“Circumstances Chosen By Christ For His Birth”

Philippians 2:5 - 8

1. 2:7  “Made Himself of no reputation”

     He surrendered the independent use of His position and powers to                become a “nobody” as far as the world was concerned.       

       Luke 2:1-7  “And she brought forth her firstborn Son and wrapped

          Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger (feed trough)

          because there was no room for them in the inn”. (Contrast                             Colossians 1:15-17  “All things were created by Him and for Him.”)

       Luke 2:39 “they returned to...their own city, Nazareth.” (Compare

         John 1:46 “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”)

       Luke 9:58 “the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head”

     Why did He chose these circumstances?  The great majority of people

      in the world were and are “nobodies” and can identify with Him.

2. 2:7-8  “taking the form of a servant...He humbled Himself and became

       obedient to death, even the death of the cross”      

      Mark 10:35- 45 “whoever desires to be great among you shall be your

        servant...for the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve

        and to give His life a ransom for many.”

     His disciples were to take the gospel to the world. They could never do         this in their own strength. “God resists the proud and gives grace to              the humble”.  By following His example they “turned the world                 upside down”.