2nd ArticleThe P ageSecond 1 Article: I Believe in Lesson 4: The Humiliation of Jesus

INTRODUCTION Philippians 2:5-8 says, 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same According to the underlined portion, what is the mindset as Christ Jesus: Word called?

6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with c) John 1:14--The word "became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only God something to be used to his own advantage; begotten from the Father."

7 rather, he made himself nothing Who does John identify as this “Word” we have been by taking the very nature of a servant, talking about? being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, begins with the recognition that Jesus Christ he humbled himself is in essence the eternal God. As God, Jesus deserves to by becoming obedient to death— have what according to the following verse: Revelation 18:6-7 Let’s look at these verses closer, because they teach us Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like about the humiliation of Jesus: the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: CHRIST WAS GOD (v. 6a) “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. "[Christ] being in very nature God, 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! The Existence of Christ Paul began by affirming that Jesus is God. That is the Jesus deserves to have …. point where the incarnation began and from which Christ began the descent of His humiliation.

The deity of Christ is the heart and soul of the Christian faith. Inevitably when people attack the Christian faith, CHRIST DID NOT CLING TO HIS EQUALITY they attack the deity of Christ. WITH GOD (v. 6b) "[Christ] did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage” Read the following verse: The Greek word translated "equality" describes things John 1:1--"In the beginning was the Word, and the exactly equal in size, quantity, quality, Word was with God, and the Word was God." character, and number. Hebrews 1:3--"[Christ] is the radiance of [God's] glory Christ is equal to God, and existed as God. and the exact representation of His nature." A literal rendering of the Greek text into John 1:3-4--John further declared Christ's deity when he English is: "He did not regard the being wrote, "All things came into being by [Christ], and apart equal with God"--a tremendous from Him nothing came into being that has come into affirmation of the divinity of Christ. being. In Him was life; and the life was the light of The first step in the humiliation of Christ was that He men." did not hold on to equality with God. Yet though He did According to the italic portions, what divine (God not cling to that equality, there is no question that Jesus like) qualities did the Word display? claimed it and that the people who heard Him knew He claimed it. 1 2nd Article Page 2

John 10:38 -- Jesus said to them, "If I do [the works of from what he suffered the Father], though you do not believe Me, believe the John 5:30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I works, that you may know and understand that the hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please Father is in Me, and I in the Father." myself but him who sent me. John 20:28 -- Thomas addressed Jesus as, "My Lord According to the portions in italics, what else did and my God." Jesus give up during His humiliation?

According to these passages Jesus knew and claimed that He is ….. 2 Cor. 8:9 "Though He was rich, yet for [our] sake He

became poor, that [we] through His poverty might become rich Christ was poor in this world; He owned very little. CHRIST EMPTIED HIMSELF (v. 7a) This verse also point out that he also gave up… "rather, he made himself nothing”

Though He had all the rights, privileges, and honors of being God, Christ didn't grasp onto them or use them for Though Christ renounced all those privileges, He never His own advantage. Christ refused to cling to His ceased to be God. At any moment He could have blasted favored position with all its rights and honors, but was His enemies off the face of the earth, but He didn't. He willing to give them up for a time, to empty Himself. voluntarily emptied Himself.

What did Christ empty Himself of? CHRIST Continued His Humiliation John 14:9 -- Jesus said to Philip, "He who has seen Me "by taking the very nature of a servant, has seen the Father." Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man Did Jesus empty himself of being God? Yes/no So the humiliation of Jesus is when Jesus willingly gave up the rights, Let’s look at what Jesus gave up while He was on glory and full use of the powers and earth privileges of being God. John 17:5 Jesus prayed, 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Luke 9:28-36 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Continued His Humiliation by becoming

According to the italics portion, what did Jesus give up while He was on earth? Philippians 2:8 "being made in human likeness.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to

be sin for us, so that in him we might become the (Matt. 26:39) righteousness of God. Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be Christ took on the form of a ….. taken from me. Y et not as I will, but as you will.”

