“It was not nails that held Jesus to that wretched cross; it was his unqualified resolution, out of love for his Father, to do his Father's will—and it was his love for sinners like me.”— D. A. Carson
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as 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!
Philippians 2:5-8, NIV
In a world driven by power and status, Jesus’ choice to humble himself stands in stark contrast to the common pursuit of influence. As the world races to climb its own ladders of success, Jesus, the author of life, deliberately chose a downward path, motivated not by self-interest but by love.
In his letter to the Church in Philippi, Paul emphasizes that Christ’s descent was a conscious, deliberate decision. From the splendour of heaven, the Son of God weighed his divine prerogatives and willingly embraced the nature of a servant for our sake. His humility was not imposed but freely offered, an act rooted in the love he bore for the Father and for us.
Eternal and coexistent with the Father before the creation of the world, Jesus did not cling to his divine privileges. Instead, he emptied himself of heavenly glory by taking on human likeness, not for a fleeting moment, but as an everlasting commitment. It is astonishing that he would limit his power, giving up his status, glory and honour.
If I faced such a mission, I might expect or demand comfortable living conditions. Yet, Jesus entered our world in a manger, with no cradle fit for a king. Raised in humble obscurity, he kept his divine role hidden until the appointed time, living within human limitations purely for love’s sake.
When his public ministry began, he continued to defy earthly expectations. While religious and political leaders asserted dominance, Jesus modelled servant leadership: he stooped to wash his disciples’ feet and uplifted the marginalized. By embracing the lowly places, he set a living example.
As fame and followers grew, Jesus never allowed acclaim to inflate his ego. Even as crowds hailed his entry into Jerusalem, he kept his gaze fixed on the suffering to come. Facing betrayal by those he loved, he drew strength from the Father, ready to fulfill his purpose.
On that fateful night, he could have summoned legions to save him, yet he surrendered himself to fulfill the Father’s plan. Bearing the weight of humanity’s sin, he endured mockery, scourging, and, though innocent, accepted crucifixion, an execution reserved for the worst criminals. Stripped, wounded, and forsaken, he died shamefully and was laid in a borrowed tomb, all because of his humility and love.
Because our Saviour embraced humility so completely, we cannot remain untouched by such love. We are invited into it. As ambassadors of Christ’s mercy, we are called to carry within us the same mind that was in Him, the very mind that did not cling to glory but willingly descended in love.
Yet the story did not end in descent. Because Christ humbled Himself, He was also exalted. The path downward became the pathway to glory. As we also receive His life and imitate His example, we too are lifted.
For when God finds a servant’s heart, as He did in David, He responds with mercy. He draws near to the lowly, and in His appointed time, He raises the humble.