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He Humbled Himself. Philippians 2:5-11. The cross was the most humiliating form of capital punishment. Romans could only be crucified in the most extreme cases. The word “crucifixion” wasn’t mentioned in polite company & was used by lower classes as a vulgar insult.
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HeHumbledHimself Philippians 2:5-11
The cross was the most humiliating form of capital punishment. • Romans could only be crucified in the most extreme cases. • The word “crucifixion” wasn’t mentioned in polite company & was used by lower classes as a vulgar insult. • Cicero called crucifixion “the most cruel and disgusting penalty.” • Josephus called crucifixion “the most wretched of deaths.”
Jesus is fully God. • “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn 1:1). • Jesus is “the express image of His person” (Heb 1:3).
Jesus came to serve others. • “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt 20:28). • Jesus appeared in the likeness of men. • He had to appear in the likeness of men in order to die for sin (Heb 2:14). • He had to appear in the likeness of men in order to suffer temptation and offer help in time of need (Heb 4:14-16).
He humbled Himself to the point of the death of the cross. • Has greater love ever been known in the history of the universe? • “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends” (Jn15:13).
God has exalted Jesus. • Eph 1:19-23. • Heb 1:1-4.
Jesus’ death on the cross means that you need to put away sin. • Jesus “Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Pet 2:24). • What sins do you need to get rid of?
Jesus’ death on the cross means that I need to serve Him. • Heb 13:20-21. • What can you do in the service of your King?
Understand that a day is coming when you’re going to bow before Jesus. • You have freewill now. • But, when you stand before the Lord Jesus in judgment, you will bow the knee. • Rev 20:11-15. • Being cast into the lake of fire is “bowing the knee” in a big way!