Sermon Cloud

Life is full of mystery. One of my favorites has to do with rain. I mean have you ever wondered how oceans of water fall on the earth in the form of gentle raindrops rather than gushing waterfalls? And if you’re ever up in an airplane, how come that water isn’t like a lake up there? Here’s another one: How come women love grey hair on guys like me, but they make Lady Clairol independently wealthy as soon as one gray hair appears on their head? Now that’s a mystery to me. And how about electricity? I love that I can turn on a light switch and there’s light, but I have no idea how that works. But one of the mysteries that really amazes me is how cell phones and wireless Internet works. If I want to send you a photo of my family, I can beam it through the air, or I can call my family from just about anywhere, and they can hear my voice and I can hear theirs. Even now, as we are sitting here, there are thousands of images and voices floating through space, yet we can’t see or hear any of it.

And of course there are some mysteries that are just unexplainable. Like, how do us guys ever really understand women? Why do we all laugh at some things and cry at others? And one of the greatest mysteries to me personally: why does my wife continue to love me when she knows all my faults?

But there’s one mystery that’s bigger than all those and it has to do with Christmas. Why did God choose to become like one of us? Why would He lay aside His majesty in heaven and come to earth as a little baby? This is truly a mystery?

But as I have looked into this question, I’ve found there’s only two ways you can deal with mystery: You can eliminate it, or you can embrace it. If you want to eliminate it you call a detective. You bring in someone who can sort out all the clues, unpack all the facts, and reach a conclusion. The best way to eliminate a mystery is to solve it. On the other hand, you can simply celebrate mystery. You can enjoy the ambiguities of it, live with the wonder of it, and just embrace it.

Well this morning, perhaps we can do a little of both: to not only understand how God became a man, but also why. And so to unwrap this mystery we’re going to look at Philippians 2:5-11. And as we look there, what we’re going to see is that it is Jesus who solves the mystery!

I mean, one of the most more mysterious aspects of the baby in a manger is how did God do this? So the first thing we see here in Philippians 2 is that…

1. Jesus solves the mystery as to the “how?”
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Philippians 2:5-7

Now this is an amazing passage. But the primary reason it’s in the New Testament is not to answer the question of how God became a man, but to show us how to serve one another with humility. When we see how Jesus became a man, this is supposed to teach us something about humility. This will be evident as we begin to see what Jesus did in becoming one of us.

Now His becoming one of us, His becoming a man, being born with flesh is often called the great descent: The incarnation. God who is Spirit takes on a physical, human body. The first mystery is the Mystery of the Incarnation

Now I know that the word incarnation is one of those lofty theological words that sometimes looses us. But we know this word, “carne,” During barbecue season here at the church we look forward to when we are treated by the Hispanic congregation. We look forward to carne asada. Why? Because of the marinated meat! In the winter us men like a good bowl of chili. Now if you go to the store, you can buy your chili, just as it is, or you can purchase a can of chili con carne. What is that? Right: It’s chili with meat. The mystery of the incarnation is that Jesus is God with meat! So when Jesus came to earth he became God with flesh on the bone. John in his gospel said it this way: “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” John 1:14

The key here is the word “become.” The term “become” implies an involvement of the person who wants to be something other than he was before. Jesus wanted to become like us in every way. So when he took on flesh and blood he became like us in every way. Not only did he take on flesh and bone, but also a nervous system, a respiratory system. He got nerbous, he sweat, got out of breath. He probably even had a crush on a girl once or twice. Basically, He experienced all the limitations of the flesh and all the feelings of the heart that we do. And ccording to the Scriptures, he suffered pain, got thirsty and hungry, got wore out, enjoyed the pleasure of life, took time to rest, and experienced death and resurrection.

But when he did all this he did not cease being God. That’s what’s so incredible about this. Although Jesus existed in eternity in the form of God –– when He took on flesh and blood, he did not cease being God. He simply took on another nature.

Literally, “he emptied himself.” He emptied himself of all the advantages of his divine nature. He didn’t hold on to those things that kept him as equal status to God the Father. He set the use of His divine attributes aside. He willingly choose to do this, so he wouldn’t have an advantage of living the human life. By taking on human nature, he chose to limit the use of His divine nature, so he could live like us. And so we see this amazing picture of the incarnation:
• The Creator becomes creation
• The Timeless one enters time
• The Omnipresent chooses to be present in a place
• The All Powerful chooses to take on the weaknesses of the flesh
• The One seated on a throne in heaven chooses to be born in a barn
• The One worshiped and adored by angels comes to be disrespected and mocked by sinful mankind
• The Exalted Lord of heaven comes to serve the poor of the earth
• As Lord of all relinquishes all authority to become servant of all

Jesus DOESN’T cease being God. He just REFUSES to use His God card IN LIVING THE HUMAN LIFE. He set aside the use of His divine attributes:

God is immutable, he never changes, but He set that part of his divine nature aside so He could grow and change like we do. God is omniscient. He is all knowing, but He set-aside that attribute so He could learn and grow in wisdom, just like we do. God is all powerful. But He limited the use of his power to do only that which the Father showed Him to do. He only used His attributes when God said, “Now.” So when the Father wanted Him to calm the sea he did. When the Father wanted Him to feed the five thousand, he did. When the Father needed him to forgive a sinner, he did. When the Father wanted him to touch and heal a leper, he did that. When the Father wanted him to raise his friend Lazarus from the dead. He did that too. The only time he used His divine abilities is when the Father wanted him to, it was all part of His plan. But when he was hungry and tempted to turn stone into bread – he didn’t use His divine power, and so he faced temptation just like we do, but he did so without sin.

