Phil. 2:5-8; Isa. 42:1-9, How God Became Man (3)

 ·       He took on the form of a servant.  Jesus came to serve men.  Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many (Mt. 20:28).  Chiefly, He came to serve God.

o   Isa. 42:1: Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights!  I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.  He precisely this was fulfilled at Jesus’ baptism, when the Holy Spirit descended upon Him and He was filled with the Spirit; and His Father declared from heaven that He, Jesus, was His Son in whom He was well-pleased (Mt. 3:13-17).

o   Isa. 53:11: He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.  By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many.  For He shall bear their iniquities.

o   John 4:34: Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

o   John 6:38: For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

o   John 17:4: I have glorified You on the earth.  I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.

So how did God become a Man?  Jesus, not holding tightly to His majesty and glory, emptied Himself of the independent use of His attributes, submitting Himself to His Father.  Thus, as we read in John 3:16: God sent His only begotten Son!

There is to be application to our lives.  Our key passage in Philippians makes this humility of Christ to be the attitude we must have.  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.  We also must not cling tightly to our rights.  We too must be willing to be thought small or insignificant, to be of no reputation.  We too must deny ourselves, take up our cross and He took His, and follow Him.  You cannot have the love of God for those around you without following the example of Christ.  But remember, you cannot love those around you in your own strength, doing the best you can.  What is magnificent is that Christ now lives in the believer.  It is not I but Christ!

Let us also consider what day of the year this is as you read this blog.  We are approaching Christmas and Christmas is all about God becoming Man.  The miracle whereby the Eternal One enters time.  You can’t be saved without walking the way of Christ.  Consider: Job 14:4: Who can make the unclean to be clean?  No one!  Even as it is wonderful for God to become Man, so it is amazing for you and me, sinners, to become righteous.  You can’t do it yourself; you can only receive it.