Philippians 2:5-11

WHAT MAKES JESUS SO SPECIAL

Intro: We are entering a season of time set aside to honor the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sadly, most people in our world are ignorant of Him and of the real reason for this season. They are too caught up in the decorations, the giving and receiving of gifts, and the anxiety associated with the season.

 

This is a wonderful time of the year to preach the Gospel and tell a lost world about Jesus Christ. He is on the minds, in their music and everywhere they look, even is they don’t recognize it. We know why the Lord Jesus is so special; we need to let the world know what’s so special about Him!

 

Leading up to this passage, Paul has been pleading with the Philippian believers to practice humility. Verse 4 commands them to place others ahead of themselves. Then, beginning with verse 5, Paul holds Jesus Christ us as the perfect example of selfless service and of a humble, servant spirit.

 

While this passage was written to call believers to a higher standard ethical living, this passage is one of the greatest theological gems in the New Testament. No matter how you look at this passage, the glory of God reflects and refracts off every facet. This passage reveals the amazing glory of our Lord’s incarnation.

 

In the history of our world, billions of people have lived and died. Many have left their mark on the tapestry of time, but no one has made as indelible an impression as a humble Jewish carpenter known as Jesus of Nazareth.

 

Had He been an ordinary man, the world would have forgotten Him as soon as He died on the cross. But, Jesus was no ordinary man! Who He was and what He did forever altered the flow of human history and changed eternity for countless millions.

 

As we enter into the season, when we pause to commemorate the miraculous birth of our Savior into this world, I want to take a few minutes to talk to you about What Makes Jesus So Special. These precious verses tell us why Jesus is so different, and what makes Him so unique. Notice some of the great characteristics of Jesus that set Him apart.

 

  I.  V. 5-8a  HE IS SPECIAL IN HIS ADVENT

The language Paul uses is very expressive. We are told in no uncertain terms that Jesus was a real man.

•  Made Himself of no reputation - “No reputation” means “to empty.” Jesus did not stop being God when He came into the world. He did not “empty” Himself of a single divine attribute. He was, and is, God of very God! What He did, however, was to refrain from the independent use of His divine prerogatives. The Son only did those things that pleased the Father! When Jesus came to this world to live, He came here to live, not as God, but as a Spirit-filled man.

 

Jesus did not “think it robbery to be equal with God.” This simply means that Jesus did not see the free and independent exercise of His divine prerogatives as something to be grasped. He willing “made Himself of no reputation” so that we might have a Savior!

 

While God may have become a man, He never stopped being God! While Jesus Christ was 100% man, He was also 100% God! Jesus always retained the “form” of God. He merely concealed His heavenly fame within an earthly frame! Every now and then the deity outshone the humanity, Matt. 17:1-5. His advent was unique because when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, God literally came into this world and walked among men, John 1:1; 14!

 

•  Took upon Him the form of a servant - “Form” refers to “that which strikes the eye”. It is the word “morphe” and it speaks of “the unchanging essence of something.” Jesus came into this world as a “servant,” a “slave.” Those who met Jesus as He walked this earth saw no great beauty in Him, nor did they see anything to be desired in Him, Isa. 53:3. Their blindness to His true identity was so complete that God in the flesh was rejected, and crucified by the very people who claimed to worship, serve and love Him, John 1:11.

 

•  Was made in the likeness of man - “Likeness” means to be “in the very image of something.” In the beginning of creation, God made man in His image, Gen. 1:26. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, God made Himself in man’s image! The Lord Jesus took upon Himself the very essence of humanity. God literally became “flesh and walked among us.”

 

•  Being found in fashion as a man - “Fashion” refers to “everything in a person which strikes the senses, the figure, bearing, discourse, actions, manner of life etc.” It is the word “schema”. It refers to “the changing outward form.” It reminds us that Jesus became a human, that was His “form”, His “morphe.” As a human, Jesus moved through all the changing “schema” or “fashions” of humanity. He was a baby, a child, a young man, a grown man, etc. Through it all, His essence was unchanged. Whether He was a baby in the manger, or a man bleeding and dying on the cross, Jesus was human.

