“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
Philippians 2:8
Paul is speaking to the Philippians about the need for unity in the church. He has given the truth that this is the way the world sees Christ in us. But perhaps they think this is too much to ask. They think they cannot find it within themselves to humble themselves to one another. Therefore Paul shares with them the example of the humility
and obedience of the Lord of glory who was willing to give up His
rights to step out of heaven and come to earth on their behalf. This is the attitude the saints at Philippi are to exhibit. This is the mind of Christ they are to have toward God and others to assure unity in the body of Christ. Paul continues describing the full selflessness the Lord took to step from heaven and come to earth to pay the debt for our sin.
And being found in appearance as a man Paul said the Lord humbled Himself to take on the form of a man. When men looked at him, they found him to be a man. They would expect nothing else by looking at Him. Isaiah said it this way, “He had no stately form or majesty” in His human appearance. But Paul uses the word appearance (schema) here. This is a different word than “form,” used earlier. Barclay explains. “There are two Greek words for form, morphē and schēma. They must both be translated form, because there is no other English equivalent, but they do not mean the same thing. Morphē is the essential form which never alters; schēma is the outward form which changes from time to time and from circumstance to circumstance. For instance, the morphē of any human being is humanity and this never changes; but his schēma is continually changing. A baby, a child, a boy, a youth, a man of middle age, an old man always have the morphē of humanity, but their outward schēma changes all the time. The word Paul uses for Jesus being in the form of God is morphē; that is to say, his unchangeable being is divine. However his outward schēma changed, He remained in essence divine.
He humbled Himself Paul tells us that the Lord voluntarily took a further step down. Self-inflicted humbling! He willingly made Himself lower.
And became obedient to the point of death We see the extent of the Lord’s selflessness. Not only did he humble Himself to take on the form of a man and to live in a sin cursed earth but He gave away His authority and power to act on His own – He became a bondservant to the will and direction of God. That obedience led Him to further humble Himself. He was obedient (a readiness to comply with commands or instructions) .unto death (the word encompasses both physical and spiritual death – the separation of the person from God caused by sin). The Lord, knowing beforehand (omniscience) what this would mean humbled Himself to under go the eternal separation from His Father to pay the penalty mankind owed. God’s justice required the shedding of blood (death) to redeem man, so that is what the Lord would willing do.
Even the death of the cross Paul goes even further in the Lord’s voluntary selflessness on our behalf. God’s word says clearly “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”. His humbling meant to be cursed of God.
What can we learn? Paul is teaching the Philippians about selflessness. He shares the example of Christ. As he does he
shows the extent to which the Lord humbled himself – not just stepping out of heaven, or setting aside His authority, or becoming fully man, or living in a sin cursed earth but also taking our place on a sin-cursed tree and then suffering separation from the goodness of His Father. Given that, how can any of His followers not humble themselves for others?