In our posts, we explore one of the most beautiful truths in Scripture — the humility and glory of Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:5-11 shows us how the eternal Son of God stepped down from His throne, took on human form, and gave His life for us. Through His obedience and love, we see what it means to follow the Savior who laid down His glory to lift us up.
Glory Laid Down
Can you imagine a king stepping down from his throne, giving away all his riches, and choosing to live as a poor servant—just to help people who hated him? That’s exactly what Jesus did. He is the eternal Son of God—equal with the Father, full of glory, power, and majesty. Yet instead of holding tightly to those privileges, He let them go for our sake.
This is the heart of the gospel. In Philippians 2, we see not only what Jesus did, but also why He did it—out of love. His humility and obedience reveal the beauty of God’s character and the pathway for those who follow Him.
“Grace is God drawing sinners closer and closer to Him. How does God in grace prosecute this purpose? Not by shielding us from assault by the world, the flesh and the devil, nor by protecting us from burdensome and frustrating circumstances… but rather by exposing us to all these things so as to overwhelm us with a sense of our own inadequacy, and so to drive us to cling to Him more closely.” – Knowing God, J.I. Packer
When we stop to consider that truth, it changes the way we view what Jesus has done for us. Everything we have in Him flows from His goodness, not our effort.
The Attitude of Jesus — A Life Shaped by Christ
Paul begins this section of Philippians with a challenge: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). In other words, we are called to think and live like Jesus. Faith in Christ isn’t just about believing in Him—it’s about becoming like Him.
Jesus was humble. He didn’t demand His rights or chase recognition. He lived with a mindset oriented toward serving others in love. The Greek word Paul uses for “mind” (phroneō) doesn’t just refer to thoughts, but to a whole attitude or way of seeing the world. It’s not just thinking about Jesus; it’s thinking like Him.
The mindset of Jesus is the foundation of discipleship. To follow Him means we must be willing to lower ourselves in love, just as He did. That doesn’t come naturally to us, but through His Word and His Spirit, we’re invited to cultivate His perspective in every area of life.
So we might ask: Do I find myself fighting for recognition or control? Where might God be inviting me to take a lower, humbler place and trust Him more deeply there?
Jesus Let Go of Glory — The Humble King
Paul continues, describing Christ as the One “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:6-7).
Before Bethlehem, Jesus shared in divine glory with the Father and the Spirit. But He “emptied Himself”—not by ceasing to be God, but by laying aside the privileges of His divine position. He became a servant, the lowest status in society, and took on human flesh. He entered our world in weakness and vulnerability—as a baby who needed to be fed, held, and taught to walk.
That’s real humility. Jesus didn’t come to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:45). True greatness, He showed us, is found in humility. In a world obsessed with status and self-promotion, Christ’s example confronts us with a radically different vision of life.
Imagine a CEO quietly cleaning the office bathrooms—not for recognition, but out of genuine love for his employees. That’s a small picture of what Jesus did—only infinitely more costly. His humility challenges us to consider where we can let go of our own need for position, power, or praise in order to serve others.
Jesus Died in Our Place — Obedience to the End
Paul then moves to the most profound moment in history: “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).
Jesus didn’t just come to live among us—He came to die for us. His death wasn’t a tragic accident or a political execution gone wrong; it was the very purpose of His coming. The cross was the most humiliating, painful, and shameful form of death in the ancient world. Yet Jesus willingly took our place there, bearing the punishment we deserved for sin.
He obeyed the Father all the way to the cross. His sacrifice was not reluctant but full of love. Our salvation rests not only on the fact that Jesus died, but that He did it willingly, motivated entirely by love.
Do you believe that Jesus’ death was truly for you? That He saw your life, your failures, and your need, and chose to give Himself anyway? When we embrace that truth, it changes everything—how we see our worth, how we view our past, and how we live in hope for the future.
Jesus Is Lord Over All — The Exalted Savior
Paul concludes this passage by describing Christ’s exaltation: “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:9-11).
Because Jesus humbled Himself, God raised Him up. The One who served became the Savior; the One who died now reigns forever. His name—Jesus Christ is Lord—declares His divinity and supreme authority.
This is the great reversal at the heart of the gospel: humility leads to glory. The cross leads to the crown. Jesus’ suffering was not the end—it was the path to victory. Today, He reigns as Lord over heaven and earth, and one day, every person will acknowledge His rule.
When we live with this truth in mind, it reshapes our priorities. The same Jesus who gave His life for us now calls us to live under His lordship with joy, obedience, and trust.
The Way Up Is Down
Jesus’ life, death, and exaltation reveal a divine pattern: the way up is down. Glory follows humility. Life comes through surrender. The path to joy and spiritual growth is not through self-promotion but through self-giving love.
To know Christ is to walk His path—to lay down our pride, take up our cross, and follow in His footsteps. As we grow in this mindset, our lives begin to reflect the beauty of His humility and the transforming power of His love.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
— Mark 10:45
Christ’s work is more than a doctrine—it’s the pattern of our faith. He laid down His glory so that we might share in His. The humble King now reigns forever, and He invites us to live with His same heart.
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If this post encouraged you, take a moment to share it with someone who might need to be reminded of God’s faithfulness and love today. Each chapter of Faith Basics builds on the next — helping us not only understand what we believe, but also why we believe it.
Join us next time as we continue our journey through the foundations of the Christian faith, drawing closer to the God who reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Spirit.
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