And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (ESV)

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! (NIV)

He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. (NLT)

Dive Deeper:

In Christian circles, we hear time and time again that, “Jesus died for your sins.” It is so foundational to our faith—so persistent in our language, that we can become desensitized to the depth and richness of its truth and impact on our lives. Do you ever feel this way? That the truths of the Gospel have become mundane? This week, I would like to provide an opportunity for you to sit in awe and wonder at the most significant moment in history found in this verse and remind you of its impact on your life. 

To die on a cross was utterly humiliating, let alone it was the most excruciating and agonizing form of death that the Romans could come up with. So humiliating and shameful, that Roman citizens were not even allowed to be crucified as a punishment, it was saved only for those who were outside the empire. As for the Jews, to be “hung on a tree” was to be cursed by God (Galatians 3:13). Sit in this truth and let it sink in. The King of the universe, which all humanity depends on for their very next breath, didn’t just come to Earth and save us from our sins. But He emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant (Philippians 2:6), leaving the praise and adoration of the countless angels around Him, and then stooped even lower and died such a repulsive death that His own creation found it too shameful for man. 

“What must sin have been in the sight of God, when it required such abasement in Jesus Christ to make an atonement for it, and undo its influence and malignity!” (Clarke)

And now here’s the impact of this verse on your life. First off, there are no depths that God’s love wouldn’t extend to in order to reconcile you to Himself. You feel ashamed of yourself and hold on tightly to your guilt? Jesus knows shame. He knows humiliation beyond what you can ever imagine. He endured it for your sake so you don’t have to. More than that, He paid the consequence for the very actions that you are ashamed of so you wouldn’t have to. He suffered and endured the full, all-consuming wrath of God so you could be spared. Jesus truly loves you.

Secondly and finally, this is the level of humility and love that we are called to imitate in our relationships now. Put to death your desires, your pride, your status—bring yourself low, so that you may lift up your brothers and sisters and their needs. Let there not be a depth or condition that you would stop at to love those around you. When your love feels like it’s running out, lean on Christ, asking for Him to fill your cup once more so that it may overflow to others. True humility isn’t just a posture—it’s choosing obedience, even when it costs everything.

Written by Keaton Hewitt