“Who He Is, Why He came”
Sermon series: God’s extraordinary power in dark times
Sermon Title: Who He Is, Why He came
Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11 (ESV)
Introduction:
As we near Christmas, we remember the celebration surrounding the birth of Christ. The birth of Christ is symbolic for it is the beginning of when the work of Jesus began on earth. In remembrance, today’s sermon will speak on the person of Jesus Christ: what He is and what He has done.
Overview:
Who Jesus is:
In the beginning, Jesus existed in the form of God. (2:6)
For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through Him and for Him. (2 Col 1:16)
Jesus also ends at the highest point
… 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. (2:9)
Surprisingly, the middle of the passage has Jesus at the lowest place possible: subject to death
… He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death… (2:7-8)
Who Jesus is, being found in 2:7 will be the focus of today’s sermon:
But emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (2:7)
Jesus in the form of a servant:
Servant: one who works for his master. The servant gets the job done.
Work and service comes in three distinct parts:
Assignment: the work that needs to be done is defined. A contract is drawn up.
Completion: the worker receives the assignment and sets to work. The work will be done day-by-day until it is completed.
Reward: once the work is completed (the assignment fulfilled), the worker receives his reward.
As image-bearers of Christ, what is the work we have been assigned by God?
We see into our assignments through the Word (the Bible) that we have been given by God.
More specifically, we have “headline” passages of our assignments from God:
What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. (Matt 22:37-39)
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matt 5:44)
You therefore must be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect. (Matt 5:48)
Even from just the few “headline” passages above, we can feel the sheer pressure and difficulty of what God’s call over our lives is like. However, Jesus’ example for us reveals why Christmas is such a joyous day for us:
Jesus is the form of God, yet He came in the form of a servant.
Being in the highest place who assigns the work to be done, He lowered Himself to instead be the one who does the work.
Jesus came to us so that He can do our work for us!
Jesus’ good grace and mercy for us:
We were doomed to eternal death by being unable to complete the work (“our assignment”) given to us.
Jesus’ mercy for us was shown through His coming to us in human form and dying for us on the cross.
In the end, because the work has been fully accomplished by Jesus Christ (“It is finished”, John 19:30), we can be reconciled and enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
To be at peace with God and to share in His glory as His sons and daughters.
Application:
Christmas is celebrating that Day when Jesus first came to us as a servant. As we continue waiting for the Day upon when Jesus will come again, may the joyous revelation of knowing and encountering Jesus give you strength and stir up a sincere response in your life. Though we will struggle with the assignment we have received from God, it is for our own good as we struggle and work through it. There is no fear of failure for Jesus’ work has already overcome the severity of the penalty we deserved by not fulfilling the work required of us, instead – we are free to pursue in great thanksgiving and gratitude, the joy of our Father and live in a pleasing way to Him.
Sermon reflection questions:
What do you look forward to when the season of the holidays and Christmas rolls around? Is the remembrance of Christ integrated into how your family and/or you celebrate the holiday season?
What do you see as the assignment you’ve received as a daughter or son of God? Is this assignment reflected in the values or commitments you uphold in your life?
How have the past few weeks been for you? Has Jesus revealed how you have been faithfully and steadfastly serving Him as a servant? Have you been humbled to see how you have been struggling to serve Him diligently as His servant?
