The cross for God was the way of self-emptying; it was the release of the divine prerogative. He could cling to “being God” or He could release it and become a man. Not just a man, but a slave. It was moving from a higher position to the lowest position. He died with criminals, never screaming His innocence in protest. We must trade self-assertion for self-emptying. We must choose the way of humility over self-exhalation. To follow Christ is to have the attitude, this set of the soul, that He had.
5″ You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5–11 (NLT)
