It’s so very wonderful to know Jesus the Messiah, Name above all names. However, before Christ Jesus was made Lord He had to completely empty himself.
In this article, it is my aim to consider and by the grace of God’s Spirit to expound a little, the depths of anguish and desolation that Jesus had to sink to in becoming a man and suffering for mankind’s salvation. How obedient at every step he became so that God the Father could highly Him to the highest place, and give to Him the name above all names so that that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (Phil 2:9).
The Steps And Accomplishments of Christ
I want to tell you something very profound and very amazing. It was easy for God to create the universes, but it cost God EVERYTHING to redeem the world and save us once sin and death had entered. God is almighty and he can do anything. Nothing is beyond his ability to accomplish. It was easy for God to create the world, the far reaches of the universes and everything that is in them. All God have to do with the speak the word and it was done. The work of creation was simple for God. But while it had been an easy thing for God to create the heaven and the earth – I want to tell you today that it was hard, very hard, very difficult for God to restore the universe back to the beautiful condition it has been before Satan fell from heaven. It cost God everything.
The Work of The Son In Creation
Our Lord and savior Jesus Christ has many mighty accomplishments and he also has taken many steps to bless us. One of his first accomplishments before he came to Earth, was to create both the heavens the earth, the universes, the angels, the stars and everything that exists.
John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Heb 1:2 – In these last days (God) has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
So Christ created the heavens and the earth. Every little flower every mountain, every bird, every man and woman and every angel was created by the Lord Jesus Christ. Creation was one of The Son of God’s accomplishments. How great is Christ!
But as I said creation was easy for the Lord. He only thing he had to was speak things into existence. At the time of creation everything was beautiful and wonderful. Everything God ever creates is so beautiful, (Ecc 3:11). The creation was so perfect that “the sons of God shouted for joy”, (Job 38:7).
But then something awful happened that marred and spoiled God’s wonderful creation! The angel Lucifer whom God created to be the heavenly worship leader and the ‘anointed cherub that covereth’ rebelled against God. Being lifted up with pride he tried to usurp God’s throne. He Fell totally. After satan in his pride and arrogance tried to take over the throne of God a terrible curse fell over the whole universe. The beautiful universe that God had created through His Son and everything wonderful became corrupted and spoilt. The very earth became a dark void covered with death waters: Genesis tells us ….
Gen 1:2 – But the earth became (or “had become”) without form, and void
(Vav..Erets……hayah..tohu…………..bohu;
and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
….choshek………………………tehown)
The Hebrew word for “was” – hayah – is the same word used in Genesis 19:26 where Lot’s wife was (hayah) turned into a pillar of salt. Hayah is an active word. Furthermore, the word “vav” for “and” can also be read as “but”. In the Septuagint it has actually been translated this way.
Not only had satan corrupted God’s creation, but because Adam and Eve heeded satan’s lies sin also entered into the heart of mankind and filled him with ” darkness”. And I want to re-emphasize that while it had been an easy thing for God to create the heaven and the earth – it was hard, very hard, very difficult for God to restore the universe. and mankind back to the beautiful condition both had enjoyed before Satan fell from heaven. It cost God everything. It cost God everything to restore the universe back to the beauty that is had been before Satan’s fall and rescue man from satan’s dominion. But I want to talk now about something that happened way back perhaps soon after the universe was created, ( or even before).
The Conference of The Godhead
The Bible clearly tells us that God is a Trinity consisting of three in one; God is the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Father the Son and the Holy Spirit are all equal in power and they are all Almighty God. However, perhaps millions of years ago after the fall of satan, an agreement was made between the members of The Godhead; An agreement was made between the Father and the Son that the Son would become obedient and submissive to the Father.
The divine persons of the Godhead came to the understanding that the Father would be the representation of authority. But if there was only authority without submission, authority could not be established, because authority is not something isolated. Hence, there must be submission in the universe.
