In order that the mind of Christ may be formed in us, the apostle presents Christ before us as our
perfect Pattern. In Philippians 2:5-11, we have a touching presentation of the lowliness of mind
that was expressed in Him in His marvelous journey from Godhead glory to the cross of shame.
Let us note, the force of the passage is to present not simply the downward path He took, but the
lowly mind which marked Him in taking the path.

First:Christ is presented as "being in the form of God." No man could pretend to describe the
form of One "whom no man hath seen or can see"; nevertheless we are told what was the mind
of Christ while yet in the form of God. His mind was so set upon serving others in love that He
thought not of Himself and His reputation but "made Himself of no reputation," and laid aside the
outward form of God_though never ceasing to be God.

Second:He exhibits the lowly mind by taking "the form of a servant." Not only does He serve,
but He assumes the form that is proper to a servant.

Third:still further does He express the lowly mind by the particular form of servant He assumed.
The angels are servants, but He passed the angels by. He was made a little lower than the angels
and took His place "in the likeness of men." He passed by the higher form of servant to take the
lower. He was made "in the likeness of men":a word that surely implies manhood in its full
constitution_spirit, soul, and body; though, be it remembered, not manhood in its fallen
condition.

Fourth:still further is the lowly mind expressed in Christ; for when "found in fashion as a man.
He humbled Himself." He did not take occasion by "being found in fashion as a man" to exalt
Himself amongst men according to the natural thought of His brethren, who said, "If Thou do
these things, shew Thyself to the world" (John 7:3,4), but He humbled Himself. He did not claim
His rights as a man.

Fifth:yet further He expresses the lowly mind by becoming "obedient." He might have become
a man and commanded, but He takes the place of obedience. This implies the laying aside of
individual will, to do the will of another.

Sixth:then again the lowly mind is seen by the measure of His obedience, for He was "obedient"
even "unto death." This was more than obedience, in obedience He gave up His will; in death He
gave up His life.

Seventh:finally, His lowly mind is expressed in the death that He died. There are many forms of
death, but of all the deaths that man can die, He died the most ignominious of deaths_"the death
of the cross." This was more than an ordinary death; for while in going to death a man gives up
his life, in going to the death of the cross a man gives up, not only his life, but his reputation
before men. Thus it was with the Lord. In going to the death of the cross, such was His lowly
mind_so truly did He ignore self_that He gave up His reputation before men and "was numbered
with the transgressors."

The path of Christ furnished a continual feast to heaven.