AM 21 December 2025
Our Humble, Exalted Savior
Philippians 2:5–11
Introduction
Brothers and sisters, Christmas is a season that fills our senses.
We see the lights strung across homes and streets.
We hear the familiar carols.
We smell the pine and the cinnamon.
We gather around tables, exchange gifts, and share in good fellowship.
But if we are not careful, we can stop at the surface — at the sights, sounds, and sentiments — and miss the profound reality that Christmas proclaims. Behind the manger, behind the shepherds and angels, stands this staggering truth: the eternal Son of God humbled Himself.
The One who spoke the worlds into being, who dwelt from eternity in unapproachable light, stepped down into the lowliness of our humanity — not merely to share in our life but to rescue us from our sin. The Lord of glory became the servant of all, and because He humbled Himself to the point of death, even death on a cross, the Father has highly exalted Him.
And this, beloved, is not just the story of Christmas; it is the story of our salvation. It is the story Paul sings in Philippians 2:5–11 — often called the “Christ Hymn” — where the Spirit carries us from the depths of Christ’s humiliation to the heights of His exaltation.
And Paul does not give us this hymn simply to inform our minds, but to shape our hearts. He says in verse 5, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” This morning, we will see how this text calls us to worship our humble and exalted Savior and to follow His pattern of humility in our lives.
I. The Call to Christlike Humility (v. 5)
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”
Paul begins this hymn with an exhortation — a summons to every believer in the church: “Have this mind among yourselves.” In other words, let your thinking, your desires, your attitudes, and your actions be shaped by the pattern of Jesus Christ.
This is not a call to self-generated niceness or a superficial humility that simply says, “I’m not that important.” No, this is a call to a deep, Spirit-wrought humility that flows from our union with Christ. Notice the phrase, “which is yours in Christ Jesus.” This mindset is not something you can manufacture; it is a gift that comes because you belong to Him.
A. The Context of Paul’s Appeal
Paul is writing to the Philippian believers, a church planted during his second missionary journey. Philippi was a Roman colony, proud of its status and its loyalty to Caesar. Roman culture prized honor, status, and self-advancement. To be great, you had to promote yourself.
But Paul, under the inspiration of the Spirit, turns that entire value system on its head. He says, in effect, “If you are in Christ, greatness is not found in exalting yourself but in humbling yourself. True honor is found in serving others, not demanding that others serve you.”
B. A Biblical-Theological Thread
This call to humility is not new. It is the call that runs throughout Scripture. The prophet Micah summarized God’s requirement this way: “to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Mic. 6:8).
But here is the difference: what God commands in the law, He provides in the gospel. In Christ, we have the perfect example and the enabling power to walk humbly before Him and with one another.
C. Searching Applications
- To the whole church: Beloved, unity in the body is impossible where pride rules the heart. The mind of Christ must be the mind of this congregation. When we consider one another more significant than ourselves (Phil. 2:3), we will serve gladly, forgive quickly, and love sincerely.
- To mature believers: Years of walking with Christ can lead to subtle pride. Guard your hearts. The deeper your knowledge and experience, the deeper your humility should be. Remember, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
- To the proud and self-sufficient: Friend, if your heart resists the call to humility, consider your Savior. If the eternal Son stooped low, what right have you to stand tall in self-exaltation?
Transition
But what does this humility look like in action? Paul doesn’t leave us wondering. He shows us the mind of Christ in motion — first in His humiliation, and then in His exaltation. Let us look now at the descent of our Savior.
II. The Humiliation of Christ (vv. 6–8)
The Spirit takes us now from the call to humility in verse 5 to the supreme example of humility — our Lord Jesus Christ. Here is the wonder of Christmas: the eternal Son of God willingly descended to the lowest depths for us and for our salvation.
A. His Divine Preexistence (v. 6)
“Though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped…”
Paul begins by showing us who Christ is. He is not merely a man who became great, but the eternal Son of God, existing in the very “form of God,” sharing fully in the divine glory, majesty, and nature.
And yet — and here is the breathtaking wonder — He did not clutch at His rights. Unlike Adam in the garden, who reached out his hand to grasp at equality with God (Gen. 3:5–6), Christ did not grasp, did not insist on His own advantage. Instead, He willingly chose the path of self-emptying love.
