the worse death known to man | Philippians ii.6

the worse death known to man | Philippians ii.6

even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2.8)

humbled means to make low, to level, to reduce to a plain

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, (Philippians 2.8.a; KJV)

There is a figurative or metaphorical meaning as well. A commander assigns someone a lower rank than others. He honors the others. He humbles the person with the lower rank.

“‘Being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself’ (v. 8).  The word ‘humbled’ does not refer to His person as though He were inferior; it means ‘to submit to authority.’”[1]

We see Christ’s humility throughout the Gospel, but especially in the crucifixion. Jesus submits to the authority of the Sanhedrin, Herod, Pilate, and the soldiers. These people are killing Him, yet He humbles Himself under their authority.

the humility of Christ is a choice resulting in activity, in action

Jesus Christ could have become our King on Palm Sunday . . .
yet He chose to become our Sacrifice on Good Friday.

With His death, Jesus illustrates a truth He often shares in His sermons. For example, He boldly declares in some of His final thoughts:

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. (Matthew 23.12)

Humility is a choice!

Do we make this choice on a regular basis?

Is humility a mark of our character?

Christ goes a step further and is obedient

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2.8)

The Greek term for obedient comes from a root meaning to hear and obey a command.

It is clear Jesus is not only obeying man, but also the will of the Father.

When God speaks, do we simply obey despite the cost?

Jesus humbles Himself and obeys to the point of death, even the death of the cross (verse 8).

the cross is not just any death

The Greeks and Romans get the idea of the cross from the ancient Phoenicians.

Officials reserve this particular form of execution for the worst of criminals, the basest slaves, thieves, etc.

For some scholars who have studied it far more than me, crucifixion is the most horrific form of torture and death in history.  To actually crucify someone is far worse than the epic movie, The Passion of the Christ.[2] It’s the worse death known to man.

For instance, one of the most gruesome movie scenes is the scourging. However with 39 stripes from the “cat of 9 tails” the back would not have shreds of skin. It would have been more like raw hamburger. In fact an inspector could move the meat of the back around and actually touch vital organs.

Furthermore, Jesus would have wore his mock king’s robe long enough for his wounds to start to coagulate. As the soldiers rip the robe from his back, the wounds would open again and start pulsating blood.

There is nothing beautiful about the cross.

Most of the time, there is nothing beautiful in our raw humility; in our unwavering obedience; and in taking up our (usually metaphorical) cross to follow our Lord (Matthew 16.24; Mark 8.34; 10.21; Luke 9.23).

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Philippians 2 series:

how to be the church with the mind of Jesus | Philippians ii.1 CLICK

being in the form of God | Philippians ii.2 CLICK

the form of a servant | Philippians ii.3 CLICK

how can man become like God? | Philippians ii.4 CLICK

in fashion as a man | Philippians ii.5 CLICK

[1] J. Dwight Pentecost, The Joy of Living: A Study of Philippians (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973), 69.
[2] The Passion of the Christ, directed by Mel Gibson (2004; Craco, Matera, and Basilicata, Italy; Icon Productions).