(remember, these are unedited/draft show notes, not a transcript — listening is always better…and if you listen AND follow along below, you’ll see why)
Focus Question:
How did Jesus model unity?
Intro:
It is a cultural, not political, observation to point out that there are many places in the world (and particularly here in these Disunited States), that disunity rather than unity, is the state of affairs. And the Bible, and the book of Philippians, has a bit to say about unity, of course, albeit the expectation is that we pursue unity among Jesus followers because, well, the dude Himself prayed that for us in John 17.
NEW TESTAMENT SEGMENT:
As we get to our NT segment today, it’ll sound like it goes by quickly because it does — the reasons for unity, the requirements for unity, and then the topic of our focus question today, How did Jesus model unity? And one interesting tidbit…the part that speaks about that is one which many scholars think was actually a hymn or chorus of the early church, so there’s that.
Passage: Philippians 2
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 30
Words: ~618
OLD TESTAMENT SEGMENT:
Today in Ezra we hear the rest of a description about those who returned to Jerusalem with Ezra and then, well, the response of a covenant people not exactly living in a way that upheld their end of the covenant.
Passage: Ezra 8:21-10:44
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 75
Words: ~1845
The bottom line:
So how did Jesus model unity? Well, it’s useful to briefly recall the requirements that Paul laid out before he held up Jesus as the model — harmony or unity in belief, humility in esteeming others above self, and helpfulness in life together.
Then here comes a description of Jesus who(1)
relinquished His place. He doesn’t quit being God…that’d be impossible, but while fully God He also stoops to become fully human. It’s probably a bad analogy, but it’d be like the CEO who steps in and says, “I’m going to relate to the shipping dock workers by going and working with them.”
refused His prerogative. When the text says that He “did not consider equality with God something to be exploited,” he emptied Himself, or set aside the power and authority He could rightfully have wielded. So CEO stepping in to help the shipping dock workers didn’t whip out her CEO badge as she does what Jesus did, which was
renounced His privileges and restricted His presence.
Of course, at Christmas time we celebrate His birth, but completing the thought here from Philippians, Jesus did all this to realize His purpose and ultimately be promoted, if you will, back to CEO. But the final lesson is, if the first shall be last and the last shall be first, He didn’t do it for Himself (even though He could have and have had every right to do so). His model of unity, particularly in humility and helpfulness, was the ultimate example of submission.
ForTheHope is a daily audio Bible + apologetics podcast and blog. We’ve got a passion for just keepin’ it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
Sources and resources:
(1) Everything here from David Jeremiah, Turning toward Joy (Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2013).