Empty yourself

[AI translation] "Let the same feeling be in you that dwelt in Christ Jesus, who, when he was in the form of God, did not regard his equality with God as a gift, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and becoming like a man. And when he appeared in human form, he humbled himself and was obedient unto death. Even unto death on a cross."- For twenty-six years I have been preaching the Christmas gospel, the mystery of the incarnation of God's love, in this congregation. But I still can't get enough of the wonder and amazement of what happened that mysterious night in that little stable in Bethlehem. Nor will I ever be able to get enough of it while I live on this earth, until perhaps I can contemplate Him directly, in that higher form of heavenly glory which is even now hidden from us by death. There we will all truly understand the essence of the divine wonder that the person of Jesus meant on earth! But even now we walk by faith, not by sight! So let us now try to grasp with our faith as much of it as God has revealed to us in the passage of Scripture we have read.
So who was Jesus of Nazareth, whose birth is celebrated with such intimate warmth by millions of people on earth, believers and non-believers alike? The one whose birth marked the beginning of time for the entire civilised world? Who was Jesus? Is it not strange that this question has been a constant preoccupation of people ever since his birth? The world's greatest theologians, poets and artists, both inside and outside the Church, are always seeking with a new passion to shed ever greater light on the mystery surrounding this very special life. Even where the person of Jesus is firmly rejected, there is something of the difficulty of simply denying this extraordinary figure of history in the effort to do so. So who was Jesus?
For two thousand years the Christian Church, the Christian Church of every denomination, has clearly affirmed what Paul has just said in the Word we have just read: Jesus is equal with God! His truly mysterious person cannot be explained only from below, from the side of man on earth. For He was not only a specially cultivated human personality, but in this real man the whole riches of God were revealed on earth. In him God himself entered into earthly history. The idea of God to help us, the will of God to find Him and to contact Him, the love of God to beautify our lives: this was embodied in an earthly man in the person of Jesus! As the Letter to the Hebrews so beautifully expresses it: Jesus is the reflection of the glory of God, just as the rays are the radiant revelations of the sun, the source of light: so Jesus is the ray of the light of the heavenly God projected on earth, and "the image of his reality", that is, the representation of the invisible divine reality that can be grasped by the earthly senses. That is, as Paul says, "He is equal with God." Between Jesus and God you can safely place an equals sign: Jesus = God. In Jesus, God has come among us in such a way that we can have a concept of Him, understand His word, hold His hand, know His will, here on earth, we humans too! In His words, in His form and in His life, the otherwise hidden mystery of God has been made clear and manifest to us!
But if it is indeed true that Jesus is equal to God, then one question involuntarily arises: why is it that God, the Creator and Lord of all, Who holds the constellations and the peoples in His power, has walked the earth in such a silent, feeble, unadorned, almost powerless form? In such a way that many people did not even notice, and others simply declared that there was no way that Jesus could be the omnipotent messenger of God among us? For there is no sign of the extraordinary, the amazing divine power and might in His appearance. That is why the world asks today: what do you want with your Jesus? For there is nothing on Him to impress the crowds! If we human beings were to define the appearance of the divine reality on earth, we would somehow imagine and want to see it realised in a very different way. If God is to come among us and make his presence known, it would have to be in such a way that the whole world would be captivated and convinced by the radiance and magic of his divine glory. In a radiant grandeur, power and beauty that all would recognise, that would compel with its grandeur and weight the submission of all who would oppose it.
And so it was not. God in Jesus was quietly among us in a very low and insignificant form. Thus our Word says: "He who, when he was in the form of God, did not count his equality with God a gift, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and becoming like men. And when he appeared in the likeness of men, he humbled himself and was obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." This is indeed an unspectacular, unappealing, unimpressive way. His very entrance into the world is anything but glorious! In the stable of an overcrowded inn, the abode of animals, the divine child was born! Only the poetry of Christmas has created an intimate atmosphere of reverence around this event, but let us not be deceived. The birth of Jesus took place in poignant poverty and deprivation. His first bed was in a manger, where oxen and donkeys ate the hay. And this poverty of lowliness runs through his whole life. Nor does he aspire to power or glory. He consciously renounces everything that can make a man great. He seeks the company of the most miserable. At the very end of his life, he descends to an abyss the likes of which no man has ever known: into some hellish darkness of pain, poverty, shame, dishonour, something quite unimaginable. It is true that in the resurrection God said amen to this terrible humiliation - but even this victory over death was so silent, so hidden, that his enemies were unaware of it. Only a small circle of his disciples could rejoice in the glorious victory of the Lord who lived even through death! But why did the One who brought God's love, his being, his reality to us on earth, have to walk so quietly, so poorly, so humbled among us? Well, it sounds strange, but it is because this is the power of God! Let me try to make this clear.
