Philippians Chapter Two

In October Andrea & I will make the trek up to good ole state to speak at the ACF fall retreat. The excitement that wells up inside of me as I prepare and preach at these camps and retreats is simply unexplainable. I was created to do this and it takes all my patience to remain diligently committed to school when everything inside of me yearns to "preach the word" full-time. I feel the words of the Apostle Paul in my bones; "For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" 

My text for the retreat will be Philippians chapter two, one of my favorites in all of scripture. The reason I love this passage is in it the Holy Spirit paints a picture of Jesus Christ that is utterly astounding. The text says that though Jesus Christ is God and is equal to God, he willingly laid aside his majestic heavenly position (mysterious) and took on the form of a servant who became obedient to the point of crucifixion. 

Now, why is this so incredible? To be honest, most of us have heard these words so many times that they simply brush over our backs like a calm breeze. Yet, they are chalk-full of the richest truth. One reality that helps illumine the majesty of Jesus' incarnation is the picture of his pre-incarnate state. In other words, the incarnation is adorned by the picture scripture paints of what Jesus Christ was like before he took on flesh.

We see the incarnation as astounding when we look at passages like Col. 1:16, Gen. 1:1-2, and Revelation 4. In Col. 1:16 Paul writes that all creation came into existence through Christ. In other words, when Gen. chapter one says that the Lord hovered over the universe and spoke all things into existence through the word of his mouth, it is speaking about Jesus Christ. He is the one who, in full majesty, spoke a word and brought the world into existence ex nihilo. 

In similar majesty, Revelation chapter four describes Jesus Christ in his exalted position, seated on the throne above all thrones. His holiness is overwhelming. The elders and the flying creatures encircle him and scream his praises at the top of their lungs. Their worship shakes the expanse of the universe and it numberless galaxies.

Why is the incarnation so amazing, because this holy, exalted, and majestic God became a lowly man, was born in the most humble of places, and died the most shameful of deaths. And he did it all for the sake of the joy set before him, the glory of the Father, and the redemption of his chosen. I am rendered speechless...