 

As a human, Jesus endured the pains, problems and privations of life in this world. Jesus was born as a man, He lived as a man, He suffered as a man and He died as a man. He was in every sense of the word a real, genuine, human man! He knew pain, poverty, sorrow, loneliness and rejection. He knew laughter, hope and friendship. He knew every aspect of human existence, yet He knew no sin. Think about what He endured!

-   The One Who fills the universe, condescended to inhabit a human body.

-   The Creator became dependent upon the creature. Mary had to feed Him. Mary and Joseph had to teach Him.

-   The God of Glory had no place to lay His precious head, Matt. 8:20.

-   He had to borrow everything He ever used in this world.

‣  He borrowed a womb for His birth.

‣  He borrowed a bed to lay His head.

‣  He borrowed bread and fish to feed a multitude.

‣  He borrowed a boat for His pulpit.

‣  He borrowed a donkey for His presentation tot he nation of Israel.

‣  He borrowed a cross for His death.

‣  He borrowed a tomb for His burial.

‣  Jesus knew poverty, real poverty! His poverty accrued to our wealth. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich,” 2 Cor. 8:9.

‣  His real poverty was not what He gave up in this world. His real poverty was His laying aside His heavenly glory to die for us so that we might inherit the glories of that world.

 

He voluntarily came into this world and subjected Himself to human existence so that He might identify Himself with you and me. He did it to save us, and to make a way for us, Heb. 4:15-16!

 

  I.  He Is Special In His Advent

 

 II.  V. 8b  HE IS SPECIAL IN HIS ACHIEVEMENT

A.  The Pain Of His Achievement - We are told that Jesus, the God-man, willingly allowed Himself to be overtaken by death! The One called the “Prince of Life”, Acts 3:15, entered the jaws of death willingly for you and me! The One Who is “the resurrection and the life”, John 11:25, humbled Himself and allowed the cruel fingers of death to wrap themselves around Him, so that we might experience His life.

 

The death He died was no ordinary death. The Bible says it this way: “even the death of the cross”. No more brutal form of execution has ever existed n this history of the world! Jesus died in horrible agony so that you and I might live in boundless glory!

 

B.  The Power Of His Achievement - In His death, Jesus provided redemption for all those who will believe on Him by faith, 1 Pet. 1:18-19. He also demonstrated the boundless love of God for sinners when He died on that cross, Rom. 5:8. When Jesus died on that cross, He opened the way to God for all who would come to Him for salvation, John 3:16; Matt. 11:28; Rev. 22:17; Rom. 10:9, 13!

 

C.  The Price Of His Achievement - Jesus didn’t just become a man for the 33 years he lived in this world. Even after He died and rose again, He still bears the form of humanity. When Jesus became a man, He eternally limited Himself to a human form!

 

In Heaven today, Jesus still bears the marks and the wounds of His sufferings at Calvary, Rev. 5:6; John 20:24-28. When we see Him over there, we will see Him as God, but also as the Man Who died for our sins on the cross and Who still bears the “beauty marks” of that experience in His body. Throughout eternity, the spotless bride of Christ will be reminded of the price that was paid for her redemption. I believe that eternity will ring with the praises of Him Who became a man so that men might get to God!

 

  I.  He Is Special In His Advent

 II.  He Is Special In His Achievement

 

III.  V. 9-11  HE IS SPECIAL IN HIS ADVANCEMENT

Because Jesus humbled Himself, died on the cross, and fulfilled the eternal plan of the Father, we are told that God has “highly exalted” Him. This phrase means to “raise to the utmost of majesty”. There are three areas mentioned here in which God has “highly exalted” Jesus.

A.  He Is Exalted In His Name - We are told that He has been given “a name that is above every name”. What is that name? The Greeks knew Him as Kurios Iesous Christos. The Hebrews called Him Yeshua Ha-Mashiach! The redeemed saints of God just know Him as Jesus!