From that time on, there was a distinction in operation of the Father and the Son. The Son agreed that he would willingly humble and empty Himself to become a created man and submit to God the Fathers will as the representation of submission to authority.
Why did this obedience of Christ that marked such change and transition from his authority and power have to come about to destroy evil? We will see that this was a vital step for the Godhead to take if ever the universes and mankind could be freed from satan’s curse caused by his pride and rebellion. Only by Christ becoming a true man could he wage warfare with satan, overthrow him and also redeem man from his fallen state and sin.
Hebrews chapter two spells this out clearly.
Heb 2:14 to 18 – Therefore, since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
This verse indicated that it was essential for Christ to take on human nature ( flesh and blood) and then accomplish a mighty redemptive death before Satan the death holder could be destroyed and mankind could be from death.
Satan was a mighty created angel, but nevertheless he was a creature still. He had rebelled as a creature and only the submission of a creature could establish God’s authority. Jesus Christ our Lord was willing to become that creature to restore obedience to God’s universe and destroy satan.
Also the man (Adam) that God had created was a noble and wonderful creation; but Adam (and Eve) where also creatures. As a creature, man also had rebelled against God and sinned. Only the submission of a creature could establish God’s authority and Jesus Christ our Lord was willing to become that creature to restore obedience to God’s universe.
The Great Risk Taken By Our Lord
In being willing to “Let go” heaven and take the path of lowly obedience becoming a man, the Lord took a tremendous risk. The plan was that through suffering of obedience on earth, having vanquished sin, death and satan God the Father would grant him the NAME and position as a man in the most exalted position. However, for him to return in that manner he would have to be totally submissive as perfect man, absolutely and unreservedly submitting with no trace of rebellion, being obedient step by step, and letting God bring Him back and set Him up as Lord. But – he would be challenged, tested, harassed and tried at every step.
Philippians chapter two, verses six and seven describes how Jesus the Son of God let go of his position and authority. How he left his heavenly position as God and tool on obedience to the Father as a humble man and even a slave.
Phil 2: 6, 7 – Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to cling to, 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.
The verses that follow let us know that God the Father exalted him to the heights of heaven and gave him the matchless Name Jesus because of His suffering and obedience. He was made LORD in his manhood as a reward for his perfect obedience and not by the merit of his intrinsic divinity that he had with the Father before he left glory!
Watchman Nee has spoken of his utmost obedience under intense suffering that he was to face leaving heaven’s glory: – ” Suffering upon suffering was going to have to be piled on Him, but He was going to remain absolutely submissive. When our Lord came to earth there was not the slightest reaction or rebellion.
Because of his faithful obedience, God exalted Him and ushered Him back as Lord in the Godhead. This was not just a refilling of what had been emptied, but the ushering of a MAN into the Godhead by the Father. Verses 8. 9 of Philippians chapter 2 tell us that:
Phil 2: 8 to 10 – And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.…Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place, and gave Him the name above all names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.
We must always remember that while Our Lord walked the earth he was tempted fiercely with every same temptation that we endure (Heb 4:15). He was made ” flesh and blood” as we are. If the weakness of his human nature had made being a slave too hard for him and he had found submission and obedience impossible he would NOT be able to return AS MAN , as LORD to the throne! The only other way to return to heaven would have been for Him to force His way back by using the authority and glory of His deity but in this event our salvation would have been impossible. But praise God and glory to our saviour he overcame.
Lets’ now look at the beautiful and perfect human life he lived amongst us and gaze in awe and wonder as we see him overcoming FOR US at every step, enduring trials. being perfected in his humanity and winning us MIGHTY VICTORIES.
RETURN TO – Bible Teaching Articles – Look up Bible Study Topics
OR RETURN TO HOME PAGE – Jesus Christ Is the Way, The Truth and The Life
OR CONTACT ME WITH YOU QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ETC. AT – Contact Marcus.
I would love to hear from you!