Jesus lived a fully human life while still being God. He was fully human and fully divine. Becoming a man didn’t mean that he ceased possessing His divine abilities; it simply means he didn’t access them. He set them aside; He humbled himself to live with us, to live like us, but did so without sin. He chose not to take advantage of anything that would give him an edge so he could become totally involved in our lives. The real mystery is that Jesus would go to such lengths to meet us where we are.

As we look at this mysterious incarnation – the beauty in the mystery is that Jesus did this on His own. He emptied himself. He willingly set aside all advantage. He became a servant to serve us. Jesus solved the mystery of the how – he became like us by taking on the nature of a servant. Thus He demonstrated the true nature of God – that of humility. Proving that: Jesus is the most humble person who’s ever lived.

Jesus solved the mystery as to the how – He chose to become like one of us, to be with us, so He could serve us. That’s the how. That’s the first part of the mystery of the manger. Now the second part, the why?

2. Jesus solves the Mystery as to “why?”
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross. Philippians 2:8 Jesus emptied himself so he could be like us in every way. And becoming like us Jesus humbled himself so He could die for us. That’s just the thing about humility. A humble person simply lives for the sake of others.

Proud people think only of themselves.
Humble people think of everybody but themselves.

Proud people are always looking for an advantage to get ahead.
Humble people look for ways to help others get ahead.

Proud people always look down on people.
Humble people look for ways to encourage people.

Proud people go their own way, they don’t want to depend on anyone. Humble people are dependent on God and willing submit to His way.
This is why Jesus came.

He become a man because He was thinking of us.
He become a man so He could help us succeed.
He become a man so He could encourage us.
He become a man so He could fulfill the Father’s plan and die for us.

Jesus solves the mystery as to “why” he humbled Himself. It was for you and it was for me. To help us God didn’t send a post card. To save us God didn’t send a letter or a book. God didn’t send a projection of himself. You can’t crucify a projection. No, God sent the real deal to die in our place on the cross. This is what Martin Luther called, The great exchange: The Bible tells us that God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 The great exchange is that Jesus traded places with us. He got what we deserved, and we got more than we deserve. And here’s the good news, when we put our faith in Jesus Christ this is what happens:

• All my sin goes on Jesus and all His righteousness goes on me
• My condemnation goes on Jesus and His salvation comes to me
• My separation from God goes on Jesus and His reconciliation with God is given to me.
• All my pride is laid on Jesus and His humility is laid on me.
• He forgives me and gives me a new life – his life.

Jesus solves the mystery as to “why” he humbled Himself. It was for you and it was for me. The real mystery of the manger is that Jesus would come to change places with you, so you could live! That’s humility. Not only is Jesus the most humble person who has ever lived: Jesus did the must humble act that’s ever been done! Jesus solves the mystery of the manger by coming to die in our place!

And so there’s only one real mystery left to solve:
3. The real Mystery is this: Will We Exalt Him?
Will we embrace this mystery and celebrate Him? Will you exalt Him? You see, Jesus chose to involve himself totally in this thing called humanity. He emptied himself of all his rights and any advantage that would give him an edge in humanity. He took on the form of a servant so we could benefit, and that humility led him to die in our place. And so God’s Word tells us: Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave him the name that’s above every name. 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. Philippians 2:9-11

The real mystery is whether we will celebrate this mystery? Will we bow the knee to Jesus? You see, someday, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. Someday, every person who ever lived, who is now living, and those yet to be born – every single one will bow the knee to Jesus. They will confess He is the ruler of all. They will surrender their lives to him. Some will do this with great joy, others with great regret. Some will bow in great confidence, others under great duress.

But the good news, is that you don’t have to wait for that day to bow the knee. You don’t have to wait to surrender your heart to Him. Because now you know the mystery of the manger. Now you know that Jesus has solved the mystery. He became flesh for you – to die in your place so you could have life with him forever. The real mystery is that He loved you enough to go all the way to the cross for you.

And the only mystery left is this: Is Jesus worthy to be exalted? The Father thinks so. But do you? Are you willing to give him the highest place in your life? Are you willing to confess Him as the leader of your life? Are you willing to follow him, learn from him, and let him show you how to live? Are you willing to let him forgive you and restore you to life with God?

The only way to do that is shown to us here: If you believe, you will bow. You will humble yourself before Him! If you bow, you will confess and if you confess, you will live the life Jesus bought for you on the cross. You’ll gladly surrender all to the Lord of all. Jesus solved the mystery by loving us. Perhaps it’s time you embraced this mystery in manger and live for Him!