This morning we start worship with:
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.
Out of this verse leaps the word "every". What Jesus has done is of such a degree that He has been exalted to such a place that everyone, without exclusion will confess that Jesus is Lord.
Let's peek back to what He did:
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Jesus emptied (kenoō) himself. He took off the crown, that was rightfully His, and stepped down to become a servant.
Yes, we know that Jesus became a servant of the Most High God, but that is too lofty a picture. I have chatted with the executive assistant of the CEO of Wells Fargo. That is not the picture that this passage wants to convey. Let's recall the Upper Room . . .
Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Jesus emptied himself and became our servant.
With that in mind, let's take one more peek back as to why Paul would want to bring our focus so low.
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus.
We are to follow His example and set aside our rights and privileges to become each other's servant.
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