Gospels Part 052
The apostle Paul helps us understand what our Savior gave up to become a human being. His sacrifice was enormous!
Today we will continue with our explanation of who and what Jesus Christ was before He was born as a flesh-and-blood human being. Let’s first look at a remarkable passage that reveals more about His existence before the world and the universe were created. This is found in Philippians 2:5-8, where Paul talks about the importance of love and humility and considering others better than ourselves. Then Paul talks about the ultimate example of this in the attitude of Jesus Christ. For clarity’s sake, we’ll read this from the New English Translation:
“You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross!”
We will break down this set of scriptures verse by verse to fully understand the extent of what Christ did when He became a human being. Let’s notice several words used here to better understand Paul’s meaning. The first is “form,” where he writes Jesus existed “in the form of God” but took on “the form of a slave.” In English, we think of “form” as being similar to or in the shape of, but that’s not what the Greek means. The Greek word Paul used here is “morphe,” which we use even today in the sense of changing or morphing from one thing into something different.
This word refers to the essential nature of something. In this case, Paul is telling us that Jesus’ essential nature was that of a divine God-being, but He changed from that glorious, immortal and all-powerful nature into a nature that was very different—that of a physical, mortal human being. Not just a human being, but a slave! The most humble and humiliating kind of human being one could be.
The next word we will look at is the word translated “grasped.” Harpagmos means to tightly hold onto something very valuable. What does this tell us about Jesus Christ in the context of this verse in Philippians? It means He didn’t hold tightly to His glorified existence as God with God the Father at all costs, but that He was willing to give it up for a greater purpose. The word isos, translated “equality,” means equal in divine power and nature to God the Father. Jesus didn’t consider His divine power and nature as something that He had to tightly grasp and hold onto.
Continuing, we read that He “emptied himself.” This phrase is straightforward and means exactly that—to empty oneself or to become nothing. Notice Paul’s wording here: Christ did this to Himself; no one did it to Him. God the Father didn’t empty Him of His divine power and greatness; He emptied Himself of that divine power and greatness.
Next, the verse states He was “taking on the form of a slave.” The word “taking” means to take, reach out, or to lay hold of. Jesus Christ, although He was God, reached out and took hold of the form of a man. Again, it wasn’t forced on Him—He voluntarily reached out and took it. “Form” here is the word morphe again, that we looked at above. Paul tells us that Jesus went from being absolute God to absolute slave. He became a slave, obedient and subservient to the Father, to carry out the purpose and plan of God.
The next part of the verse reads, “by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature.” The word translated “looking like” is quite different from “form.” “Form” here means the essential nature. “Looking like” means to be made like something or to resemble something. Paul is explaining that although Jesus emptied Himself of His power and glory as a divine God-being and by all outwardly appearances He looked like a normal human being, He still had His divine nature. He didn’t cease being God when He came in the flesh. He was still God—but now He was emptied of the glory and power He had with the Father before becoming a flesh-and-blood human being.
“He humbled Himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.” This is quite straightforward. Having emptied Himself of His glory and power as a divine God-being, He showed the ultimate humility in submitting to the most humiliating and agonizing death imaginable at that time, which was death by crucifixion as a common criminal. Notice again that it was He who humbled Himself. We’re told again and again in this passage that these were His voluntary actions.
What Paul tells us in this short passage is incredibly profound. Notice how He decided to come to earth! He didn’t come in a glorious blaze of light, so all would recognize Him as divine and worship Him. He didn’t appear as a great philosopher who would tell everyone about the meaning of life as philosophers and teachers like Plato and Socrates. He didn’t appear as a great general like Caesar at the head of armies marching to take over Rome and the center of the mighty Roman Empire. He could have done any of these, but He chose not to. Instead, He laid aside His glory, splendor, majesty and power and came to earth as a tiny helpless infant. A baby who had to be fed and nursed, who had to be bathed and have His diaper changed. He did it to carry out the plan that had been worked out between Him and the Father from before the world and the universe were created.
Because of this great attitude of humility and sacrifice, we can see what His status is now. Continuing where we left off in Philippians 2:9-11 (NET):
“As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will 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.”
This is the incredible Being—our divine Teacher, Master, King, elder Brother and Savior—whose story we read about in the Gospels!
© 2026 Scott Ashley. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
UYA Team | uya@ucg.org
United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of the young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.
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Scott Ashley
Scott Ashley was managing editor of Beyond Today magazine, United Church of God booklets and its printed Bible Study Course until his retirement in 2023. He also pastored three congregations in Colorado for 10 years from 2011-2021. He and his wife, Connie, live near Denver, Colorado.
Mr. Ashley attended Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas, graduating in 1976 with a theology major and minors in journalism and speech. It was there that he first became interested in publishing, an industry in which he worked for 50 years.
During his career, he has worked for several publishing companies in various capacities. He was employed by the United Church of God from 1995-2023, overseeing the planning, writing, editing, reviewing and production of Beyond Today magazine, several dozen booklets/study guides and a Bible study course covering major biblical teachings. His special interests are the Bible, archaeology, biblical culture, history and the Middle East.
