Philippians 2:5-11
“In your relationships with one another, have the
same mindset as Christ Jesus…”
This is a powerful passage about the humiliation,
self-sacrifice, death, and exaltation of Jesus Christ. And while much can and
has been said regarding these verses, it seems for this task of discipleship it
is important to note that nothing in these verses is sanitary, clean, and
easily digestible. In verses 6-8 Jesus’ humiliation and self-sacrifice goes all
the way to his death, there is nothing partial or casual about it. In verses
9-11 Jesus’ exaltation and Lordship is seen clearly and powerfully, and bold
claims to his divinity are made. And speaking of Jesus’ death on the cross in
verse 8 would have been shocking and offensive to most if not all of Paul’s
first century audience. D.A. Carson notes that Paul’s reference to the cross would
be similar to us putting a picture of the mass graves at Auschwitz in the front
of our churches. There is nothing casual about this passage!
But this passage begins with this simple
statement: “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as
Christ Jesus…” So this powerful passage is not just a bold description of our
Lord and Savior and a vivid description of his sacrifice for us, it is also a
pastoral exhortation: how we live and how we interact with each other should
reflect the mindset of Christ laid out in this passage. And if our
relationships with each other truly do reflect Christ’s mindset, it will be a
powerful witness and the gospel message will clearly advance.
1. How should the total humiliation and
self-sacrifice of Jesus Christ shape how you live and interact with each other?
2. How should the brutality of the cross and Jesus’
willingness to die on the cross for us shape how you live and interact with
each other?
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