Though he was in every way God Christ Jesus did
not consider equality with God something to be exploited but emptied himself of
power to be found in human likeness and ultimately be exploited by the cross. Letting
go of God status is beyond our ability to comprehend for we are inclined to hang
onto every shred of power we can get our hands on and only take on the servant’s
form temporarily anticipating a heavenly reward for our humble efforts. None-the-less
Paul exhorts his Philippian “partners in the Gospel” (and by extension all who
read these words) to have the mind of Christ that is described in what most
believe is a hymn of the ancient church. To have the mind of Christ means more
than playing nice or letting others have their way. Jesus doesn’t give up to
give in but willingly takes on the cross so that his act of being emptied might
fill the world with the light of a new creation where love conquers hate; light
banishes darkness; life overcomes death. It is because Christ Jesus let go of
being God in order to be hands free to pick up our humanity that every knee
will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus’ way was and is God’s way, which
is good news indeed.
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