220 Philippians: Downward Mobility
All our lives, we are encouraged to climb up the ladder. The word “up” has come to be cherished in our society. It’s a word reserved for winners, heroes, and overcomers: upscale, up-and-coming, upper class, upwardly mobile. The premise, indeed the promise, is that if you devote yourself to climbing up the ladder and making it to the top, that’s where all the good stuff is – status, significance, and success.
Of course, devoting yourself to ladder climbing can carry a cost. Often to climb up, you need to climb over others. Because your focus is upward, you pay no attention to those below you.
But the cost is more than worth it - or so we’re told. The problem with ladder climbing is it’s not only lonely at the top, it’s empty.
But Jesus didn’t come to climb up the ladder. He went down the ladder.
Philippians 2:5-8 gives a beautiful, poetic picture of the upside-down life of Jesus.
“…who being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage…” (v.6)
There is a boatload of theology in these verses:
“being” = huparchein = that which one is in very essence and which cannot be changed
“in the very nature” = morphe = an essential form which never alters
Paul is making it clear that Jesus always was, is, and always will be fully and unalterably God. To put it into our context, He started at the top of the ladder. But note which direction Jesus goes.
“…rather, he made himself nothingby taking the very nature[b] of a servant,being made in human likeness.” (v. 7)
Jesus’ downward mobility began with simply taking on human flesh with all its limitations. But His descent didn’t stop there. He came not just a man, but as a servant, spending time with lepers and prostitutes.
And still, His descent continued.
“And being found in appearance as a man,he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (v.8)
Jesus, the One who flung the stars into space, voluntarily gave Himself over to die. And not just any death. Death on a cross – the most painful, humiliating way to die.
Jesus’ story is not a rags-to-riches story. It’s a riches-to-rags story (burial rags).
Why did He willingly pursue this downward path?
He was not committed to climbing up the ladder but to accomplishing God’s purposes.
Now vs. 5 takes on new meaning. “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”
Jesus’ descent was meant to be an example for us to follow.
Jesus came as a servant, not in spite of the fact that He was God, but because He was God.
It is the nature of God is to give and to serve. Jesus, when He came in the form of a servant, was not disguising Who God is; He was revealing Who God is.
Intentionally moving down the ladder is the most God-like thing a person can do.
Text: Philippians 2:5-8
Originally recorded on August 24, 2008, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN