On December 15, 2024, London Immanuel church explored Philippians 2:5-11. Pastor Jason began by providing context from verses 1-4, highlighting the Philippian church’s unity and generosity, even during severe hardship, as seen in 2 Corinthians 8:2. Despite their remarkable spirit of giving, the church was not immune to disputes, as Philippians 4:2 mentions a conflict between two members. Apostle Paul nobly addressed this with a call for unity in diversity, urging all church members to adopt the same mindset of Christ. Pastor Jason noted that the book of Philippians is especially helpful for those who have walked the path of faith for a long time.

Verse 5 serves as the cornerstone of the passage, calling believers to fix their eyes on Jesus and reflect on His heart. Pastor Jason emphasised that Christ’s example of treating others better than oneself (verse 3) is the antidote to division. Jesus, though as perfect as the Heavenly Father (verse 6), did not cling to His divine privileges but instead emptied Himself, taking on the form of a servant and abiding by the Father’s will (verse 7).

This act of humility stands in stark contrast to the arrogance introduced into humanity by Satan (Isaiah 14). Through His humility, Jesus judged sin and arrogance. Pastor Jason noted that while the world often views humility as weakness, the gospel reveals it as the pathway to salvation and true peace. Jesus’ servanthood, seen in acts like washing His disciples’ feet, exemplifies the depth of His love and His mission to bring grace and peace to the world. Those who seek to exalt themselves cannot recognise this humble image of Christ, instead, they reject Him because they misunderstand the kind of Savior He is. However, Luke 4:16-19 reveals Jesus’ mission to save humanity, with verse 18 emphasising the meaning of salvation: liberation, healing, and restoration. He is not a Savior who suppresses freedom but one who brings it through grace and truth. Romans 5:8 underscores this grace as the ultimate expression of God’s love, where no dissension can exist. This is why Paul calls us to adopt the same mindset as Jesus to eliminate division because we need a Christ like him. Christianity reveals a God unlike the world’s typical image of omnipotence—a God mocked for appearing weak but who saved sinners through selfless love.

Verse 8 highlights Jesus’ ultimate act of humility: obedience to death on the cross. Pastor Jason explained that Jesus entrusted His entire life to the Father, demonstrating that true strength lies in submission to God’s will. This obedience transformed the cross—a symbol of shame—into a testament of love and victory. Jesus’ life and death are the essence of the gospel, showing that lowering oneself is the path to eternal life.

Verses 9-11 shift to the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus. Because of His humility and sacrifice, God elevated Him, giving Him the name above all names. Pastor Jason emphasised that one day, all creation will bow before Jesus, and His name will be exalted universally. This paradox—that lowering oneself leads to glory—is at the heart of the gospel. Jesus’ ultimate glory is found in His willingness to descend to our level, taking on human form and obeying to death. Jesus’ life and death is the greatest glory of God (Luke 2).

Pastor Jason concluded by reminding us that Jesus came to this world as a light to save all the issues of mankind (John 1: 14) and urging to us truly reflect and appreciate Jesus’ profound coming to Earth as we celebrate Christmas.