It costs God nothing, so far as we know, to create nice things: but to convert rebellious wills cost him crucifixion.
~C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 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, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 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, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
~ Philippians 2:5-13
Do we see it beloved? Can we see the stark raving obedience of the Son to the Father?
This emptying of the Self of the very Word Who spoke the universe into being shows a relentless, unmitigated, non-linear obedience to the will of the Father. The very One Who could have rightly debated the plan, said, “Yes Dad. I will do this thing. I AM willing and I know You are able. And I only want to do what You want me to do.”
Do we see something here? The very aspect of the G_dhead that holds it together, drove this action that tore ThemSelves assunder: Love. This is no walk in the park. i dare say that this was difficult for even The Infinite. There is a huge downside to all of this. G_d is literally killing Himself, to bring us Life.
This is how it all works in The Kingdom.
He is showing us with His very own Life. Truly righteous obedience, humiliation, suffering and pain in this life are the seeds of exultation and glorification in the next. Just as a seed abides alone and fruitless unless it is buried and dies, so must all of us who are the second born endure these same kinds of things if we are to be effective in The Kingdom of G_d.
He is the Prime Example of this principal. He did not just show us the way to true Life. He embodied the very stance and perfection and action and truth and Love and power and passion required to show the way to Life through His death. He literally became the worst (sin), that He might save us and bring ever more glory to Himself.
He simply wants us to change our minds about anything else and believe that His example is the only way. For when we truly believe it, we will take on this same mind to obey. We will take on this same attitude that abandoning our own wills (even to the point of death) to the will of the Father, is the only path to Life.
Thank you Jesus. Thank you for showing us belief. Thank you for showing us the obedience that flows from this belief. Thank you for the Life you brought us through Your Own obedient belief in the will of the Father!
