Mighty God: Jesus as Mighty God
Philippians 2:5-11 (MSG)
Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion. Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.
Every other religion is man’s pursuit of and work to get to God. This Mighty God is the only one who, in Jesus, dared to go the other direction!
Questions for Reflection:
- In their “Gospel of the Kingdom” podcast series, John Collins and Tim Mackie talk about the paradoxical nature of God’s “upside-down” kingdom. Unlike what we might expect in an earthly kingdom, King Jesus’ reign is inaugurated not through a military victory or a moment of triumph, but through suffering, meekness, sacrifice, and death. Where do you see traces of God’s “upside-down” kingdom in Philippians 2?
- What does Mighty God’s decision to inaugurate His kingdom in this “upside-down” way reveal about His character?
- Philippians 2 reminds us that Jesus is, indeed, Mighty God with us! Write a prayer asking God to awaken and enliven this amazing reality to you in some new, fresh way today.
