Isaiah 50:1-11; Phillipians 2:1-11

Phil 2:5
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”

What exactly is the attitude
of Christ Jesus like?

Would you say the crowd, in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, exhibited the attitude of Christ Jesus?  Surely their shouts of

“Hosanna”,

and their proclamation,

“Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.”

would qualify as a Christ like attitude, or would it?

Did they really know what they were doing? Were their shouts of

“Hosanna”

sincere or superficial?  The events that transpired later in the week, namely his betrayal, his denial, and his crucifixion would indicate that they were superficial shouts.  But then who are we judge the motivation of the crowd who gathered on that first Palm Sunday. Are we any better than they?  Are we any better than the Israelites who the prophet Isaiah spoke to in this morning story from Isaiah 51?

Today’s reading from Isaiah shows a people whose attitude is not one of fear or reverence toward God.  Rather we see a people whose attitude is one of fear for the consequences of their sinfulness.  They were sorry for their disobedience only because their disobedience brought with it penalties.  They questioned God’s faithfulness because the Assyrians and Babylonians destroyed their homeland and took them into exile.  Yet God is quick to point out,

“When I came, why was there no one?  When I called, why was there no one to answer?

They questioned God’s ability.  God responded,

“Was my arm too short to ransom you?  Do I lack the strength to rescue you?”

Must I remind you,

“By a mere rebuke I dry
up the sea, I turn rivers
into a desert…” (Is. 50:23)

It is quite obvious that we do not see an attitude of Christ Jesus in the Israelites, but then should we?   Is it fair to expect of the Israelites an attitude of Christ Jesus when, Jesus wasn’t born yet?

If your answer is no, then explain to me Isaiah’s attitude.

“The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the Word that sustains the weary.  He wakens me morning by morning, awakens my ear to listen.  The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears.  I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back. I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.”

What Isaiah experienced,  is it any different than what Jesus experienced?

“Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged.” John 19:1

“Then they spit in His face and struck Him with their fists.” Matthew 26:67

Isaiah feared God.   He expressed a reverence toward God in word and deed. Isaiah chose to walk in the light of God’s Word and presence.  The Israelite’s chose to walk by their light and reject God’s.   Do we not do the same thing at times choosing to place confidence in our own intelligence, appearance or accomplishments instead of in God?

Such attitudes are as far away from the attitude of Christ Jesus that we can get.  To live only to make a good impression or to please one's self is not Christ like.  Such attitudes put a strain on your relationship with God and with each other.  Paul knowing this to be true said,

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”

What is exactly the attitude of Christ Jesus?  It is humility.

Jesus was humble, willing to give up His rights in order to obey God and serve people.  Being humble does not mean that we should put ourselves down.  Being humble means having a true perspective about one self.  Before God, we are sinners, saved only by God’s grace, but we are saved and therefore have great worth in God’s eyes and God’s kingdom.  Like Christ, we should have a servant’s attitude, serving out of love for God and other’s, not out of fear or guilt.  Like Jesus who set aside the right to His glory and power at the time of His incarnation, we are to lay aside selfishness and treat others with respect and common courtesy.

You choose your attitude.  You can approach life expecting to be served or you can look for opportunities to serve others.  Jesus said,

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

You choose your attitude. When someone confronts you with an attitude that is not like that of Christ Jesus’, you have a choice.  You can give them their attitude right back OR you can give them the attitude of Christ Jesus.

Your choice is like the choice the crowd in Jerusalem had.  They could shout

“Hosanna”

or

“Crucify Him”,

“Jesus” or “Barabbas”

Amen