Jeremiah 20-21
2 Timothy 4
“... just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28
One of the most profound verses in Scripture is found in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. He writes, “...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...” (Philippians 2:6-7). In the ESV translation, the latter part of the verse goes, “...but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant…” (Philippians 2:7, ESV). The One who enjoyed equality with God, who displayed the very nature of God, emptied Himself, made Himself nothing and took on the very nature of a servant.
There are two words in the Greek for “servant.” The first one refers to someone who can come and go as they please; they can hire out their services to someone, but once the job is done, they can leave. The second term for “servant” in the Greek is the word doulos, which refers to a slave who has no rights, cannot come and go as they please and are bound to be obedient to the will of their master. In Paul’s letter, he used the latter word for “servant” to describe Jesus. Although Jesus is equal with God, He became a doulos—a slave—who was bound to the will of the Father.
Now, this begs the question, why? Why would Jesus take on the form of a slave? Why did Jesus lower Himself so low? In the context of Paul’s letter, just before this description of Jesus, Paul writes, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5, NKJV). What Jesus did when He came as a human on earth was not to rule and reign, even though He had every right to do so, but He came and took the nature of a servant to give His life as a ransom for many. In the counsel of the Godhead, with the Father and the Spirit, Jesus concluded that equality with God was not something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the very form of a servant.
Altogether, the profound truth that Paul is telling us is that Jesus did not consider the equality with God something to be exploited for His own benefit, but rather, the best expression of His equality with God was to empty Himself and take the very nature of a servant. This tells us that to be God means not to take advantage of the authority and power but to use that power and authority to serve creation. Isn’t this amazing? Do we realize what this says about the God we worship? He serves His creation! How could we not worship Him?
Lord Jesus, I praise You! Thank You, Jesus, for being a God who does not take advantage of authority and power, but serves Your creation. Hallelujah!
2 Timothy 4
“... just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28
One of the most profound verses in Scripture is found in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. He writes, “...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...” (Philippians 2:6-7). In the ESV translation, the latter part of the verse goes, “...but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant…” (Philippians 2:7, ESV). The One who enjoyed equality with God, who displayed the very nature of God, emptied Himself, made Himself nothing and took on the very nature of a servant.
There are two words in the Greek for “servant.” The first one refers to someone who can come and go as they please; they can hire out their services to someone, but once the job is done, they can leave. The second term for “servant” in the Greek is the word doulos, which refers to a slave who has no rights, cannot come and go as they please and are bound to be obedient to the will of their master. In Paul’s letter, he used the latter word for “servant” to describe Jesus. Although Jesus is equal with God, He became a doulos—a slave—who was bound to the will of the Father.
Now, this begs the question, why? Why would Jesus take on the form of a slave? Why did Jesus lower Himself so low? In the context of Paul’s letter, just before this description of Jesus, Paul writes, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5, NKJV). What Jesus did when He came as a human on earth was not to rule and reign, even though He had every right to do so, but He came and took the nature of a servant to give His life as a ransom for many. In the counsel of the Godhead, with the Father and the Spirit, Jesus concluded that equality with God was not something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the very form of a servant.
Altogether, the profound truth that Paul is telling us is that Jesus did not consider the equality with God something to be exploited for His own benefit, but rather, the best expression of His equality with God was to empty Himself and take the very nature of a servant. This tells us that to be God means not to take advantage of the authority and power but to use that power and authority to serve creation. Isn’t this amazing? Do we realize what this says about the God we worship? He serves His creation! How could we not worship Him?
Lord Jesus, I praise You! Thank You, Jesus, for being a God who does not take advantage of authority and power, but serves Your creation. Hallelujah!
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