Philippians 2:6-9
Jesus took three
years to lay a firm foundation for his disciples. His Presence, his teaching, and his
demonstration of the power of God were to act as the strong beams to be built
on as he was preparing them for the message and mission they would continue
after he returned to his Father. The
final lesson for these disciples was a large dose of helplessness,
hopelessness, and humility as they all failed there final exam. In the end Judas betrayed him, Peter denied
him, and all abandoned him in his hour of need in the garden and at his
death. It was over for them, or so they
thought.
All of their work
for nothing; their vision had died with their Master. Their perception of power had filled their
heads so they missed the final teaching of Jesus that he so thoroughly taught
their last night together. They were
still operating out of the fleshly ways of the world. The pride of their relationship with him
would be their downfall. He was gone and
they were now hated and hunted by his enemies.
In reality this was the best lesson of all.
He had not
prepared them to take the world on by themselves, in their own worldly wisdom
and understanding. They would be
required to follow in the footsteps of their Master, the very thing that is
required of all who truly follow Jesus.
“Though he was in the form of God, he did not count equality with God a
thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant…he
humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a
cross” (Philippians 2:6-9).
Jesus maintained
that position even after he was raised from the dead. The event of all time was not broadcasted
around the world. Jesus appeared to his
disciples behind closed doors in the upper room, on the uncrowded road to
Emmaus, and on a beach, simply making breakfast. He had returned from the dead
as silently and indiscrete as he had come into this world. He refused to have his resurrection be a sign
and wonder and simply returned to his disciples for one more reason. He renewed their vision, reminding them of
the message and mission he had chosen them for.
And he came to impart to them the power to perform it, not their own
power that they now knew was ineffective, but the absolute power of the Holy
Spirit.
There is no room
for arrogance, pride, or self sufficiency in the lives of those who follow
Jesus and walk with God. There can be
only humility, obedience, and submission to Him, whose name is above all names.
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