Christ, the Example

Some events just become ingrained in your memory, regardless of your age. I remember being a four-year old boy on a visit to my dad’s childhood home in Wolfenbüttel, Germany. It was always a treat to spend time in my grandparents’ old upstairs apartment as I was growing up. The apartment was spacious, with enormous windows that overlooked one of the city's beautiful intersections which was flanked by a cozy bookstore, an inviting café, and a welcoming hotel. Beyond these, Wolfenbüttel was lined with narrow channels cutting through the city’s center and a picturesque park that was within walking distance of the apartment. Sometimes my grandfather would take my sister and me to the park to go feed the ducks with dry, leftover bread. On one particular occasion, I was walking atop an old stone retaining wall alongside the path. My grandfather attempted to encourage me to jump off the two-foot tall wall, without much success - to me, the wall seemed massive and a jump too terrifying to attempt. Finally, he climbed up and jumped off the wall himself, showing me that - while it was scary - it was not impossible and rather exhilarating. Then, both of us scaled the wall once more, and taking my hand, we jumped off together. I believe I still have an old black and white photograph that my grandmother took capturing the event. It is more than a sweet memory, but a moment of trust and imitation that emboldens me even today.

The Apostle Paul gives an example of much more glorious stature. His divine model is the Lord Jesus Christ. Using the Savior’s attitude or “mind” as the pattern, Paul aims to spur his readers toward submissive humility even when it is scary and difficult. Philippians 2:5-8 (NKJV) puts it this way:

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

These verses are part of an early church hymn that Paul uses to underscore the essential point he had previously recorded: “... in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil 2:3-4). Despite dripping with rich Christological significance, Paul’s primary purpose for citing this hymn was to point us toward the King of Glory who, for our sake, became poor and died in humiliation (2 Cor 8:9). Jesus put humanity and the Father’s glory ahead of Himself. And Paul challenges us as believers to have the same mindset by putting others before ourselves.

It is important to remind ourselves again that being genuinely humble, putting others first, and having a submissive attitude is difficult and scary even for believers. It doesn't come naturally. It requires someone capable of showing us how - Jesus. He didn’t simply speak of being humble (Lk 14:11), of taking up the cross (Matt 16:24), and of dying to self (Matt 16:25). He embodied it. As we consider the structure of Philippians 2:5-8, we discover that King Jesus “moved downward” from His most exalted throne. He renounced His glorious position and refused to cling to His divine right for His advantage (Phil 2:6). We are shocked as we read that He further gave Himself (Jn 10:17-18), performed the duties of a servant (Jn 13:1-5), and became human like us (Heb 4:15). And finally, we are left shocked at the brutal reality that His humble obedience took Him to the very lowest place. The place where none of us would willingly go - the cross (Phil 2:8). It is here that the perfectly obedient Son of God took sinful humanity’s place and became its substitutionary sacrifice. What a Savior! All of this, the Almighty Son of God did to rescue and reclaim His beloved and chosen. We can rejoice with the words of the psalmist : “He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure” (Ps 40:2). By giving Himself away and submitting to the will of the Father, Jesus became humanity’s representative, substitute, and example. The Savior shows us what true obedience looks like, even when it's hard.

The words of the prophet Zechariah come to mind as he foretold the Messiah’s entrance into Jerusalem 500 years prior to its fulfilment: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zech 9:9). As Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem the crowds celebrated by waving palm branches, the symbol of triumph (Jn 12:13). Little did they know how befitting their actions were. The King came as the Suffering Servant in order to win the victory!

James 4:6-10 (ESV) - “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”