Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, teach us to know You in Your humiliation and in Your exaltation. Amen.
Text: Philippians 2:5–11
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Devotion
The Lord humbles Himself most deeply, for He shall fulfill what is in the name Jesus [Savior]. He will save us from the devil and free our hearts from sin, save us from eternal torment and make us eternally blessed, draw us up from the deepest humiliation and glorify us with heavenly glory. Therefore He denied Himself the use of His glory and became the lowest and poorest servant. Since God’s Son became Man, He should naturally be a divinely glorious Man. His divine splendor should gleam in His whole human nature. But He denied Himself this likeness of deity, put off His glory, and was humbled in the likeness of sinful flesh. Himself pure from sin, He bears our sin with all its consequences: poverty, hunger, pains, and death. But when He had suffered all and perfectly paid the price of sin and purchased us with His own life and blood, then He was glorified. And now the “Son of Man” is highly exalted, so that He rules over all things in heaven and on earth, and shall come at the last day to judge the living and the dead. God’s Son lowered Himself incredibly deeply in poor human nature, incredibly high is Man exalted in personal union with God’s Son. He does not simply save us from evil, but gives us all glory and salvation. It cost Him most dearly to prove His title to the name Jesus, which He both knew and willed from eternity. But this name is incredibly glorious for us. I could not possibly refrain from adoring it, and no one shall deny me of this privilege.
He shall be worshipped by all heavenly hosts eternally, and all the principalities and powers both in the height and the depth shall bow before Him. Because God is our Savior, because God’s Son is called Jesus, we are so blessed. This name, which fills all heaven with joy, is the name of our Savior, whom we shall worship in eternal glory, and with whose sweetness we shall eternally satisfy our soul. We deserved to be the devil’s footstool, and “Jesus” makes us like the “angels” at His throne. Shouldn’t we then be willing, yes, glad, to endure lowliness and the cross for a little while and thus become like our Savior in meekness and love? “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus!” So begins our Epistle. So we say to one another in closing: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus!”
Closing Prayer
But we pray You, Lord Jesus, give us the grace of Your Holy Spirit to believe in You, so that we also shall be like You and worship You and confess Your precious name, here during tribulation and lowliness, but there in eternal glory and salvation. Amen.
Hymn
Lord, all my life I’ll cling to Thee,
Thy love fore’er beholding,
Thee ever, as Thou ever me,
With loving arms enfolding.
Yea, Thou shalt be my precious Light
To guide me safe through death’s dark night,
My heart in sorrow cheering;
Henceforth myself and all I have
To Thee, my Savior, e’er I’ll give,
Into Thy cause all pouring.
From morn till eve my theme shall be
Thy mercy’s wondrous measure;
To sacrifice myself for Thee
Shall be my aim and pleasure.
My stream of life shall ever be
A current flowing ceaselessly,
Thy constant praise outpouring.
I’ll treasure in my memory,
O Lord, all Thou hast done for me,
Thy gracious love adoring.
Gerhardt: A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth L 305:5-6 ELH 331:5-6
tr. Composite ©1941 CPH. Used by permission;
tune: An Wasserflüssen Babylon