A Kingdom of Priests (17)

 

Advent

 

Certainly, two of the great Advent passages are Philippians 2:1 – 18 and Hebrews Chapter 2. Yet do we preach these during Advent? Do we meditate on them during this holy season?

 

In Philippians 2:1 – 4 we see that we are to display the life of the Trinity, then in 2:5 – 11 we are to have the same attitude and mind as Christ Jesus in His incarnation, then in 12 – 18 we see facets of Christ working in us and through us – culminating in a picture of Paul being poured out as a sacrificial drink offering, rejoicing (even as Christ Jesus rejoices Hebrews 12:1 – 2). Can we see ourselves and our churches in this extended passage?

 

In 2:1 “if there is any koinonia of the Spirit.” If there is such koinonia, then we are to be of the “same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.” Isn’t this a picture of the Godhead? The unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? And isn’t this a picture of our calling in the Trinity in John 17:21 – 23?

 

It is out of this koinonia that we learn to “regard one another as more important than yourselves” (Phil. 2:4) All of the foregoing is what Advent ought to look like in our lives, that continuing Advent in which Jesus Christ lives within His People, His Body.

 

Then we have the Incarnation in Phil. 2:5 – 11, and there is mystery here that is beyond our comprehension; we have 2:7 connecting with John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” In turn we see Hebrews 2:9, 14, and 17:

 

“But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely Jesus…Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same…Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all things…”

 

As Jesus, we are to be bond-servants; as Jesus, we are to humble ourselves; as Jesus, we are to be obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Our lives do not belong to ourselves; as Jesus, we are not to seek to maintain our prerogatives.

 

Philippians 2:1 – 18 teaches us that the Incarnation is to be our model for life, and that the Incarnation is to live within us, “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). Do we see the relationship of Jesus and the Father in this verse? Consider John 5:19:

 

“Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.’”  We are to abide in the Vine, for without Him we can do nothing (John 15:1ff).

 

As Jesus is the Light of the world, so in Him we are to be lights in the world (Phil. 2:15). In fact, Jesus says, “You are the light of the world…” (Matt. 5:14). It really does a discredit to Christ for us to sing, “This little light of mine…” We don’t have “little” lights – we have the Light of the world living and shining in us and through us and we ought to be living in that awareness…for it is an awareness of Him, our Lord Jesus Christ, and not ourselves. The world doesn’t need little lights, the world needs the Light.

 

What else can you see regarding Advent in Philippians 2:1 – 18?

 

How is this picture of Advent unfolding in your life?

 

In the lives of our congregations?