(Heb. 5:8 Son though he was, he learned obedience 2 2nd Article Page 3

a cross a humiliation for Jesus?

CHRIST HUMBLED HIMSELF (v. 8b) "[Christ] humbled Himself." Instead of fighting back, Christ humbled Himself. After "Even" in Philippians 2:8c calls attention to the most all the humiliation He suffered to this point, if we had shocking feature of Christ's humiliation. Christ suffered been Him we would be screaming, "That's enough! I not just death, but death on a cross--the most want My rights! Don't you know who I am?!" We would excruciating, embarrassing, degrading, painful, and have blasted everything to bits. But Christ humbled cruel death ever devised. came originally Himself. from the Persians and was adopted by the Romans. It was used to execute rebellious slaves and the worst of

criminals only. Look at the following passages and summarize how in each Jesus humbled himself: Now read the next verses to find out why Jesus had to Luke 9:58 Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds humble himself. have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Galatians 4:4 --"God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law to redeem those under the

Law."

Hebrews 2:17 -- For this reason he had to be made like Matthew 26:53 (In the Garden of Gethsemane) "(Jesus them, fully human in every way, in order that he might said to Peter) Put your sword back in its place, for all become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put the people. at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it According to the italics portions why did Jesus must happen in this way?" willingly follow the steps of humiliation?

Hebrews 2:14 --Since the children have flesh and Matthew 27:13-14 …And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. Then blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things death he might break the power of him who holds the they testify against You?" And He did not answer him power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. quite amazed. Hebrews 4:15 --" For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

According to the italics portions why did Jesus CHRIST WAS OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF willingly follow the steps of humiliation? DEATH (v. 8c)

"[Christ was] obedient to the point of death even death on a cross." The Apostle’s Creed identifies six major parts to Jesus’ state of humiliation. Look at the Second Article of that Deuteronomy 21:23: "Anyone who is hung on a tree is creed and identify those six major parts: under God's curse" (NIV).

Galatians 3:13 "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, 1. 'Cursed is every one who hangs on a tree.'" 2. According to the portions I italics, why was death on 3 2nd Article Page 4

3. have redeemed me and freed me from the punishment and power of sin.

4. Since Jesus by his death has redeemed me from death, I will not have to suffer and die. my suffering and death will also help pay for 5. my sins. my earthly death will only be the gate to heaven. Jesus Christ is the second person of the The first step of Christ's humiliation is his birth to the virgin Mary. ______God. He is fully his conception by the Holy Spirit. his innocent suffering under Pontius Pilate.

______and fully Our ability to resist the devil ______. comes from continual practice. is given to us through Jesus' work of He was our substitute in living under the redemption. ______, that his holiness might be counted as is something we'll have only after we get into ours. heaven.

He was our substitute under the ______of the Jesus' work of humiliation ended with his law, that his punishment might clear away our debt to descent into hell. God. suffering and death. burial.

Focusing on the Facts Jesus’ humiliation refers to ___ . When Christ emptied Himself, did He stop being God? Why or why not? A. the time he was humiliated by people in his hometown when they refused to listen to him.

B. the time when he humiliated the devil during his temptation. What did Christ give up when He emptied Himself? C. his whole life of poverty and lowliness, particularly the sufferings and ill treatment he endured and his death on the cross.

When Christ emptied Himself, what did He take on (Phil. 2:7)? True or False ___ Christ was embarrassed to save us. ___ Being human is humiliating. Why couldn't those who knew Jesus see that He was God? For Next Time:

Circle the letter of the best answer. 1. Complete This Worksheet 2. Learn the Key Points Jesus' innocent life and his holy sufferings and death 3. Review 2nd Article of the Apostles’ Creed. have set me free from sin so I won't have to suffer punishment. 4. Learn the Explanation through the end (“This is have freed me from the power of sin so I don't most certainly true) have to sin any longer.

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