Let the same mind be in you that was in Jesus Christ

Philippians 2:1-11

2 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

6 who, though he was in the form of God,
    did not regard equality with God
    as something to be exploited,
7 but emptied himself,
    taking the form of a slave,
    being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8     he humbled himself
    and became obedient to the point of death—
    even death on a cross.

9 Therefore God also highly exalted him
    and gave him the name
    that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
    every knee should bend,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue should confess
    that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

I want to note two distinct things.

First, vs. 1-4 outline a pattern of life, a way of living: not acting out of selfish ambition; regarding other people as better than ourselves; and looking out for other people’s interests above our own. These are about an ethical life. These are patterns of life that impact the way we live day-by-day, moment-by-moment. They are part of the ordinariness of everyday life. And the argument as to why we should live this life, is to turn to Jesus. Not to Jesus saying “love your neighbour as yourself” or similar words, but the turn to Jesus is to the deep story of Jesus – including his crucifixion and resurrection.

In other words, what we believe about Jesus, about who he was and the events of his life, impacts the way we live our lives day-by-day, moment-by-moment. Believing in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus makes a difference in the way live with our families, our neighbours, at work. The ways in which we shop, speak about others, and on and on.  

Second, the “therefore” in vs. 9, makes a profound connection. The crucified one, Jesus who obeyed “to the point of death”, has “been highly exalted” precisely because he obeyed to the point of death. The obedience is the grounds for the exaltation. And maybe we are not so far from the first point – as followers of Jesus, we too can expect that being obedient to God will be costly and hard, as it was for Jesus. The God who raised Jesus, the obedient one, up, will raise us up as well. So that with all creation we can bow the knee in praise and adoration of Jesus who has brought us the way to life, abundant life.

PRAYER:

We rejoice, O Lord, that your Son was willing to be obedient to death, even death on a cross. May we be shaped by his obedience that we might obediently follow your commands, and so live by the same pattern of mind that was in Jesus Christ. In whose name, we pray. Amen.