And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:8, ESV
Paul’s words within this portion of his letter to Philippi are so beautiful as he writes of the great sacrifice that our Lord made for us. Jesus didn’t die on the cross so that we could strive to be better in order to gain our place in God’s kingdom. Jesus died on the cross because we could never achieve it unless He gave fully of Himself. The one who knew no sin became our sin. He took it all upon Himself, and on the Cross, He bore the full weight of our fallen nature and spoke the words, “It is finished.” The work that needed to be done was complete. It was a great humiliation for the Creator to enter His Creation, but even more so, He gave of Himself fully and endured great suffering on our account. He didn’t do it to build the Temple but to recreate the temple of the Lord in our hearts. To build His church in the people who call Him Lord. Jesus came to build His Church. Not with bricks and mortar but with the flesh of our hearts and the wholeness of our being. It is about Him and Him alone that we are called to keep doing all our work and to proclaim our praise. It is us who He sends out to proclaim His glorious hope that was carried out for us, and it is our obedience to His calling that shows the glory of who He is.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.