Everyone has had a burden on his life, a dark conundrum, a fear, pain, sickness, misery, worry, disappointment, loneliness, despair, sorrow. In such a situation one can feel very neglected. He feels that there is no one who understands him, who knows what hurts, who can live with him. God! That's why he humbled himself and became poor, miserable, lowly, so that he could be with us even in the deepest depths! Is not a true friend a good friend who remains a friend in times of trouble? Well, God, in the person of Jesus, meets us where we are: in the world of sighs, tears, pains and tears in which we human beings live! It is precisely in the problems and troubles of everyday life that he wants to come alongside us, to share our fate, to help us with our problems. God in Jesus does not claim for himself a better destiny than that of most people on earth, than that of the man whose daily life is filled with hard work, toil and many, many disappointments.
So then, in all the pain that comes to us, in all the suffering that strikes us, we human beings can say with confidence: Jesus knows all things well. He knows best what goes on in the heart of a troubled, struggling man, how much mockery, ridicule, misunderstanding, the cold indifference of the world can hurt, how much the pain of the agonizing body can overwhelm the soul. He also knows the power and the wiles of the tempter - he knows well how easily one can fall if the forces of heavenly light do not come to his aid... What a great thing it is that we have a God, a Saviour Lord, who does not cling to His heavenly glory as a lion to his prey; He has not thought it necessary to be equal with God, but has emptied Himself, made Himself like a man, in solidarity with us in all our human weakness and threatenings. What use would we have of a God who would march through the earth like a fearsome general, in unapproachable splendour like a rich spoilt man shining in the light - who would dare to complain to such a one of his pain, to pour out his heart, how could one so high above us comfort, give strength, courage to a man who was struggling in the darkness of life?But behold, by emptying himself, by taking on the form of a servant, by becoming like a man, he became a brother, a Lord, a helper to all who believe in him, to all who dare to trust in him.
For it is precisely what is so wonderful about His person that the two thousand years that have passed since His birth do not separate us, the people of today, from Him, because since the first Easter time has had no power over Him. "I am with you every day until the end of the world" - He said! So His real, though invisible presence is not bound by time. He is always, everywhere present - it is just that we often have our backs turned to Him. He who turns his back on the light, let him not be surprised if he is in his own shadow! But if you turn towards Him and open yourself to Him, He will flood into your life like a heavenly light! So take advantage of it, take advantage of this opportunity, take advantage of His presence! You are not alone with your problems, your pains! You are not! Just as one takes a deep breath of good, fresh air, in a way one can breathe in His help, His power, in prayer. Believe me, He gives! Let it flow out in you and so you can get on with the work, the task you have to do. Believe that with His help you will have the strength to overcome your difficulties. And the strength you get from Him will drive away fear, anger, weakness, moral defeat. Your life will be refreshed, strengthened, healed, happy! That's why God became man, why He came so low, why He lowered Himself into servant form, so that you could meet each other.
And for something else! This silent lowly form, stripping itself of all divine glory: this is the most powerful expression of God's love. True love never uses violence. Love asks, waits, invites, offers itself, but never imposes. Power can be forced upon man, but not love. "God could have made himself visible by great cosmic catastrophes, by terrible judgments, or by dazzling feats that shake the soul. He could have! And then he could have frozen the word in the throats of all the scoffers. Men would have submitted to the power of God, forced to yield to divine pressure... But it would never be devotion of the heart, it would never be what God expects of us, love, only forced submission. God wanted us to relate to Him with filial trust and love. That is why He renounces the use of all external violence. I cannot emphasize enough that the manger at Bethlehem and the cross at Calvary are nothing less than a renunciation of all violent coercion on God's part!
God is not a dictator! He does not use words of power to spread His rule. God speaks to us as humbly, as quietly as the person of Jesus, as if to say: 'Men, who are made in my image and likeness, and yet who, indifferently, haughtily or hostilely, have come so far from me, do you feel how much I love you, that I seek you and want your good? See how I humbled myself, down to the death of the cross, to win your hearts. The enemy will not come to you in this way! So only he who loves you, who wants to be your friend, your helper, your saviour, seeks to meet you." Do you feel how much divine love Jesus has in this humiliation? Yes, one can mock at the events of Christmas and Good Friday, but it is precisely because God stooped so low and made Himself so poor and small that the most insignificant and most miserable person could be assured: God has come after me, truly beside me with His tender love and care, to draw me to Himself in a community of love!
So now the call that begins the whole passage is different: "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus!" This love, this inclination to others, this seeking, this serving, this self-sacrificing love for others, this impulse. Let us also have this love, because it is possible! That is the great secret of the Christian life, that in our faith relationship and prayerful conversation with Christ, some tiny little flame of His light is kindled in us. A purpose, a concept, a tiny sprout of new life, is caught in our hearts. That is the wonder of it, that not in our own strength, but with His help, we can become something a little like Him. We try to do what He would do for us! And our feeble attempts He blesses mightily, He helps again and again, He develops our feebleness into strength. Every time we come from Him, we are seen to bring from His company the fragrance of servant love!
But it would be good if we could go out into the world, into the midst of people, in this way!
Amen!
Date: 25 December 1963 Christmas Day