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, ESV)
It was enough humility that Christ came to Earth as a human being, leaving behind heaven, and glory, and veiled His godhood so that, when he was looked upon, so that those around Him even gave him any thought (Is. 53:2-3). But His humility continued to the (very) bitter end, to accomplish the task His Father had set out for Him--the redemption of a people for himself. That redemption required something that Jesus couldn't do as only God, and that was die a sacrificial death.
His death was bitter in almost every way imaginable: he was betrayed by one of his own company, and abandoned by all the rest of them; his own people didn't recognize him; his execution was a complete travesty of justice; he was physically abused and executed in a manner that was horrific by any standards. Finally, this death signified the spiritual truth that Jesus died under God's curse.
All of this was driven by single-minded devotion to his earthly mission--to honor his father and complete the work that he was sent to accomplish.
The ugliness and shame of that obedient death on the cross stands as a stark reminder of the awfulness of sin, the cost of redemption, and the lengths God willingly undertook to save all those who would believe.
It was enough humility that Christ came to Earth as a human being, leaving behind heaven, and glory, and veiled His godhood so that, when he was looked upon, so that those around Him even gave him any thought (Is. 53:2-3). But His humility continued to the (very) bitter end, to accomplish the task His Father had set out for Him--the redemption of a people for himself. That redemption required something that Jesus couldn't do as only God, and that was die a sacrificial death.
His death was bitter in almost every way imaginable: he was betrayed by one of his own company, and abandoned by all the rest of them; his own people didn't recognize him; his execution was a complete travesty of justice; he was physically abused and executed in a manner that was horrific by any standards. Finally, this death signified the spiritual truth that Jesus died under God's curse.
All of this was driven by single-minded devotion to his earthly mission--to honor his father and complete the work that he was sent to accomplish.
The ugliness and shame of that obedient death on the cross stands as a stark reminder of the awfulness of sin, the cost of redemption, and the lengths God willingly undertook to save all those who would believe.
