Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross. (Phil 2:6-8)
Basing myself on four ideas: Jesus emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, and humbled himself becoming obedient unto death, I would like to offer this simple meditation.
Jesus Emptied Himself
Jesus’ self-emptying is unlike emptying a bottle. Neither is it like a change of costume or an outfit. Rather the self-emptying of Jesus refers to a change of nature. In Christ, divine nature genuinely and authentically took on human nature. Jesus did not merely look like a human being. He became human. In his nature, he became who he was not. The self-emptying of Jesus means he entered human existence and become one with us.
Taking the Form of a Slave
Jesus goes one step further. Jesus did not just become human. He did not merely become an affluent human being. He did not merely become a poor human being. He became the least of human beings – a slave. What separates slaves from the rest of humanity is freedom. Freedom is the essence of humanity. A slave is without freedom. A slave is at other people’s mercy. A slave is not allowed his/her own will. That is the problem with slavery – that humans are treated as if they were not human. Jesus took the form of a slave! The contrast is striking! He who was the highest being became the lowest being!
He Humbled Himself, Becoming Obedient unto Death
Jesus humbled himself. Humility is the virtue of a slave. The paradox is clear – the One who bestowed freedom on humanity has now surrendered His freedom. This means that Jesus’ obedience was not merely an afterthought. Jesus, who shared equality with God, freely and intentionally surrender his freedom and became obedient to His Father. He became determined to remain obedient to God and God’s plan of salvation, not matter how it went.
God’s plan of salvation did not necessarily include a brutal end for Jesus. God’s original plan was to send Jesus so that the world might come to believe in God’s love and be saved. But when God’s plan of salvation was rejected, Jesus remained obedient. Till his very last breath, till the very last drop of blood was shed, from the womb to his tomb, Jesus remained obedient.
This Holy Week, we must remember that Jesus emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, became humble. and became obedient unto death. By doing so, he became the cause of human redemption.
As we enter Holy Week, may Jesus’ self-emptying, his taking the form of a slave, his humility and his obedience compel us bend our knees and confess that “Jesus Christ is Lord to the praise and glory of God the Father.” Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph