Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
Philippians 2:5–7
The Apostle Paul is not commonly referenced in Advent liturgies, yet in his letter to believers in ancient Philippi, he invites us to ponder the doctrine central to our celebration of Christmas–the Incarnation.
Jesus, Paul reminds us, was in very nature God. He is the second person of the Trinity, the Word who was with God from the very beginning, through whom all things were created. All of heaven’s resources were at his disposal; mighty angels bowed before him in adoration and hastened to do his bidding.
And yet, in one astounding act of selflessness, this King of glory made himself nothing. Other translations tell us that “he emptied himself.” He who is infinite and complete in himself, who exists outside of time, and who spoke entire galaxies into being intentionally became finite. Constrained. Limited.
Christ chose dependence on a mother’s breast and a stepfather’s goodwill. He journeyed through the growing pains of childhood and adolescence. He had siblings and he cultivated friendships. Jesus knew hunger, thirst, exhaustion, labelling, disappointment, temptation, sorrow, and injustice. There is no aspect of human experience that Jesus has not tasted and to which he cannot relate.
And as he stepped into human history, Jesus adopted a particular posture: he took on himself the very nature, or essence, of a servant. Throughout the gospel accounts we witness Jesus serving. He uncorks a mysterious cache of wine to slake the thirst of wedding guests; he directs scores of fish into the empty nets of frustrated fishermen. With compassion he heals a friendless invalid; he calls back to life a dead man and restores him to his grieving sisters. And even as his own trial and crucifixion drew near, Jesus bent down to wash the mud-caked feet of the very ones who would desert him. Indeed, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matt. 20:28a).
As Christ-followers gathering to worship this Christmas, how can we rightly align our relationships with one another? We must begin with a steadfast gaze at the one who relinquished his rights, who made himself nothing, our humble Servant King.
Lord of Lords, help us to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace, leaning on your power, clinging to your wisdom, and looking to your Son.
Evelyn Pedersen
* Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, ©The Lockman Foundation, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1995. Used by permission.
** The above was taken from Glory to God in the Highest: A Christmas Devotional (Oakville: Proclamation, 2024).
By job title, Alice is the office administrator at Oakridge. But her behind-the-scenes efforts go far beyond that! She is actively involved in the leadership team for the Tuesday evening women's bible study, she is on the mission committee, and she has recently both stepped into the leadership of church bridal and baby shower celebrations, and started teaching in our Ozone kids program. Oh, and if you see any special seasonal or holiday decorations around the church, it's a safe bet that Alice was involved!