Phil 2.1-11

I think this is a great title, I can say that because it’s not mine. Carol Murray the President of the BMS used it at this year’s BU Assembly.

Yet using the word great in this context is a bit of a paradox for Phil 2 is about humility although it does go on to speak about glory.

This part of a letter written to a Church in today’s Modern day Greece was written between 20-30 years after Jesus’s return to heaven.

Philippi as a place had status. It was prestigious as a Roman Colony. Which meant although it had a Greek flavour it was also like a little Rome.

The Church was planted through 3 encounters A Business woman called Lydia who was already a lady of prayer, a Prison Officer, who worked for the Romans, and a slave girl. You can read about that in acts 16.

Of all the Churches this comes across as Paul’s favourite, he calls them his joy and crown 4.1, my dear friends.

He is confident in God being able to fulfil his purpose – 1.6

“Being confident in this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”. That was true for Christians in Philippi, it is also the source of our hope, We can be what God wants us to be.

Yet like every Church there were issues that needed sorting, there were disagreements see 4.2, there was pride and this needed sorting. So Paul makes his plea in 2.3

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humilityconsider others better than yourselves”.

v4 Look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others.

This stimulus for such a change is Jesus. Jesus with attitude and one who still ruffles feathers.

Jesus was not full of his own self importance

Jesus was willing to let go of status – The Great “I am” becomes a servant

He is not only willing to serve but also to suffer.

Sports relief Last Night 13 July 2002

Muhammed Ali was shown boxing and his comments were recorded and he said something along the lines.

“It’s hard to be so humble when you are the greatest”

For him at one time he was the greatest boxer, did he manage to contain his pride?

What of Jesus well as this ancient hymn tells us.

He did not cling on to his rights as God. He did not grasp to hold on to it.

Jesus the great I am

7 I am sayings of Jesus in John’s gospel

What are they

I am the bread of life 6.35.

“ The light of the world 8.12,9.5

“ the gate/door for the sheep10.7,9

“ the Good Shepherd 10.11,14

“ the resurrection and the life11.25

“ the way, and the truth and the life14.6

“ the true vine15.1,5

I am egho eimi I I am = Ex 3.15. Jesus is The God called I am.

Now if anyone had the right to boast it was Jesus.

During Lent we were studying a book called “ Christ on Trial”. It was a brilliant book but not always easy to understand. One of its nuggets was its talk about the Transcendence of God; which I have always thought in terms of God’s greatness, his otherness. Rowan Williams the author brings out the fact that God’s transcendence is also seen in its humility. It transcends what we as humans can comprehend or enter into.

Jesus was full of fulfilling the Father’s purpose

For Jesus it was service for a purpose. –

Jesus fully God fully man came to be a servant, primarily God’s but in doing so he also served humanity.

v7 He was willing to make himself nothing. To lay aside his reputation.

He never did say “ Do you know who you are talking to” with the attitude of self importance

Jesus says in Mat 20.28 that he came to serve not be served. Jesus lived out what Paul is telling the Church at Philippi to do.

Not to be full of their self importance but to think about the needs of others.

It was suffering that had value

He died upon a cross

Principal Rainy “ Death is the signature of failure and disgrace”. Certainly that was so for crucifixion. The cruel death designed by the Romans. Roman citizens if sentenced to death were beheaded not crucified. Not Jesus crucified as a common criminal, receiving the same sentence as the two thieves who were crucified either side of Jesus.

Yet the scriptures make it plain Jesus died that awful death for you and me. I could describe the crucifixion and the torture it involved, but the scriptures don’t dwell on this, horrendous as it was; but it was suffering with a purpose. It was Jesus on the cross for you and for me. It was Jesus as the totally obedient servant/slave of the Father fulfilling his God given purpose to die for us having lived for us.

Sometimes it’s the living that can be so hard!

Jesus reaches the heights

Given the name above every name and with it the authority that counts.

Well you can’t get any lower, and you can’t get any higher than where Jesus is now. The majesty of Jesus far outshines any earthly monarch. Yet he is one with nailprints and scars.

Jesus given the name Lord.

The title became red rag to a bull as far as the Roam Emperors were concerned in the future. They believed they were deity, they were the rulers. But in this ancient hymn we are clearly told Jesus Christ is Lord.. There is no name that is higher. God the Father has bestowed this honour upon his Son

What is our attitude to Jesus?

Will we give him glory for who He is and what He has done?

Or will we acknowledge who he is with reluctance?

Back to Principal Rainy.

“ Deeds are the true confession of our faith”.

Do you know this amazing Jesus Christ. Do you love him. Will you live for him. Will you live to make a name for him and not for yourself? Will you recognise the importance of service and thinking about the needs of others. that flies against so much of our prevailing culture.

A friend used to put people down. I used to think that was because he thought he was so good , but in reality it was to do with his own low self esteem. He put others down to push himself up.

Will you be a person with attitude - the attitude of Jesus? Will you be a servant of God? Will you look not only to your interests but also to the interests of others?

Sports Relief.

Peru Children working making bricks, children getting rocks out of the hillside, children getting old produce to sell on.

Spiritually we have friends and neighbours who are without Jesus. Can we be so complacent with our faith that its ceases to be something we want to share. As I understand it we get one life to live, Jesus did it with attitude and what an attitude. Let God use you!
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Jesus was not full of his own self -importance!

Jesus was willing to let go of status. The Great “I am” becomes a servant