Jesus has been there, done that, and has the T-shirt.

Steve Brown:
Jesus has been there, done that, and has the T-shirt. Let’s talk about it, on Key Life.

Matthew Porter:
God’s grace changes everything, how we love, work, live, lead, marry, parent, evangelize, purchase, and worship. This is Key Life, with practical Bible teaching to get you home with radical freedom, infectious joy, and surprising faithfulness.

Steve Brown:
Thank you Matthew. We’re looking at the Incarnation of Christ, and particularly it is manifested in the first 11 verses of the second chapter of Philippians. I’m not going to take the time to read that to you again, but it is one of the most important passages in the entire Bible. And we’re looking at the Incarnation of Christ, with a purpose of restoring the joy of our salvation. I said earlier this week that the problem with me is that I’m so religious, and I’m hardly astonished at anything religious anymore. I know what the Bible teaches. I have taught it a hundred times, no, a thousand times in a lot of places. And the problem happens in my own heart is that I think, well, I’ve done that. Of course, that’s God, and I go to sleep. That’s dangerous because the Christian faith is so astonishing that it will blow you away. And this text is a text that ought to do that for all of us. And so, I’m taking some time to just look at it. And when I finish, I hope that when you read it, you’ll be astonished. But more important, my own existential desire, is that as I read it and teach it, I will be astonished too. Now, if you’ve been listening, we’ve noted who Jesus was, and what he enjoyed. He had everything, and then we started yesterday by talking about what he did. Philippians 2:5 through 7, at the end of those verses it said.

He emptied himself.

And we took some time to talk about what that means, emptied himself, means he stripped himself, he divested himself, he humbled himself. The word is Kenosis, and it means to reduce to meager circumstances, to assign a lower rank or place, to abase oneself to below who one is. Retired business executive told me one time that the hardest thing he had ever had to do was to not be the boss anymore. He had given his company to his son. And his son made it very clear that he was in charge, and that his father was no longer in charge. My friend said, that I became nothing but a consultant. And then he said, when I go back to the factory, I want to tell people what to do, but I can’t because I don’t have the authority. Think about the Incarnation, that’s when God set aside the authority. That’s when God set aside everything, emptied Himself, and became, as it were, a human consultant. That’s what Jesus did. And at this point, I don’t want you to miss it, Jesus was not playing a game. He had no more access to God, the Father, than you do. He was tempted at every point, just as you are. He hurt the way you hurt. He blew his nose the way you blow your nose. He was not playing a game. He emptied himself of all of his authority, his power. And he entered time and space. I have a friend, pastor friend, Dave O’Dowd. And he and I have served together in more than one church. And I love Dave a lot. We were in a church once when a young man did something really bad and Dave was talking to him, and we as elders in that church admonished the young man and had said some things needed to change. And this young man said to David, Dave, you don’t understand. You can’t understand. You’re a pastor. And Dave went ballistic. He almost climbed over the desk to get to that young man and he said, I’m not going to let you get away with that because I’m a pastor doesn’t mean I haven’t experienced everything that you’ve experienced. Fight the temptations you fight and work at following Christ the way you work at following Christ. And it’s hard for me just like it’s hard for you. Well, I don’t think Jesus would have put it that way, but he could have. He could have said, look, I’ve done that, and I’ve been there, and I have the T-shirt. And so, I really understand. I don’t know if you know the name Will Campbell. He was a man who was very involved in the Civil Rights Movement. He was also on the staff of the National Council of Churches. And then Campbell realized that there was an arrogance in what he was doing. A white guy coming from the north, looking down his nose with his peacock feathers flying in the breeze, and not much help except to make people angry. And so, Will Campbell resigned his position, moved to the south, and decided to become an agent of reconciliation. One of the really good books in my library is called Brother to a Dragonfly. And it’s by Will Campbell, and it is a great book. But at any rate, he reached out to his black brothers and sisters, and he was accepted. I don’t know what made them do that, but they accepted him. Maybe they had been hurt, and they had been abused so much that they learned to reach out and make a difference in other people’s lives. E.V. Hill used to say that about African Americans, they’re the only ones who can make a difference. And maybe that’s true. At any rate, with Will Campbell, he was accepted in the black community. And then he told them, now I’m going to go to the Ku Klux Klan. I’m going to go to the white citizens council. I’m going to make a difference. And they laughed at him and they say, You’re out of your mind. You can’t do that. How are you going to do that? They’re going to kill you, man. You’re crazy. And you know what Will Campbell said he was going to do? I’m going to go over there and I’m going to wash and empty the bedpans of the sick. Whoa. What was he saying? He was saying what God had demonstrated, that he was going to go over there and join in the pain and the suffering and the fear and the doubt and even the anger of those who didn’t even know how much they needed him. That’s what the king has done. The king, note what he did. He emptied himself. And if that doesn’t astonish you, you’re dead. I’m even getting excited about it and I’m teaching it. Let me show you something else and I’m going to mention it and then we’ll talk about it next week. Note not only what Jesus, who Jesus was, what he enjoyed and what he did, please note what he became.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself,

taking the form of a physician. Doesn’t say that. Taking the form of a king. Doesn’t say that. Taking the form of the president. It doesn’t say that. It says.

taking the form of a servant

i.e. a slave

being born in the likeness of men.

Somebody tells about a time in London when a preacher was preaching in the pulpit, one of those big ones in the cathedral. And he became very loud in his sermon, and a little boy turned to his mother and said, What will he do if he ever gets out? Ha ha ha. You know what he did? He got out of his own accord. He entered time and space. He became a servant. And listen, he washed the feet of his subjects. You think about that. Amen.

Matthew Porter:
Thanks Steve. And that brings us to the end of this week’s study of Philippians, next week Steve will be joined by Pete for a special week of teaching, but first tomorrow do join Steve and Pete right here for the nearly world famous Friday Q&A. Well, not too long ago, we got a threatening e-mail here at Key Life saying we had violated some kind of copyright law. Well, turns out it was a scam. Just some con artists using fear to get us to act a certain way. You know, there are some religious folks who do the same thing. Chad West wrote about that very thing in the current print issue of Key Life magazine. If you haven’t checked it out yet, I think you’ll like it. So, claim your copy for free right now by calling us at 1-800-KEY-LIFE that’s 1-800-539-5433. You can also e-mail [email protected] to ask for that magazine. Or to mail your request go to keylife.org/contact to find our mailing addresses for the U.S. and Canada. Again just ask for your free copy of Key Life magazine. And hey, before you go, if you’re blessed by the work of Key Life, would you help share that blessing through your financial support? Just charge a gift on your credit card or include a gift in your envelope. Or pick up your phone and text Key Life to 28950 that’s Key Life one word or two. It doesn’t matter. Just text that to 28950 then follow the instructions. Key Life is a member of ECFA in the States and CCCC in Canada. And Key life is a listener supported production of Key Life Network.