Equal with God

“ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. ”

The Centurion said, Truly this was the Son of God . A Gentile gave the only testimony of His true being at the moment of His execution. At other times, demons cried out that He was the Holy One of God , and He silenced them with a command. People were healed of lifelong diseases, and given sight, and freed of evil spirits and rather than have them tell of it, Jesus commanded them not to proclaim Him.

Was it wrong to give praise and glory to the Son of God? Was it wrong for anyone to simply say, “This is God on earth, my friends! He is equal with God, for He is the Son of the Living God!” Often it seemed that Jesus would not welcome such proclamations. But at certain times, in fact, He did.

“Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am?” Mat 16:13 One day He asked His apostles. They told Him: “The Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or some prophet.” “But whom do you say I am?” Peter spoke out: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” That was not only okay with Jesus, but He praised Peter that the Father had shown him this, and he was a rock of faith as Christ would now build a church upon.

Nathanial proclaimed the same when Jesus showed him He saw him hiding under a fig tree. Jesus called Himself the Son of God, but only in certain company, and for a purpose. And it's no wonder He was cautious; just see this: calling yourself the Son of God in public was tantamount to crying fire in a crowded theater. It caused riots. It brought the police. It would so today. “I am God's one and only Son. I am God. I am equal with God.” If it isn't true, saying such a thing is madness. Letting others say it of you calls trouble to yourself. So it was on Palm Sunday.

Last Sunday I preached that Jesus was prophet, priest and king, that He fulfilled all three of these roles perfectly and was their epitome. A king, I said, rules in the place of God among men. God being the great and true King bestows some of His power and judgment and dominion upon certain chosen rulers who may exemplify His dignity so that we can see it and give honor to God. Never in His life would Jesus enjoy such honor, to be held as King of Israel, except for a few brief moments on the road that led into the City of the King.

He chose not a fiery steed, a warhorse festooned in battle gear and armor plating. He chose not a lofty camel, the ship of the desert, garlanded with braided gold and scarlet reins and silken blankets. He chose not a chariot fashioned of silver and drawn by four Arabians, like Ben Hur in the arena. He chose a young donkey colt, never ridden. You see His humility. Even in this one scene where the people of His own country give Him unaccustomed acknowledgment as their king, He takes no advantage. He only wore one crown ever. It was made of thorns. He bore only one scepter, a cane meant for scourging. He wore only one royal robe, a purple tablecloth that soaked into His back's lash weals. And He had only one entry into the gates of Jerusalem, and it was on a donkey. But that was how it was foretold.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, And the horse from Jerusalem; And the bow of war will be cut off. And He will speak peace to the nations; And His dominion will be from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth. Zech. 9:9-10

He bore His royalty for a moment, and even then some shouted that He should put a halt to this mockery, this pretence. And He told them, “I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke 19:40 The rumor of this effrontery eventually became His primary accusation at the judgment seat of Pilate, and was how Pilate described Him over His head upon the Cross: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.”

Is it right for us to proclaim Jesus the Son of God, the Messiah of Israel, the King who reigns forever? Does it please Him that we sing, “Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest”? Should we praise Him? Should we march around the church, into the sidewalks, holding palm leaves and singing, “All glory, laud and honor to Thee redeemer king”? You know it. If we deny Him, He will not deny Himself. 2 Tim 2:12-13

Jesus is man, born on earth, conceived in the womb of Mary, His humanity finite, just as our own. But His divinity is eternal, and as God He has always been, the Son of the Highest, through Whom all things were made. “The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 His majesty was cloaked, was hidden for a purpose. Only at times did it show, as on the mountaintop. At other times, He was simply a poor man. And why? “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” 2 Cor. 8:9 His humility is for us an example. It isn't humiliation, even if He is being torn limb from limb, beaten within an inch of life, nailed to a splintered wooden cross and hung to die naked before an angry mob. What dignity did He lose? What glory did He forsake? What authority did He give away? By His act of humble submission, He is ever more dignified, glorious and powerful. And we should take this as our example. “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, [6] who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” Philip. 2:5-7

Jesus is equal with God. The mystery of the Holy Trinity left for another time, think what that means and how we have to act accordingly. St. Paul wrote: “He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him.” Col. 1:15-19

Jesus Himself said, “I and the Father are one.” John 10:30 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me.” John 14:6-11

God on earth came among men and showed what path we each must take to return to the Father and be healed of our sickness, our sinfulness, our depravity, and have fellowship with God once more. It's a strange thing, surely, that people should reject the message and the messenger, hate His followers, arrest Him, falsely accuse and condemn Him, and have Him executed. It speaks poorly of us, doesn't it? Add to that: God knew ahead of time, in fact, devised this scheme that by the evil in men's hearts, salvation would be assured through not the life alone, but through the death of His Son. God was counting on our being that bad. I only hope He is as merciful as He is shrewd.

Jesus chose a showdown. He could have bantered wits with the priests of the Temple for weeks, months; could have had sides drawn. The people enjoyed seeing the priests challenged in their hypocrisy and pride. Somebody needed to speak to them about putting on such airs. It might have gone on for a long time. So, Jesus, with all authority from on High, entered the Temple and immediately decried the offence of moneychangers and sacrificial animal sales in the outer courts, overturning their tables, breaking cages, shouting and whipping them with cords. This was a side business of the priests, mandated before any worshipper could approach God in His Temple. Temple money, temple animals only, sold at extortion prices: Jesus chose to follow the money, and the priests knew they had to end this quickly. But how?

Get one to betray Him. Blame him , the apostle-traitor. Then try Him at night, without witnesses. And then have the Romans execute Him for making Himself a king of Israel, challenging the divine right of the Emperor. The only man on earth who called himself a god.

But we call Jesus The God, The King, The Saviour, The Anointed One . It was our very evil selves for whom He came, by whose hands He suffered and died, and now by whose faithful hearts and hopes He lives in Chico, California, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Master, Teacher, Redeemer, Friend of sinners, Healer of souls and bodies, Eternal Judge, Bridegroom of the Church . Today, Lord Jesus, we welcome You in your church, and it is meet and right for us so to do.

PFH+