Were you aware that it was an act of “Humility” that initiated the events of Christmas? The Apostle Paul provided some amazing truths about Jesus, how He stepped out of eternity and entered our world as a human being. Here is what Paul said about Jesus:

“… though He was in the form of God, He did not count equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:6-8). 

Let’s take just a few moments to dig into these verses that are packed with important points of Christian theology. First, when Paul said that Jesus came in the “form” of God (from the Greek word, morphe), he was pointing to the fact that Jesus came possessing God’s very nature. This means that Jesus possessed a “divine” nature when He entered Mary’s womb as we find in the Christmas story.

Secondly, Paul tells us that although Jesus retained “equality” with the Father, He chose not to retain (or grasp tightly) His divine privileges that He had in heaven. He could have used those privileges for His own advantage during His earthly ministry, but He chose not to.

Thirdly, He “emptied,” or “humbled” himself and took the “form” (morphe again) of a slave (not a servant), being born in the “likeness” of men. Now the historic doctrine of Christ’s nature comes into focus. Although He retained the “form” of deity, Paul tells us that He also came in the “form” of a “slave” or a “man” (in the likeness of humanity). He is the God-man, not 50% God and 50% man, but 100% God and 100% man. Now that’s what we call “divine” math!

Fourthly, being found in human form, Jesus “humbled” Himself during His earthly ministry and became obedient to death, even the most excruciating form of death, death on a cross.

Finally, because of Jesus’ willingness to go to the cross,

God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).

Because Jesus chose to humble himself, God has highly exalted Him deserving the title of Lord, to the glory of God the Father. And someday, every knee will bow before Him. The real question is: “Knowing that you will one day bow before Him, are you willing and ready to bow before Him now?”

But did you also know that although Paul used this passage to give us a glimpse into the nature of Jesus, his main point to was to exhort those in the church in Philippi to humble themselves, just as Jesus did in His incarnation and throughout His future ministry? Let’s check out the what Paul said prior to the passage we just looked at:

Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility count others more important than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus,… (Philippians 2:3-5).

Paul exhorts all of us to reject “selfish ambition and conceit,” and to humble ourselves to the point where we count the needs and interests of others above our own. This should be our mindset, and this is what it means to have the “mind of Christ.” If you and I want to have the “mind of Christ,” then let’s humble ourselves in His sight and in the presence of others and live a life of service just as He has called us to do. This Christmas, let’s model what Jesus did when He entered our world in the form of a baby – He humbled Himself and became a man, the one and only God-man!