Obedient unto Death

We are called to adopt the same mind that Jesus had when he poured out his life even unto death for the sake of others – Philippians 2:5-11.

Jesus fulfilled the role of the ‘Suffering Servant’ described in the Book of Isaiah. He did not attempt to grasp the “likeness of God” as Adam did. Instead, Christ humbled himself and submitted to a shameful death on the Roman Cross. Therefore, God exalted him and made him sovereign over all things. His exaltation did not precede his death; his enthronement followed it.

The sacrificial death of Jesus Christ stands in sharp contrast to Satan and his servants, including the “Man of Lawlessness.” Rather than sacrifice his life “as a ransom for many,” this “Son of Destruction” will “exalt himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped” - *(Mark 10:45, 2 Thessalonians 2:4).

[Cross - Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash]

Christ’s example of self-denial becomes the pattern for his disciples. In the relevant passage in Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, the Apostle’s concern is not with metaphysical speculation about the nature of Jesus, but with how he “poured himself out” in death for others, and its practical implications for members of the Church.

The Apostle Paul presents Jesus as the supreme example of how we must conduct ourselves. In “lowliness of mind,” Christ counted others “better than himself, not looking to his things, but to the things of others,” thus deferring his needs, “rights,” and desires to those of others:

• (Philippians 2:5-11) - “Be thinking this among you, that even in Christ Jesus. Who, commencing in the form of God, considered being like God something not to be seized, but he poured himself out, taking the form of a slave, having come to be in the likeness of men. Having been found in fashion as man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even death on the cross. Therefore also, God highly exalted him and granted him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of beings heavenly and earthly and under the earth, and every tongue should confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father, even God.”

The Letter to the Hebrews expresses the same idea by describing Jesus as the Author of our faith who, “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” The passage from Hebrews echoes Isaiah’s description of the ‘Servant of Yahweh’ who was “put to grief” for others - (Hebrews 12:2):

• “Yet it pleased Yahweh to bruise him. He has put him to grief. When you make his soul an offering for sin, he will see his seed, he will prolong his days, and the pleasure of Yahweh will prosper in his hand” – (Isaiah 53:10).

In Philippians, Paul contrasts Jesus with Adam by using language from the latter’s disobedience described in the Book of Genesis and from the “Servant of Yahweh” of the Book of Isaiah.

Jesus did not attempt to seize or otherwise usurp God’s “likeness” as Adam did. Instead, Christ submitted to an unjust death. Adam was created in the image of God but grasped at the Divine “likeness” through his transgression. In contrast, the Nazarene embraced the will of God and suffered the consequences.

Christ “did not consider being like God something to be seized.” This evokes the story of the “Serpent” who beguiled Eve in the Garden of Eden and thereby overcame Adam and condemned all men to death - “For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will become like God, knowing good and evil” - (Genesis 3:5).

The first Adam chose disobedience and self-will. The Greek noun translated as “seize” in Philippians means “plunder, booty,” something taken by force. In contrast, Jesus chose not to seize God’s likeness. He willingly and with knowledge embraced the path that would lead to his death.

HE HUMBLED HIMSELF

Instead of exalting and pleasing himself, Jesus became Yahweh’s “Servant” by “pouring himself out and taking the form of a slave <…> he humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even death on a cross.” The passage in Philippians includes several allusions to the ‘Servant Song’ of Isaiah. For example:

• (Isaiah 53:7) - “Hard-pressed, yet he humbled himself, nor opened his mouth, as a lamb to the slaughter is led.”

• (Isaiah 53:12) - “Therefore will I give him a portion in the great and the strong shall he apportion as plunder because he poured out to death his soul, and with transgressors let himself be numbered, Yea, he the sin of many bare, and for transgressors interceded. Behold, my Servant prospers, he rises and is lifted up and becomes very high.”

Jesus fulfilled his Messianic role by “pouring out his soul” for others, and we are called to adopt this same attitude - To seek nothing from self-interest or for “empty glory.”

We reflect the example of Jesus by not promoting ourselves, and by submitting to the will of God as he did. We must live in “humility” by serving others. To be Christ’s disciple means serving others, not lording it over them. Unlike the Nazarene, the “Beast from the Sea” will use economic control to impose his will on the nations, and he will use his authority over the nations to “wage war on the saints” – (Revelation 13:1-10).

Like Jesus, we are called to defer to others instead of insisting on satisfying our wants and privileges. Unlike Satan’s earthly servants, we must not seek dominion and power over others. Instead, we are called to “deny ourselves, take up the Cross,” and follow the Slain Lamb “wherever he goes.” His disciples overcome the Devil “by the blood of the Lamb, through the word of their testimony, and because they love not their lives unto death” – (Matthew 16:24, Revelation 12:11, 14:1-5).

To “become great in the Kingdom of God” we must first become the servants and “slaves of others,” just as Jesus did when he “gave his life a ransom for many” and died on the Cross to reconcile men and women to their Creator. For our sake, he was “obedient unto death,” even the shameful death of crucifixion – (Mark 10:43-45).

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SEE ALSO:

• The Mind of Christ - (The submission of Jesus to an unjust death is the pattern of the love and service to others that his disciples are called to imitate)

• True Greatness - (Disciples of Jesus are summoned to self-sacrificial service for others just as Jesus gave his life as a ransom for many – Mark 10:35-45)

• Ransom for Many - (His disciples are called to engage in self-sacrificial service for others just as Jesus gave his life as a ransom for many – Mark 10:35-45)

• Jérusalem et la Croix - (Jésus a expliqué qu'il se rendait à Jérusalem où le Fils de l'Homme serait arrêté, jugé et execute - Marc 10: 32-34)