Jesus as the Example of Strength in Weakness

Jesus as the Example of Strength in Weakness

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:5-11 ESV)

Jesus was weak. When He suffered, He took insults. He was weak, and despite His weakness (or because of His weakness), He gave God the glory. As a result, God honored Him.

Jesus was weak when He suffered. Yet, He gave God the glory. Therefore, God raised Him from the dead and gave Jesus a place of honor.

Some may look at this verse and ask: “Was Jesus really weak?” Some will look at the word that is used here – “to empty” Himself, and say, “Jesus emptied Himself of God’s glory” and was totally human. Was Jesus so weak that He could sin? No. Jesus never had sin, because He was Jesus – God’s Son. But He had weaknesses like us. He emptied Himself of God’s glory so that He could get the glory back. Did Jesus become weak so that He would become strong? Yes. Jesus emptied of Himself – totally Himself, so that He could totally trust on God. Jesus “decreased” Himself so that He could let God “increase” Himself in Jesus’ life. This is what Jesus teaches us. He shows us that when we depend more on God and less on ourselves, then we can strong even in our weaknesses.