Philippians Christ Humility
But he emptied himself by taking the nature of a servant. When he was born in human likeness, and his appearance was like that of any other man, Philippians 2:7 (EHV)
Yesterday we attempted to consider just how great a lowering it was for Jesus to go from fully God to become man. Even if He had taken the form of the best human on the planet, the disparity would have been just as great. Even so, Jesus did not take the form of superhuman, regal ruler, or charismatic celebrity. His form was ordinary. Average. Like that of any other man. This was foretold in Isaiah 53:2 (EHV): “He had no attractiveness and no majesty. When we saw him, nothing about his appearance made us desire him.” Even compared to other men, Jesus would have been regarded as lowly (humble).
But it doesn’t stop there. Jesus took the nature of a servant. Although He was God, He not only placed Himself among humans but as a servant to them. Jesus said of Himself, “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matt 20:28 EHV). He drove this point home to His disciples in the upper room when He washed their feet.
Indeed, Jesus' entire life on earth was an act of service. His days were spent serving with such things as teaching, healing, intercessory praying, and even providing food when necessary. But His greatest acts of service were living a perfect life in our place and suffering the punishment for our sins in our place.
Upon a manger filled with hay
In poverty content He lay;
With milk was fed the Lord of all,
Who feeds the ravens when they call.
He who Himself all things did make.
A servant’s form vouchsafed to take
That He as man mankind might win
And save His creatures from their sin.
The Lutheran Hymnal 104: 5, 2