 

At the mention of that precious name:

•  Lives are altered.

•  Fevered brows become cool.

•  Blinded eyes open.

•  Deaf ears unstop.

•  Sin’s bars open and the shackles of spiritual bondage fall away.

•  Night turns to day.

•  Defeat is swallowed up in victory.

•  Hope replaced despair.

•  Dead men live.

•  The lost are found.

•  Devils tremble.

•  Sinners are broken.

•  Saints shout.

•  Angels bow.

 

More has been done through the agency and power of that Name than of all the names of all other people combined. There really is just something about that Name!

 

•  The name Jesus is the sweetest Name ever to fall upon human ears!

•  That Name is a cause for celebration in Heaven.

•  That Name strikes fear into the hearts of the inhabitants of Hell.

•  That Name changed my life, opened my eyes and saved my soul!

 

Like the songwriter said:

There's a name above all others, 

Wonderful to hear, bringing hope and cheer.

It's the lovely name of Jesus,

Evermore the same, what a lovely name. 

 

What a lovely name, the name of Jesus.
Reaching higher far, than the brightest star.
Sweeter than the songs they sing in heaven.
Let the world proclaim, what a lovely name.

 

Another songwriter said:

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

There's just something about that name.

Master, Savior, Jesus,

Like the fragrance after the rain.

 

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

Let all heaven and earth proclaim,

Kings and kingdoms will all pass away

But there's something about that name.

 

B.  He Is Exalted In His Fame - There is a day coming when every person will bow before Him and confess Him as Lord to the glory of God the Father. Think of it!

•  One day, every lost sinner will bow before Him and give Him glory!

•  One day, the devil himself will bow before Jesus and honor Him.

•  One day, every demon of Hell will call Jesus Lord!

        

Through out history men have ridiculed Him, mocked Him and ignored Him. Today, His name is a byword and  a curse word. He is blasphemed, mocked, ridiculed and ignored by a lost world. But, the day is coming when that Name, and the Person it represents, will receive the glory and honor He is worthy of today! I say, “Hallelujah!” Ill. The unashamed, unfiltered, uninhibited, unending, eternal worship of Heaven, Rev. 4-5.

 

C.  He Is Exalted In His Claim - God declares Jesus to be “Lord”! At the mention of His name “every knee should bow...and every tongue should confess.”

•  If He is Lord, then He is worthy to be loved, served, worshiped and obeyed.

•  If He is Lord, then He is worthy of all our time, our talents and our treasure.

•  If He is Lord, then He deserves first place in our hearts and in our lives.

•  If He is Lord than He should be exalted, praised and magnified.

•  If He is Lord, then let’s acknowledge Him be Lord of all, Acts 10:36.

 

Every now and then someone will say, “Well, Jesus is my Savior, but I haven’t made Him Lord of my life.” Friend, you can’t make Him Lord! He is already Lord. And, you can’t have Him as Savior without also having Him as Lord. The Bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house”, Acts 16:31. Jesus is not a buffet! He is Lord whether you acknowledge it or not! Oh, how much better life is when we give Him the love, honor and adoration He deserves! Have you done that this Christmas season?

 

Conc: These verses teach us why Jesus Is A Unique Savior. I praise His name that He came into this world, was born without sin, lived without sin and died for sin. I thank God that He rose from the dead and ascended back to Heaven for our redemption. I praise God for His unspeakable gift of the Lord Jesus Christ!

 

•  Let’s celebrate Him this Christmas season.

•  Let’s preach Him!

•  Let’s praise Him!

•  Let’s tell the world about Him!

•  Let’s sing about Him!

•  Let’s love Him!

•  Let’s make much of Him!

•  After all, look at all the blessings He has given to us!

 

•  Now would be a good time to praise Him if you know Him.

•   Now would be a good time to meet Him if you don’t.