Applications:
- To the proud and self-sufficient: Friend, if the Son of God refused to cling to His rights, how can you cling to your own pride? Repent. Humble yourself before the God who stooped for you.
- To mature believers: Years in the faith are no license for pride. Let the majesty of Christ’s humility deepen your own. Let every glimpse of His glory move you to quieter, deeper dependence on Him.
B. His Incarnation (v. 7)
“…but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”
This “emptying,” beloved, does not mean He ceased to be God. It is not subtraction, but addition — the eternal Word took on flesh (John 1:14). The Creator entered creation. The One who holds the stars together in His hands took up the frailty of human hands, the hunger of a human stomach, the weakness of a human frame.
And notice the language: He took the form of a servant. In the Roman world, a servant — a doulos — was the lowest rung on the social ladder. From heaven’s throne to a feeding trough; from glory to obscurity; from eternal splendor to diapers and dependence.
Biblical-Theological Insight: Here is “Immanuel, God with us” (Isa. 7:14). Here is the promised One, stooping low to dwell with His people — not in fire and cloud, but in flesh and blood.
Applications:
- To parents: Teach your children to marvel at this. At Christmas, tell them that the King of kings became a baby, not in luxury but in lowliness. Show them by example what humble service looks like in your home.
- To young women: Sisters, the world will tell you that value comes from appearance, achievement, or applause. But look to Christ: He laid aside His rights and status. True beauty, says Scripture, is the quiet strength of humility, which is precious in the sight of God (1 Pet. 3:4).
- To young men: Brothers, do not believe the lie that greatness is found in grasping, achieving, or climbing. Christ shows you the better way: strength poured out in service, leadership marked by gentleness, and honor through humility.
C. His Obedience unto Death (v. 8)
“…he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
The path of humiliation led further still. From heaven to earth, from earth to the cross. From the wonder of the incarnation to the horror of Golgotha.
The cross, in Roman culture, was not simply execution; it was degradation, shame, and public disgrace. For the Jew, it bore an added curse — “cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Deut. 21:23). Yet this is where Christ went. He humbled Himself to the lowest place, bearing the weight of sin, shame, and curse for His people.
Biblical-Theological Insight: Here is the Last Adam, obeying where the first failed (Rom. 5:19). Here is the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53, despised and rejected, wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities, obedient even to death.
Applications:
- To the weary and suffering: Beloved, do you see your Savior? He knows your pain. He knows what it is to be rejected, misunderstood, betrayed, and to suffer. Your sorrows are not foreign to Him. He stooped low to walk your road and to carry your burdens.
- To children: Children, remember this at Christmas: Jesus, the King of heaven, obeyed His parents perfectly. If you love Him, show it by honoring and obeying your parents with joy, just as He obeyed His Father.
- To the whole church: Humility will cost you something. To follow Christ is to take up your cross, to die to pride and self every day. But take heart — the path of humility is the path of true life and joy.
Transition
But, beloved, humiliation is not the end of Christ’s story — nor is it the end of ours if we are united to Him. The way down is the way up. Let us look now at the exaltation of our Savior.
III. The Exaltation of Christ (vv. 9–11)
The story of Christmas does not end with the manger, nor does the story of Christ end with the cross. From the lowest depths of humiliation, the Father raises His Son to the highest heights of glory. In verses 9–11, we see the vindication, enthronement, and universal reign of the One who humbled Himself for us.
A. God’s Vindication (v. 9)
“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.”
Notice that word “therefore.” Because Christ humbled Himself — because He took the path of obedience and suffering — the Father has exalted Him. The One who was despised and rejected is now raised, enthroned, and given the name above every name.
What is that name? It is the divine title Kyrios, “Lord” — the same name used for Yahweh throughout the Old Testament. Paul is declaring without hesitation that the crucified Jesus is the sovereign Lord of all.
This is the vindication of Christ. The world mocked Him, the rulers scorned Him, the crowds cried for His death — but the Father has declared, “This is My Son, My King, My Lord.”
