The Watchword of the Son of Man # 5

5. The Mind and the Method of the Ultimate Purpose (continued)

That is what is significant in this. Do you say that is imagination taking flight? Then come again to Philippians 2. There He is in the Throne with God. "He counted it not a thing to be grasped to be on an equality with God, but emptied Himself ..." He laid aside the garments of Glory. He rose from His Throe of equality with God and took upon Himself "the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men." There is the towel of our humanity. In essence He was always equal with the Father, but in ministry He accepted our dependence. He came forth, and poured out His blood to wipe the stains of sin from the universe. That is why there is this basis - "Knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He came forth from God, and goeth unto God." You see, that is the background of this thing. "What I do thou knowest not now," but they did understand afterward. All this was set before them as showing that this is the way of the highest service - not to be important, not to be high and lifted up above everyone else. This was a blow at their attitude at this very time, when no one would take upon himself the form of a slave and wash the others' feet.

Now recognize this one central thing. Pride was the source of all human sin. It began with satan. "Thou saidst in thine heart ... I will be like the Most High" (Isaiah 14:13, 14). he who had no right to equality sought to grasp it. He Who had the right to it did not think it a thing to be grasped, and saw a need for laying it down. Pride was the source of all human sin, and the wreckage of the world; so Christ must needs provide an antidote for the source of sin. What is that? - His own humiliation. He reverses the order, and ends all this work of the devil by and in His own humiliation.

Now He says in effect to them, and to us, 'Do you want to remove the ground from the devil?Then pride must be torn from your hearts, and you must pour yourselves out unto death; pour yourselves out for the sake of the Name, and for the sake of others. Position, prestige, reputation, these must be of no concern whatever. The spirit of victorious service is this.' So here you have the mind and the method of the ultimate purpose.

"Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, counted it not a thing to be grasped to be on an equality with God, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, yea, the death of the Cross. Wherefore also God highly exalted Him and gave unto Him the name which is above every name" (Phil. 2:5-9)

~T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 6 - (6. The Instrument of the Ultimate Purpose)