Philippians 2:5-11 Now Available feat. The Sing Team

The Sing Team

Jul 26

Philippians 2:5-11 is now available on all streaming platforms!

The Verse

[5] Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [9] Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

What is greatness? How would you define that word? Who do you think embodies greatness in this day and age? In our current culture, it’s often measured by an assortment of things: physical beauty, financial gain, political power, the job or degree you have, celebrity status, athletic accomplishments, followers or likes on your social media outlet of choice, possessions like a nice house or car, and the list goes on. Everyone seems to be preoccupied with and looking out for themselves and their upward mobility. We are consumed with a life that’s “up and to the right” because that’s what we think we should be doing. With the rise in our concerns for ourselves and achieving whatever success/greatness we think we’re after, we’ve also seen a massive decline in our emotional and physical states. Anxiety, depression, and loneliness are off the charts. But is this true greatness? Is this really the path we were created to walk?

Here in this letter to the church in Philippi, we find Paul wrestling with very similar things that we wrestle with today! He confronts self-focus, selfish ambition, and conceit and calls them to walk a very different path than they were trying to. Instead of living as if they were the center of the universe, Paul invites them to look at and count others as more significant than themselves (see Philippians 2:1-4). What a vastly different way of living and looking at others! This is the mind that Paul wanted them (and us) to think from and live out of. It sounds great on paper, but in practice it’s tricky, is it not? How are we to have this mind in the trenches of the mundane realities of our lives? When we’re in an argument with a co-worker or family member? When we’re stuck in traffic? Paul tells us in verse 5: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…” Note that it is not ours naturally, but rather it’s ours in Christ! Christ has shown us a different way, and we must learn from His example.

What follows in verses 6-11 is one of the most beautiful and staggering passages in the New Testament that helps us understand Christ, the Incarnation, His ministry, what unfolded following His death, and what will one day come to pass in His glorious return. In essence, what’s known as “the Christ Hymn” is the story of the gospel: Jesus’ humbling Himself, laying down His life on the cross, being raised from the dead, and in turn His final and universal exaltation as Lord! We see two clear halves in this hymn: first, the descent and then the ascent.

The Great Descent. Jesus’ ministry wasn’t one marked first by ascent and glory, but rather by descent and humility. We see this in verses 6-8. Instead of grasping and holding onto glory, He emptied and humbled Himself by becoming a human. He wasn’t partially human, but a fully and 100% flesh and blood human. Note He didn’t come as a human seeking praise from his subjects, but rather He came to serve and wash feet and ultimately lay down His life in the most brutal of executions: the cross. Jesus showed us the way of “downward mobility.” This was a way of living that He expected His disciples to follow Him in as well. In Matthew 20:26-28, Jesus said:

“…whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The Great Ascent. The cross was not the end for Jesus. Following the humiliation of verses 6-8 comes the exaltation of Jesus in verses 9-11! The Father raised Jesus from the dead as a divine stamp of approval of Jesus’ life and death and what He accomplished. It didn’t stop there. Jesus was given the name above all names… The name that’s worthy of eternal praise (see Isaiah 45:23)! This name given to Jesus is so great that every knee will bow before Him as a sign of homage and submission to someone else’s authority. All will bow… Those in heaven (the heavenly beings), those on earth (those alive now), and those under the earth (most likely a reference to the dead who will also be raised and will recognize Jesus’ lordship). No dissenters, no struggle for power. Not only will every knee bow before Jesus, but also every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. At the end of the day, we have political leaders and rulers but Paul is reminding us that Jesus is the ultimate King and Lord. We live out of allegiance to Him and His kingdom!

Back to this concept of greatness, what does this “Christ hymn” mean for us in our day-to-day lives? We must fight to hold before our hearts and minds Jesus’ servant-hearted descent. Not through self-promotion and looking out for Himself, but rather seeking the good of others and doing all the Father asked of Him. This is what Jesus did, and we’re invited to join Him… To live for the glory of God and look to others as worthy of dignity, value, and respect! To count them not as less significant but rather as more significant. Commentator Frank Thielman said this:

The incarnation of Christ Jesus represents the antithesis of this human drive to dominate. Although he had access to all the privilege and power to which his identity with God entitled him, and although he could have exploited that privilege and power to dominate his creatures, Jesus considered his deity as an opportunity for service and obedience. His deity became a matter not of getting but of giving, not of being served but of serving, not of dominance but of obedience. The difficult part of all this for the twentieth (or now twenty-first) century believer is that Paul did not leave his description of Christ’s astounding refusal to dominate in the realm of abstract speculation. Instead, he advised the church at Philippi, and through them the church of today, to follow Christ’s example. This means that the church and the believer must adopt an “incarnational” demeanor.

What a profoundly different message than the one we hear today to “make a name for yourself” or “take all that you can get.” Imagine a world that sees true greatness as serving others and not being served… Friends, have this mind among yourselves… The good news is it’s yours in Christ Jesus!

The Song + The Artist

This song was written by Brian Eichelberger and performed by The Sing Team. Brian shared a few of his thoughts about why these verses mean so much to him:

I’m so encouraged and empowered as I read and sing this section of the book of Philippians. I love to see and remember the impossible generosity of Christ - and what’s more, it’s actually possible for us to love the same way by life in the Spirit. This imagery is dramatic but simple - Jesus loves all the way. I want to live in that mind more and more day by day.

Brian Eichelberger - songwriter, production, mix, piano, vocals
Connor Hedge - vocals, electric guitar

Produced and mixed by Brian Eichelberger.
Mastered by Connor Hedge.