Jesus chose, in His mind, to give up Heaven—a massive sacrifice. The Apostle Paul tells us that the Son of God completely emptied Himself.1
All that He was, up until that point, was gone. Omnipresence, gone. Omnipotence, gone. Omniscience, gone. Why? To save me. To save anyone who will accept His gift of faith and believe in Him.
Then, after being born into the humblest earthly circumstances, Jesus mindfully decided to become a servant to others by again giving everything—His home, His job, His family, His reputation, even His dignity. And finally, hanging naked and beaten on a Roman cross, looking as though He had absolutely nothing left to give—other than the final gasps of a life of love—He gave again, “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit.”2 Gone.
Jesus descended into our depths and gave everything.
And still today, in a consumer-centric age of dazzling worship concerts, comfortable churches and spiritual retreats aboard cruise ships, Paul has the audacity to tell us “Christians”—people who openly claim to follow and imitate Christ—to “let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.”3
Have you completely lost your mind Paul?! Yes.
Have I?
Julian Archer is the founder of Faith vs Finance—a global ministry working with Christians who seek to maintain a vibrant relationship with Jesus amidst the pressures of materialism and self-centred lifestyles.