Applications:
- To the whole church: Beloved, let this truth drive you to worship this Christmas. Do not let the familiarity of the season dull your awe. Let your heart be freshly stirred as you consider that the baby in the manger is now the King of glory, seated at the right hand of the Father.
- To mature believers: When discouragement comes, remember this: your Savior reigns. The One who humbled Himself now rules over every power, every circumstance, every trial. Your labor in the Lord is never in vain because the Lord of glory holds all things in His hands.
B. Universal Submission (v. 10)
“…so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth…”
The scope of Christ’s exaltation is breathtaking. Every creature in every realm — in heaven, on earth, and under the earth — will bow before Him. Angels, kings, demons, and every human being will acknowledge His supremacy.
This is Isaiah 45:23 fulfilled: “To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.” What was true of Yahweh in the Old Testament is now true of Jesus, because Jesus is Yahweh incarnate.
Applications:
- To the unbeliever: Friend, hear this clearly. One day, you will bow before Christ. The question is not if, but how. Will you bow now in joyful submission and faith, or will you bow later in forced submission and terror? Today is the day of salvation. Bow now, and find mercy. Delay, and you will bow too late.
- To the believer: This universal lordship should shape how you live. Every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess. So bend your knee gladly now, not just in worship on Sunday, but in obedience every day. Let His authority govern your home, your work, your relationships, your ambitions.
C. Confession of Lordship (v. 11)
“…and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Not only will every knee bow, but every tongue will confess. Every voice will acknowledge what the church confesses now: Jesus Christ is Lord.
This is the culmination of the story — humiliation leading to exaltation, obedience leading to glory, the cross leading to the crown. And the result of it all is the glory of God the Father. From eternity past to eternity future, the Father delights to glorify the Son, and the Son glorifies the Father.
Applications:
- To the weary and suffering: Beloved, take heart. Your Savior is not still in the tomb. He is risen, exalted, reigning. Whatever pain or confusion you carry this morning, know this: the One who stooped so low now reigns over your life in perfect wisdom and love.
- To the church: Lebanon Presbyterian, let this confession shape us as a body. Let our life together — our unity, our service, our worship — proclaim to the watching world that Jesus is Lord. When we humble ourselves, forgive quickly, and love generously, we reflect the beauty and glory of our exalted King.
Transition to Conclusion
The hymn of Christ does more than stir our affections; it anchors our lives. It shows us that the way down is the way up — that in Christ, humility leads to glory, obedience leads to joy, and suffering leads to eternal hope.
Conclusion: The Way Down Is the Way Up
Beloved, do you see the shape of this text?
Christ stooped low — from the glory of heaven to the humility of the manger, from the manger to the shame of the cross. But the Father raised Him high — to the throne of heaven, to the name above every name, to the worship of all creation.
This is the story of Christmas. The child in the manger is the eternal Son, who humbled Himself for you. The man on the cross is the sinless Savior, who bore your curse. The risen Lord is the exalted King, before whom every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.
And this is not just His story — it is the story He writes in your life. The way down is the way up. The path of humility leads to glory. The road of obedience leads to joy. The way of the cross leads to the crown.
So this Christmas, let your heart bow low in worship. Let your life reflect the mind of Christ in humility, service, and love. And let your lips join the song of heaven and earth: “Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Closing Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
We thank You for the wonder of the incarnation — that the eternal Son humbled Himself, taking our flesh, and came to dwell among us. We praise You that He walked the path of obedience all the way to the cross, bearing our sin, our shame, our curse. And we rejoice that You have highly exalted Him, giving Him the name above every name, so that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to Your eternal glory.
Lord, give us this mind in our homes, in this church, and in our daily lives — the mind of Christ, humble and obedient, gentle and serving, joyful and steadfast. Strengthen the weary among us. Convict the proud. Comfort the hurting. And turn the hearts of the lost to Christ, that they may bow now in joyful faith and find in Him life everlasting.
As we celebrate the birth of our humble, exalted Savior, let our worship rise to Your throne and our lives reflect the beauty of His grace. Come quickly, Lord Jesus, and make all things new.
In the name of Jesus, our humble and exalted King, we pray. Amen.