Title: The Heart of Jesus (Life)
Contents
Today is Palm Sunday. Before the suffering of the Lord, we want to meditate on the heart of Jesus Christ for an hour in order to have a heart to share in the suffering of the Lord. There is no place in the Bible that describes the heart of the Lord more specifically than the text. In particular, since the text contains very doctrinal content, it is a word that has the possibility of various and wrong approaches in interpreting or preaching the text. Nevertheless, the content of the text sets out the standard of Christian life perfectly manifested in the Lord Jesus.
In order to know how God wants us to act in faith, we need to know the heart of Christ more accurately and live with that attitude of heart. We want to share grace by examining what the heart of the Lord is and what kind of heart we should live as Christians.
1. A humble life
Verse 5 says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” and verses 7-8, “But he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and was made in human form. He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of a cross.” We can learn the humility of the Lord who humbles ourselves thoroughly. In the life and work of the Lord Jesus, we can see the positive attitude that humbles Himself to the lowest place. How did the Lord humble himself?
1) Poor life.
The Lord said, “He emptied himself and took on the form of a servant.” The Lord has given up on Himself the glory and power and rights of heaven. In 2 Corinthians 8:9, Paul says, “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that while he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” It explains that he lived a humble life by allowing him to do so.
If our poverty makes others rich, this is a priceless sacrifice. In fact, we may not have the wealth we can give to others. But our poverty is not just about wealth. We can make others rich by sacrificing our time, giving our talents, praying, teaching the Word, visiting others, and so on. If we, as Christians, want to testify of Christ and display the glory of God through our lives, we must first humble ourselves and exalt others by making us poor. This is humility and the heart of Christ.
2) The life of a servant.
In verse 7, “but he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, and became like men” in Matthew 20:28, that the Son of Man did not come to be served, but rather to give his life as a ransom for all. It contains the heart of the Lord in the Word. In Luke 22:27, the Lord said, “I am among you as one who serves,” and he gave the disciples at the Last Supper a sure example of humility to serve.
Although the Lord was the main character of the supper, he got up, took off his coat, put a towel around his waist, got down on his knees, and washed the disciples' feet one by one in the form of a servant. This was an outspoken humility and the appearance of a willing servant. The Lord never said that he had a great life or a successful life while on this earth. However, the Lord lived a sacrificial life for the countless sinners on this earth, and He also told His disciples to serve each other.
That's right. I don't know if we're too used to being served. Even if you do not wash your feet, please believe that you must show the image of a servant in your words and actions.
3) It is a tragic life.
Verse 8 says, “And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of a cross.” But the tragedy began first with man falling into sin and dying for that sin. A more dramatic remedy was needed to heal the tragic situation of these people, and that was the death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. There was no other way than this extreme method.
Our Lord's atoning death is beyond human understanding and imitation. However, we could witness that the transcendent and tragic act led to the salvation of all mankind.
The Lord's tragic life is not an act that violates the moral corruption of humanity. Rather, we come to realize that we are children of God only when we accept that sacrifice as an eternally noble shadow in our lives.
2. Noble Life
Believe that the nobleness of life, that is, the grace of being exalted, will be given to believers who want to resemble the heart of Christ, depend on the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and live with love and humility.
In verse 9 Paul says: “Therefore God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name”. Jesus alone was exalted, and that was the highest praise that could be obtained on this earth. Paul reminds us that God raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand in heaven, exalting himself above all principalities and authorities and powers and rulers and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in the world to come. This is the grace of the Lord who transforms suffering and pain into glory for Ur. If we are saved through Jesus Christ and become one with Him by abiding in Him, I believe that we too will share in His unique glory. So we can win no matter what situation we are in. I pray in the name of the Lord that you will become believers in faith who follow the victorious life of the Lord through the circumstances we are given, always asking the Lord to be with us.