4. He went even to the extent of cross and willingly died: (2:8b): Crucifixion was the capital punishment that Romans used for notorious criminals. It was excruciating painful and humiliating. Usually death comes after a long time due to suffocation when the weight of the weakened body made breathing more and more difficult. The Lord Jesus died as one who was cursed (Gal. 3:13).
His humbleness can be summarized as below:
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He took the form of a man, and not a mere glorious creature like an angel.
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He was born into an obscure, oppressed place.
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He was born into poverty among a despised people.
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He was born as a child instead of appearing as a man.
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He learned and practicing a trade.
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He waited for 30-years to launch into public ministry.
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He chose humble companions and disciples.
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He was humble to the audience and the way He taught.
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He humbly faced the temptations.
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He humbly experienced the weakness, hunger, thirst, and tiredness.
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He was totally obedient to His Heavenly Father.
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He was in full submission to the Holy Spirit.
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He humbly submitting to the death on the cross.
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He faced the agony of His death.
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He faced the shame, mocking, and public humiliation of His death.
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He endured the spiritual agony of His sacrifice on the cross.
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What a grace! From heaven to earth, from glory to shame, from Master to servant, from life to death, “even the death of the cross!” In the Old Testament Christ had visited earth on several occasions for some special ministry (Gen. 18), but the visits were temporary. When Christ was born at Bethlehem, He entered into a permanent union with humanity. He willingly humbled Himself that He might lift us up! Jesus did not pretend to be a servant; He was not an actor playing a role. He actually was a servant! This was the true expression of His innermost nature. He was the God-Man, Deity and humanity united in one, and He came as a servant.
“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many”(Matt. 20:28). In the Upper Room, with His disciples Jesus arose, laid aside His outer garments, put on the long linen towel, and washed their feet! If we say we follow Jesus Christ, we must also live as He lived.
How to achieve the best: (2:12-30):
Fulfil our life purpose : (2:12-16):
“To work out your salvation” means working out for the completion. It means completing the harvest, completing our target etc. The purpose God wants us to achieve is Christ likeness, so that we may be conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29). There are problems in life, but God will help us to “work them out.” Our lives have tremendous potential, like a mine or a field, and He wants to help us fulfil the goals with full potential.
Our God is a wonderful God. His creation is full of variety viz. no two flowers are the same, no two people are the same then why should two Christians be the same? All of us must be like Christ, but we must also be ourselves.
Paul says: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). Every “great saint” has feet of clay and ultimately may disappoint us, but Jesus Christ can never fail us nor disappoint us. God has a special purpose for each man to fulfil, and everyone is unique and not an imitation of somebody else viz. God took forty years to bring Moses to the place where He could use him to lead the people of Israel. As Moses tended sheep during those 40-years, God was working in him so that one day He might work through him.
The worldly people are twisted and distorted, but the believer stands straight because a believer measures his life by God’s standard. The world is dark, but we shine as bright lights. The world has nothing to offer, we have Word of life, the message of salvation through faith in Christ. In other words, as we allow God to achieve this purpose in our lives, we become better witnesses in a world that desperately needs Christ. When we look at Jesus, He becomes a perfect model for the entire humanity.
We can achieve this purpose in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation” (Phil. 2:15). When we confront with the problems of life that we must begin to behave more like Christ. On the other hand, the Pharisees develop an artificial kind of self-righteousness which is totally against God’s standards. So while remaining in the world we can see God’s purpose being fulfilled in our lives.