"THE MIND OF CHRIST"
Palm Sunday (Sunday of the Passion)
April 9, 2017
Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church
Glenshaw, Pennsylvania
TEXT:
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:5 (ESV)
It was about forty years ago or more when one of the most famous quarterbacks of the National Football League (a man from this general vicinity, in fact) wrote his autobiography. The title of the book was I Can't Wait Until Tomorrow (Because I Get Better Looking Every Day). If you happen to remember the book or the individual who wrote it, you probably would only expect that a man with an ego as big as his would give his life's story a title like that. But there is more to this than just an arrogant egotist singing his own praises. This man's attitude really only reflects the prevalent attitude of all mankind. Aren't we told every day, by everyone, everywhere we go, that that's what life is all about? It certainly would seem that way if we listen to those who would have us believe that getting ahead is the name of the game. "Never mind the concerns or needs of anybody else. It's every man for himself." It would appear that nothing in the whole world matters at all except "looking out for good ole Number One."
What it really all boils down to is attitude. And one thing that we as Christians must always struggle to foster within us is a good attitude about living the Christian life. The attitude that we need to have and keep as we go about living the New Life that is ours in the slain and risen Christ is the attitude demonstrated by our Lord and Savior Himself--something that the Word of God calls "the mind of Christ." That should certainly make sense to the Christian. After all, Christ is, to the Christian, the perfect Example--the ultimate Model of appropriate behavior for God's people. But He is infinitely more than that. He is also and especially the Source of our faith and life, so it's only natural to suppose that He is also our Goal and Purpose. He who is our Starting Point is also our Final Destination, since He is the Center of life for us. In order that we may be more effective in cultivating the mind of Christ that the Holy Spirit has given to us in Baptism, let's examine this morning our Savior's attitude by considering what He concerned Himself with and what He left totally in the hands of His God and Father.
The attitude of Jesus as He approached the great task of accomplishing the salvation of sinners was, above all else, an attitude of humility. He, more than anyone else, knew what humility and servanthood were all about, since He lived these attitudes fully and completely. When He told His disciples that they were to find their true worth by losing themselves in the needs of others and that they were to discover their true greatness in their humble service toward their neighbor, it wasn't just a lot of empty words or a novel idea. He was talking about genuine humility and genuine service, and He was willing to set the example by practicing it Himself. There were countless times when He had the opportunity to save His own skin and promote His own reputation, or when He could have thought of Himself for once, but He didn't. He was too humble. He was so focused on the needs of others that He couldn't be bothered with looking out for Himself.
Inseparably connected with the Lord's humility was His unflinching determination to accomplish the mission for which He came into the world. With His eyes fixed on the cross of Calvary, He pressed toward that goal, refusing to be sidetracked or delayed. "Get behind Me, Satan!" He said to Peter after the apostle discouraged Jesus from speaking about His death. "You are a hindrance to Me; for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men" (Matthew 16:23). When Pontius Pilate was amazed at Jesus' calmness and determination as He faced the threat of the horrors of death by crucifixion, the Savior calmly explained: "For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world" (John 18:37). He was so committed to us and to the cause of accomplishing our salvation that He would not allow anyone or anything to stand in His way. That's determination! That's commitment! That's love!
Perhaps we can learn more about the mind of Christ by observing the things that He wasn't particularly concerned about. Take, for example, the matter of how people were likely to react to the things that He said and did. I can't think of one time in the entire New Testament when Jesus stopped proclaiming His message or "watered it down" or stopped doing the things necessary for fulfilling our redemption because somebody didn't like it, or because somebody threatened to stop following Him, or because most people wouldn't believe it, or because there were those who would laugh at it. He simply accomplished the redemption of sinners and proclaimed it to those who He came to save. The results, as far as who would receive the Gospel in faith and who wouldn't, is something that Jesus left totally in the hands of God the Holy Spirit. It's not that Jesus didn't care whether or not people believed and were saved; it's just that He knew that He couldn't and wouldn't force anyone to appreciate what He did for themHe simply did it, period, and committed the rest to the good and gracious will of His God and Father.
Another thing that was far distant from His mind was the question of whether or not He was going to get any credit or reward or recognition for all of this that He did for sinful humanity. What a stark contrast this is from the average human being of today, who demands to be told, often in an official written and signed legal contract, exactly what he's going to be paid before he makes any effort whatsoever to lift a finger for anyone. But that's the unique beauty of the mind of Christ--the attitude that Jesus had and thatyou and I are to have within us as we seek to live the Christian life--an attitude that is foreign to us but an attitude that the Holy Spirit gives us in the Gospel of Christ.
Humility is indeed a rare virtue, but it is nevertheless one that Christians are to cultivate, leaving the results of their efforts to God Himself. A fine example of Christian humility can be seen in C. S. Lewis, the well-known Christian writer and university professor. Lewis had often mentioned to his friends his humble desire that there be no big fuss made at the time of his death. Even though he was somewhat of a celebrity, it was his desire that his death not be reported on television or radio, or even in the newspapers. As it turned out, he pretty much got what he wished. You see, C. S. Lewis died on November 22, 1963, within hours of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Lewis' name was never mentioned on the news reports that day or in the days that followed, and in the newspapers it was mentioned only in the obituaries. Like C. S. Lewis (and more importantly, like our Savior), we can also have this humble and serving attitude of Christ as we endeavor to glorify Him--an attitude that directs its attention not toward self, but toward the task before us: glorifying Christ and proclaiming His Gospel in word and deed until He comes again in glory. In spite of all of our faults and failings, we can have that attitude. Indeed, we do have it--because it is not an accomplishment on our part; it is a gift of God, accomplished in us through the power of His Holy Spirit.
Amen.
May the One who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, making us kings and priests before His God and Father, lead you to a life of repentance and trust. May He also be glorified in the lives of you, His people. He who calls you is faithful, and He will do it. Amen.