Lord of all and worthy of all glory, honor, and praise. He, the greatest gift we've been given, more brilliant and beautiful than the lights on any Christmas tree, than the most perfect ornament. He -
The glorious Christ,
The greatest of all delights
His power is unequaled,
His love beyond all heights
No greater sacrifice
Than when He laid down His life.
("Glorious Christ," Bob Kauflin, 2012)
So, yes, there are only seven days left until Christmas. What will captivate your thoughts as this Advent season draws to a close and we celebrate the Birth of our Savior?
Rachel Pannell
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