Magnify the God Who Came Down

In Ephesians 4:8, Paul quotes from the Psalms: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men." Then he adds this question: if He ascended, what does that imply? That He first descended. He descended into the lower parts of the earth. He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.

This is the God who came down. In Philippians 2:5-8, Paul describes it from a different angle: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."

Let this mindset be in you. Think of others more than you think of yourself. If you read Philippians 2:1-4, Paul is saying, do not live for yourself; live for others, the way Jesus lived for someone other than Himself.

He is God, and yet He came down. He did not have to, but He chose to. We magnify a God who came down. Sometimes you will hear someone say, "If God would just show Himself to me. If He would just appear, if He would come down and make Himself known." God DID do that! Jesus Christ came down. We needed Him, and He came down. He could have stayed in heaven, but we needed a Savior.

Let this mindset be in you. Think of others more than you think of yourself. Paul is saying, "Do not live for yourself. Live for others, the way Jesus lived for someone other than Himself."

No human person could save anyone else from their sin, because our sins were not against one another. Our sins were against the God of the universe. We sin because we want to, and we sin because we have to, because of the sin nature that has been birthed inside each one of us. That sin carries a punishment that no human being could pay for. There is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus (see 1 Timothy 2:5).

Jesus did not look at our plight from a distance and say, "Look at what they've done with themselves. I didn't design them to live this way, and here they are, continuing to stumble, continuing to sin." No. He came down. As Jesus said in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." No one took Jesus's life. He laid it down. He died a sinner's death. He was punished as a sinner.

He who knew no sin was made to be sin on our behalf (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus was made sin on the cross. He experienced total separation from His heavenly Father. He was bearing the full weight of our sin. Then, at the end, He says, "It is finished." The debt has been paid. Jesus was that sacrifice. He died for our sins on the cross.

So why do we sing about Jesus? Because He came down. Why do we worship Him on Resurrection Sunday? Because He came down. But He did not remain down. He descended, and then He ascended. Hallelujah!

Reflection Question: How does remembering that Jesus came down and laid down His life change the way you live for others?

Dear Heavenly Father, help me remember that Jesus came down because I needed a Savior, and teach me to live for others as He did. Thank You for seeing my greatest need and showing up to meet that need. I needed salvation, and You provided a way for me to be forgiven. I love You. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Check out the sermon "Our Part in God's Plan" (Ephesians 4:7-16):  https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/fpz7c66/15-our-part-in-god-s-plan-eph-4-7-16