This the first day of Passion Week; and this text is the key-note of
Passion Week. It tells us of the obedience of Christ; of the
unselfishness of Christ; and, therefore, of the true glory of
Christ.
It tells us of One who was in the form of God; the Co-equal and Co-
eternal Son; the brightness of his Father's glory, the express image
of his Father's person: but who showed forth his Father's glory,
and proved that he was the express likeness of his Father's
character, by the very opposite means to those which man takes, when
he wishes to show forth his own glory.
He was in the form of God. But he did not (so the text seems to
mean) think that the bliss of God was a thing to be seized on
greedily for himself. He did not think fit merely to glorify
himself; to enjoy himself. He was not like the false gods of whom
the heathen dreamed, who sat aloft in heaven and enjoyed themselves,
careless of mankind.
No. He obeyed his Father utterly, and at all costs. He emptied
himself (says St. Paul). He took on him the form of a slave. He
humbled himself. He became obedient; obedient to death; and that
death the shameful and dreadful death of the cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him; has declared him to be
perfectly good, worthy of all praise, honour, glory, power, and
dominion; and has given him a name above all names, the name of
Jesus--Saviour.
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