The Highest One in the Lowest Place

2:8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

We are so used to the idea of Jesus hanging on a cross that we miss its shock value, we miss its scandal. If God comes in human flesh, it ought to be with glory and pomp. If there was ever royal treatment, He should have received it. Even to mention God and a cross in the same sentence shouts of incongruity. The highest One: over all, exalted, splendorous, majestic. In the lowest place: the cross, reserved for the lowest criminals, a cruel, agonizing death reserved for slaves and rebels. We have our nice little gold crosses, but the cross was never used as a symbol of Christianity in the earliest years of the church. Why? Because the cross was a part of their culture: they knew its horror, its stigma and its scandal.

And not only this, but His death was not accidental. It was more than just a bad turn of events. It happened according to the plan of God. Jesus, our verse tells us, was obedient to death, even death on a cross. He submitted to it. He wasn’t carried off apart from His will. "I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again." (John 10:17-18)

What a melody of love is being sung here! The highest One took the lowest place in order that the lowest ones could be taken to the highest place!

And what a road map is given to us here! The way to the highest place is by going to the lowest place. The road that leads to the mountain peaks is the one that first goes down deep into the valley. No cross: no crown.

Lord Jesus, I praise You for willingly laying down Your own life for mine. I praise You for going from the highest place to the lowest place to accomplish my salvation. I praise You for enduring the scorn and the scandal and the torment that I deserved, in order that I might not endure them. May my mouth sing forth Your praise as long as You give me breath. And help me to follow in the path that You have made for me. Help me not to despise the sufferings of this life or the mocking of men. Help me, for the joy set before me, to endure my cross.