Jesus’s Path, Not Nero’s – Philippians 2

A text — Philippians 2:5-11
2:5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
2:6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,
2:7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form,
2:8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death– even death on a cross.
2:9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,
2:10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
2:11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

A reflection:

The Apostle Paul may have written this passage himself. Or he may have been quoting a well-known hymn into this letter to the believers at Philippi. His readers/hearers included Romans, retired army folks that the government of Rome had settled in place after a famous battle in Philippi. Nero was emperor during Paul’s day, and Nero really, really wanted to be worshiped as a living god. Some of the retired army folks were excited to have a living god for an emperor. Paul wanted people to know that Nero’s ideas of greatness and God-hood were exactly the opposite of how Jesus had lived and died.

In this Philippians passage, Jesus chooses not to exploit his being equal with God. Jesus chooses to empty himself of his God equality and take the form of the opposite of God – a slave.  Lowest of the low. Definitely not what Nero was going for, or his former army officers either.  A slave, obedient to the point of death (and not a noble battlefield death, but an ugly death on a cross – like a criminal with zero status). Jesus chooses this kind of life and death, and Jesus walks the walk.

If this is Jesus’s choice, what does God the Father think of this choice? God reacts in verse 9: God likes it! God loves that Jesus took human form, becoming a slave to human beings, and being obedient unto death for them. God likes it, so God raises Jesus from the dead and promises to raise us all too!   Amazing.

And God doesn’t just raise Jesus. God also gives Jesus the title “Lord.” Every knee will bend everywhere to this Lord. God the Father is glorified by what Jesus has taken it upon himself to do. This deed of Jesus creates a loving, approving power shift in heaven that changes names and titles, and in the end, human beings have a destiny of a permanent relationship with God.

Nero thought being worshiped as a living god got him the most status possible. But Jesus’s willingness to be a slave, to give up status in order to free human beings, this path of Jesus is what God rewards.

A prayer:

Father God, Help us to remember to disregard our own status and instead lift up and free someone with lower status. When we do this, we are doing Jesus’ work, and you will be delighted. Amen