Philippians 2:7

“but emptied Himself, taking the form of. servant, being made in the likeness of men”

“But”: In contrast to the path of selfish ambition and self-interest. “Emptied”: “Impoverished Himself” (TCNT). Side reference NASV, “laid aside His privileges”. Jesus asserted "equality" with God, even while He was upon the earth (John 5:18). Thus, again as we noted previously, Jesus did not cease to be Divine when He became flesh. The Word became flesh (John 1:1; John 1:14), but He did not cease to be the Word. Carefully consider the context of 1 Peter 2:1 and you will find that Jesus did not change "essences", rather He changed "roles". Obviously, Jesus "gave up" much just to come to this earth: He gave up His right of Heavenly glory (John 17:5). He gave up. glorious environment, instead of dwelling in heavenly splendor, in an intimate relationship with the Father (John 1:1); clothed in splendor, Jesus voluntarily assumed. more humble manner of existence. People often forget that "being on an equality with God", means that Jesus was exactly equal with the Father, in all things, power, glory, splendor, and wisdom, yet He assumed. role beneath the Father, and He voluntarily placed Himself under the Father's authority (John 14:28). Here is the real meaning of the incarnation. Jesus had every "right" to play the role of the Father, but He was not interested in "His rights". Our salvation was more important to Him, than His own comfort, even when such self-sacrifice would cost Him dearly. See 2 Corinthians 8:9.

Hawthorne makes. good point when he says, “Notice the play on words (‘empty opinion', ‘conceit',. 3) which characterized those who were demanding their rights and insisting on their own way and (‘to empty',. 7) which described the attitude and actions of Christ in terms of setting aside His rights and in not insisting on His own way” (p. 86).

“Taking”: Voluntarily and freely (Matthew 20:28). Being "God" to Christ, did not mean "grasping" for every "right", but rather, "taking" and using the opportunity to serve and help mankind that He had created (John 1:1). “The form”: The essential nature. “Of. servant”: The essential form or nature that Jesus adopted, was the nature of. servant. He served the Father (John 12:49) and mankind (Luke 19:10; John 13:1; John 15:12). “He did not come on earth as king in the power and splendor of. glorified human nature” (Muller pp. 82-83). Thus serving others takes on. new dignity. “The only person in the world who had the right to assert His rights waived them” (Hendriksen p. 109). “It depicts servitude and subjection, unattractiveness and lack of distinction” (Muller p. 82). “Christ entered the stream of human life as. slave, that is, as. person without advantage, with no rights or privileges of His own for the express purpose of placing Himself completely at the service of all mankind” (Hawthorne p. 87). This should remind us, that the Father did not keep His own Son from "suffering" the pains of living. He was born into poverty (Luke 2:24; Leviticus 12:8). Others misunderstood Him, even His own physical family (John 7:5), and the people of His own hometown (Luke 4:28). He suffered hunger and thirst, and others often financially supported Him (Luke 8:3). He did not own. nice house. He did not have any financial security for the future (Matthew 8:20). He did not always have. warm bed in which to sleep (Matthew 8:24). Often people will complain, “Why did God let this happen to me?” They need to be reminded, “Hey, God didn't even make life easy for His own Son!” Unfortunately, we often forget that whatever trials, temptations and sufferings that come our way, we deserved much worst! (Ezra 9:13)

“Being made”: Note the contrast with "existing in the form of God" (Philippians 2:6). Jesus never "became" God, for He always "was" God (John 1:1). “Likeness”: “ Likeness of men expresses the fact that His mode of manifestation resembled what men are. This leaves room for the assumption of another side of His nature, but this likeness to men did not express His whole self” (Vincent pp. 433-434). See Philippians 1:52; John 1:14; Romans 8:3; Colossians 1:22; Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 5:7; 1 John 4:2. All these verses point out that the humanity of Jesus Christ was not an illusion.. like what Hawthorne said concerning the humanity and Deity of Jesus Christ. “That the one who was God undiminished could also be. human person to the fullest,. truly genuine human being possessing all the potential for physical, mental, social and spiritual growth that is proper to humanity (Luke 2:52), and be both at the same time--divine and human, God and man. Hence, anyone coming to the text, in the hope of interpreting the text, must exercise the same kind of balance and reserve, neither tampering with anything relating to the divinity of Christ, nor calling into question any aspect of the reality of His humanity” (p. 88).