Thought It Not Robbery to Be Equal with God (part #2)
A Jot from John
Jesus did not choose to retain His station, nor did He regard the necessary humiliation robbery. Jesus "for your sakes became poor, that ye through His poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).
The translations in the various versions grapple with the difficulty of the language in verse six. The ASV gives us, "who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped." The NASV reads, "although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped." The RSV says, "Who, though He was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped."
All of the versions make it clear that Jesus did not grasp, hold on to or retain that which constituted equality with God. We have already made it clear that Jesus did not and could not relinquish His Divinity (John 5:18). All that Jesus, the pre-incarnate Word, could release His hold upon was the glory (John 17:5), the power (Luke 4:14, 18, 32, 36), the authority (Matthew 28:18), the privileges (John 6:15) and the prerogatives of the Divine Son of God (Matthew 26:53).
Mark Twain wrote an interesting novel entitled, The Prince and the Pauper. The plot involved two young boys that were "bookends" in facial appearance and size. However, one was a prince and the other a poor commoner. The prince wanted to try life outside the confines of the castle on for size and convinced his doppelganger to take his place in the affairs of the state for the brief escapade. They exchange clothing and names and the merriment begins.
Which one was the prince? He who had the appearance and was enjoying the privileges or he who had the birthright and the title? If you can understand this, then you can understand to a small degree what Jesus did. He removed from Himself all that gave the appearance that he was Divine and entered the world; this Prince became a pauper for our sakes.
But Emptied Himself
Jesus emptied Himself or, as the KJV says, He made Himself of no reputation. There has been much discussion of these phrases. Some have taken the position that Jesus "emptied" by adding to Himself all the attributes of humanity. Others have said that Jesus did not add or lose anything because all that man is He already was and He retained in full possession and use all that He was. Others have noted correctly the primary lesson of the text and simply said, "Jesus emptied Himself." All of these explanations fall short of communicating the truth of the text.
As already noted above, Jesus could not relinquish divine nature, upon this I think all brethren are agreed. Whatever interpretation is given of this passage must begin with the recognition that Jesus retained divine nature (John 1:1-3, 14). However, where the disagreement arises is in ascertaining to what degree if any Jesus relinquished the exercise of His divine powers and prerogatives. (to be cont.)
Onward Rejoicing, John B. Daniels, Associate Minister
