The Mindset Of Christmas

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should 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.
Philippians 2:5-11

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand." Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you." For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "Not all of you are clean." When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
John 13:3-17

A meditation on Paul's description of the incarnation in Philippians 2:5-11 through the illustrative lens of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples in John 13:3-17. The harmony of these two passages is simply breathtaking. And it's overwhelming in its implications. To imitate Jesus is completely impossible in our own capacities. And yet the mindset of Christmas, or the mindset of Christ in the incarnation, is nothing more than the mindset of a missionary, which is what we are all called to be as followers of Jesus, whether we are in our neighborhoods, our workplaces, or going to the ends of the earth.

Call to imitation (a command!):

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5)…

1) Entitlement

...who, though he was in the form of God (Philippians 2:6a)...

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God (John 13:3)…

2) Abandonment

…did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped (Philippians 2:6b)...

...rose from supper (John 13:4a)…

3) Willing Choice

…but made himself nothing (Philippians 2:7a, emphasis added)…

…He laid aside his outer garments (John 13:4b, emphasis added)…

4) Embracing of a new identity

…taking the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7b,c)…

…and taking a towel, tied it around his waist… (John 13:4c)…

5) Humiliation

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8)…

…Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him (John 13:5)…

6) Exaltation

…Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should 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 (Philippians 2:9-11).

…When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them… (John 13:12)

Call to imitation (a command!):

Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them (John 13:12-17).

Thank You, Jesus, for becoming the first ever missionary 2,000 years ago when You relocated to the earth. Enable us by Your grace, and by the power of Your Holy Spirit, to have and live out of Your missionary mindset in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. For Your great name I pray, Amen.