Philippians 2:5-11—Jesus’ humiliation and God’s exaltation of Him. Paul is pleading for unity in the Philippians’ congregation. He uses Jesus as an example of humility. In this passage Paul shows the dual reality of the humanity and divinity of Jesus. His deity is indicated in the words “in the form of God” and “equality with God.”
His humanity is expressed in the phrases, “emptied himself,” “the likeness of men,” “in human form,” “obedient unto death.”
This humility, obedience, and self-renunciation led to Christ’s exaltation by God who gave him a name above all names – “Lord.” It is God’s will that every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.
As a result of this horrible death, God honors Jesus with not a name but with “the name.” In Biblical thinking a name denotes the nature and character of the person. The name given to Jesus was “Lord” which every tongue is to confess and before which every knee is to bow.
Paul claims that Jesus, before the Incarnation, was on equality with God – “very God of very God,” as the Creed teaches. If He were equal with God, there was no need for Jesus to grasp any honor, authority, or power. This is a confession of the deity of Jesus Christ.
Collect for Palm Sunday—Almighty and everlasting God the Father, who sent Your Son to take our nature upon Him and to suffer death on the cross that all mankind should follow the example of His great humility, mercifully grant that we may both follow the example of our Savior Jesus Christ in His patience and also have our portion in His resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
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