Title The Lord's Way (Philippians 2:5-11)
Contents This time, I would like to speak with the title of the way the Lord took, that is, the way of the cross. There are two paths in the course of our life, and we can reach heaven only if we choose these paths well. It is a narrow road and a broad road. The narrow road is narrow and strait, but it is the way of life. The broad road is large and wide, and it is easy, but it is the road of death. That is why the Lord said, “Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and many go in by it, and the gate is narrow and stray that leads to life, and few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). In doing so, the Lord Himself went down this narrow road.
In fact, there were many broad roads that were not narrow for the Lord. Like Satan's temptation, there was a way to become an economic Messiah who was revered by making bread with stones to solve the problem of hunger. If the Lord becomes the Minister of Economy, why can't we make the world's first country? Or, there was the way of the religious Messiah, who jumped from the top of the temple and received applause and applause from the people for not hurting him. Or, there was the political Messiah's way to liberate the Jewish people by bowing down to the devil and seizing worldly power. In this way, there were a number of ways that were appealing, attractive, and welcoming to Jesus.
But the Lord rejected all these paths and walked the narrowest, toughest, most painful and bitter way of the cross. Our Lord has chosen the most foolish path in the eyes of men. Why? Because that was the only way that could bring the salvation of eternal life to our lives. But the Lord went ahead on this road and told us to take up our cross and follow me.
So, what kind of path is the way of the cross that the Lord walked?
1. The way of the cross is the way of self-denial.
Verse 6 says, “He was in the form of God, but did not regard equality with God as robbery.” This word means that God became human, and it means the Lord's thorough self-denial. This self-denial is well expressed in Matthew 16:24, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."
Lord, I am God, but I did not do that. Then, shouldn't we be more like that? I have to be someone who puts me down like a child who has not been formed. i must die It's okay if my dreams are ruined. I hope the Lord's dreams come true. Only when we have this lowliness that I am nothing can we follow the Lord.
When young people who live their own way in the world enter the military, they train them to obey absolutely. You have to give up being who you really are before you can adapt. Sometimes you have to give up being human. Just like Saul who fell before the light of God on the road to Damascus, only when he confessed, “I am like a child of immature birth, I am not as good as all things, I am the chief among sinners.” Only then can you become a true disciple of the Lord.
2. The way of the cross is the way of humility.
As we read in verses 7-8, “Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, and being made in human form, when he was found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of a cross.” He was humbled to the very bottom of the world and took the form of a servant, humbled himself like men, humbled himself, became obedient to the point of death, and died on the cross.
How low was Jesus? Jesus, who was born in a manger in Bethlehem, came into the world as the son of a carpenter in Nazareth, and spent his life in ignorance and contempt, working with the poor, orphans, widows, and the marginalized, healing the sick, helping the weak, and a friend of sinners. that you have become. Matthew 8:20 says, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” The homeless man of that time was our Lord.
And he said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). So he washed the disciples' feet, tolerated sinners, healed the sick, and fed the hungry. A disciple must follow this path of love and humility.
You may know Yang Young-ja, a gold medalist in table tennis at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, who was called the 'Queen of the Green Table'. Aren't you guaranteed a lifetime of being an Olympic gold medalist? Even with that name alone, he is a person who will live a lifetime of glory. However, at the call of God, Yang went to Mongolia, a poor and underdeveloped country, without any recognition, and is suffering and missionary work. I read this article and thought that I was truly a daughter of God.
If you ask a mountaineer why he climbs a mountain, he says it is because there is a mountain there. The reason we have to humble ourselves like this is because there are people who can only take care of us when we humble ourselves. Just as even the weakest and humblest people were saved because the Lord came to the lowest level, we too must humble ourselves to serve and love. We must become people who weep and laugh with those whom God loves. Because the cross is love and humility.
Verse 8 says, “He became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Jesus not only humbled himself, but also offered himself as a sacrifice to atone for the salvation of mankind. This is why we must follow the Lord of sacrifice. To do this, we must realize the sacrificial love of the Lord.
Last week, I had a lot of work to do next week, but I prayed all week thinking that I had to prepare well for the sermon about suffering, especially since it is Palm Sunday and Holy Week. Isn't it the duty of the preacher to be interested in the Word? However, no matter how much you pray, you do not receive the inspiration of the Word as before. So last Friday, when I was exhausted and heartbroken, the Lord said to me. “You are more interested in making a good Passion Sunday sermon than thinking deeply about my suffering.” When I heard the rebuke, I realized that it was true, and I repented. Then he gave me a message to preach. I hope that you will be more concerned about how deeply you think about the Lord’s suffering than my sermons, and how much you have gratitude and participation. Because the Lord looks at our hearts more than words.
I hope you will think of the Lord even if we suffer in various ways in our lives. How sick was the Lord? How patient must the Lord be? Even if your body hurts, material pressures come, or difficulties in human relationships, please think of our Lord. And please follow the Lord. The Lord will see your heart and reward you with a reward.
But the truth is that this is the path of the highest glory.
Look at verses 9-11. “For this reason God highly exalted him and bestowed upon him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and with every mouth confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to God the Father to glorify you.”
It is a narrow road, but it is the way of life. It is a road of suffering, but it is the way of glory. It is the most blessed road. It is the path that God is fully with. You are worthy to enter that glorious heaven. Only those who follow the Lord on the way of the cross can enter this place. That is why the steep, narrow, and narrow road of the cross is the door that leads to life.
According to the testimonies, fewer than 1 in 1,000 are worthy of New Jerusalem citizens. Because few people take up their cross and follow the Lord. When I heard that, I became greedy. We must raise all *** members of our church to become such people. Then, when you see the Lord, won't you see it with the faith of **10,000 members? In the sight of our Lord, we earnestly hope that our church will become the largest church in heaven, the strongest church, the most precious church, and the most beautiful church. To do that, one must wash one's robe and prepare to enter through the gates. The Lord said. “Strive to enter through the narrow gate. I tell you, there will be many who will seek to enter and will not be able to.”
Dear saints,
The way of the cross is the way of self-denial. The way of the cross is the way of love and humility. The way of the cross is the way of self-sacrifice. But this way is the way of life, the way of glory, and the way of happiness. I bless you in the name of the Lord that we may all follow the narrow path of the cross that the Lord has gone before, to eternal life and glory.