New Series - Jesus’ Way
The apostle John wrote, “Whoever claims to live in him [God] must live as Jesus did.”
How did Jesus live?
How did Jesus interact with people?
What can we learn from Jesus’ life and teachings?
How can we imitate him to become more like him?
This teaching series will explore all of this and more…
Text: Philippians 2:6-11 (a magnificent first-century hymn)
[Christ Jesus] Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be used to his own advantage.
Rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
In heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Verse 7 expresses how God acted in love through Jesus by being born into the human family…
He made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
This verse has been translated in various ways, some better than others:
He made Himself of no reputation.
He gave up everything.
He emptied himself.
I must stress that “Jesus did not empty Himself of His divine attributes…it is obvious in the gospels that Jesus possessed the power and wisdom of God.”
At no time did Jesus cease being God. He did not become a lesser god, nor was he an angel. Jesus did not exchange being divine with being human. Jesus was (and is) 100% God and 100% human. This is the orthodox understanding of Jesus’ incarnation and has been for hundreds of years.
The apostle Paul affirms the nature of Jesus, “in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.” (Colossians 2:9).
So, what did Jesus empty himself of?
Jesus emptied himself of the privileges that were His in heaven.
MSG: He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what.
NLT: he gave up his divine privileges.
Let’s think about this for a moment…
We are a privileged people. We live in Melbourne, Australia. Many of us own homes and cars (top 2%).
We go on holidays and we fly in aeroplanes (only 11% of the world’s population enjoy that privilege).
We are a privileged people. But privilege can be used or abused.
Abuse: Using your privilege to maintain power and keep others at a disadvantage.
Use: Using your privilege to serve others, particularly those who are disadvantaged (underprivileged).
Paul puts it this way, “At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality.”
Jesus used the privileges of his divine nature to serve humanity. He did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage. Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Jesus made himself nothing. Other translations say…
Jesus emptied himself (lit. poured himself out).
God poured himself out into a human body.
God poured himself into the world he had created.
Jesus poured himself into the people with whom he came in contact.
Jesus is God poured out!
The apostle John picks up this theme of Jesus pouring Himself out for others in his gospel.
Act One: Water poured out as wine.
John 2:1-12
Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
(My lady. A term of kindness and respect)
[My lady] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Act one: the miracle of water turned into wine “was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory.”
I.e. only God can turn water into wine.
Act Two: Water poured out to serve.
John 13:1-5; 12-17
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come…
[My lady] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
“The Hour” referred to Jesus death and resurrection that would lead to him ascending back to heaven.
The Passover meal was in progress.
It was the night of Jesus’ betrayal by Judas.
3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
What Jesus is doing here is an acted parable displaying the truth that Paul outlines in Philippians chapter 2:
One
He got up from the meal.
In the same way, the Son had stood up from his seat at the Father’s right hand in heaven.
Two
Took off his outer clothing.
The Son had taken off the privileges of heaven and laid them aside. He had emptied himself.
Three
Wrapped a towel around his waist.
The Son had wrapped himself in humanity. The Word became flesh and took the form of a servant. The foot washer was the lowest of all servants.
Four
He poured water into a basin.
The Son pours himself out into the lives of others. He also gives living water to all who are thirsty.
Five
He began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
The Son “washes us clean of the stains of sin, the ashes of sorrow, and the dust of death.” (Dr Bradley Jersak).
Six
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place.
The Son declared, “it is finished.” He died, rose again, and returned to his place seated at the right hand of the Father where he intercedes for us. (Hebrews 7:25)
This act of Jesus, the washing of his disciples’ feet, is a powerful demonstration of who Jesus is and what he has done for us. At the end of this event, Jesus asked his disciples,
“Do you understand what I have done for you?”
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
In other words, Jesus tells his disciples – and says to us – as I have poured myself out for you I want you to pour yourself out for others.
That is Jesus’ Way. And that is what Jesus’ people are to be known for.
~ Are Christians known for pouring ourselves out for others?
~ Sometimes yes. But Invariably we’re notorious for what we’re against, how we judge, and who we exclude. In other words, we have people who say they follow Jesus and yet they do not live as Jesus lived.
Remember John’s words that I quoted at the start of this message…
“Whoever claims to live in him [God] must live as Jesus did.”
Maybe it’s time for the church to have its feet washed again. To receive a fresh revelation of God poured out for all humanity in the way Paul expresses in the last verse of the hymn:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
In heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God, the Father.
I encourage you, church, as we continue to live Jesus’ Way that we look for opportunities to pour ourselves out for others, counting on the grace of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Discussion questions
We are a privileged people. Share together the privileges you for which you are most grateful. In what way(s) can these privileges be poured out to bless others?
Read and discuss Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:15-16.
How are we his followers to pour ourselves out? Consider Philippians 2:1-4 in your answers.
Jesus has given us a pattern so that we can do things Jesus’ Way. Read and discuss this statement in light of John 13:12-14; 34-35.
The writer to the Hebrews states that Jesus became “like us in every way.” All our suffering and pain, every aspect of what it means to be human, even death (Hebrews 2:17). What does this truth mean to you?
Philippians 2:6-11 likely represents an early Christian hymn. The International Standard Version has translated these verses in rhyme as a hymn. Read this hymn together as a group. What stands out to you? What emotion(s) do you experience as you read this?
In God’s own form existed he,
and shared with God equality,
deemed nothing needed grasping.
7 Instead, poured out in emptiness,
a servant’s form did he possess,
a mortal man becoming.
In human form he chose to be,
8 and lived in all humility,
death on a cross obeying.
9 Now lifted up by God to heaven,
a name above all others given,
this matchless name possessing.
10 And so, when Jesus’ name is called,
the knees of everyone should fall,
wherever they’re residing.
11 Then every tongue in one accord,
will say that Jesus [Christ] is Lord,
while God the Father praising.
Going Deeper
I taught an eight-part series on these verses twenty years ago (2002) called, The way up is down.
Also, my latest blog explores some reasons why Christianity is in decline in Australia.