Philippians 2:5-11
The Form of a Servant: The King Who Came Looking for Us - Philippians 2:5-11
Philippians 2:5-11 (NIVUK)
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Commentary
Revd. Mark Fletcher: Once upon a time, there was a great and powerful king who lived in a beautiful castle. And each day he would stand on the ramparts looking out over those who lived in his kingdom. But one day, he saw a poor girl struggling to make a living selling wild flowers. And his heart went out to her, and he loved her. But what was he to do? He’s the king, and she’s just a peasant girl. He could, of course, send servants to fetch her. He could shower her with gifts and ask her to marry him. But how could she say no to an offer like that? And how could it be real love if he didn’t honour her freedom? And how would he ever know that she loved him for himself and didn’t just love him for the crown that he wore? And so one day he came up with a plan. He took off his royal robes and put on the clothes of a beggar and left his royal palace in secret and set out to find her and to try to win her. Now that’s a lovely story. It sounds quite familiar, like some old fairy tale. But it’s actually a parable told by the great 19th century philosopher Soren Kierkegaard. And it’s a parable inspired by this passage that Anna just read for us, which speaks of a God who, for love, humbles himself and takes the form of a servant and sets out to win us. And so if you take nothing else from this evening, remember that. Remember the God of the universe, enthroned in majesty, who puts off his power in order to seek you. And he, even at this moment, is knocking at the door of your heart, asking to be invited in.