The Mind of Michael Jordan vs. the Mind of Christ

    

    In Philippians 2:6 it says that Jesus did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited. The word here for exploited is difficult to translate, but most literally it is used when referring to something being seized by force. So, if Jesus had regarded equality with God as something to be exploited, as something to be seized by force, I imagine it would’ve looked like this: I imagine it would’ve been Jesus having to showboat his power and majesty so as to get the respect and praise that he deserved as God Almighty. It would’ve looked like Jesus demanding respect, commanding respect.

    I’ll illustrate with a story about Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan demands respect, he takes any insult personally; anything that would diminish his status concerns him greatly. One day he was visiting his alma mater, North Carolina, and their basketball team. And one starting player on that UNC team dared to tell him that he thought that Hakeem Olajuwon was the greatest basketball player of all time. Well, of course, Michael took that personally; he thought he was the greatest of all time. So, he took his beef to the court. He had the 5 UNC starters play against him with a team of 4 walk-ons. And Michael went on to just destroy the UNC starters. By force, by power, by skill, Michael Jordan would seize and demand the respect he deserved to his name.

    Jesus could’ve been like that; Jesus could’ve demanded respect. Think about when Jesus was mocked in this life like on the cross when the soldiers said, “If he’s really the king of Israel, let him save himself, let him get down off that cross.” If Jesus had the Michael Jordan mentality, oh boy, he sure would’ve made those soldiers eat their words. An army of angels could’ve come down instantly to rescue Jesus in a manner of surpassing glory that would’ve left those soldiers stunned and in awe. In light of that, the humility of Jesus is just wild to think about: that Jesus, who has the name above every name, who has all power and majesty and glory to himself, let himself be mocked, overlooked, and disrespected during his lifetime. It’s wild that Jesus let tiny regional governors like Pontius Pilate claim to have authority over him, that Jesus let mortal Caesar claim the title of Lord, a title that belonged to Jesus alone. Surely it’s more insulting for Caesar to try and claim to be Lord when Jesus is than for someone to claim that Hakeem Olajuwon was a better basketball player than Michael Jordan. But Jesus did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited. 

    Jesus knew that the purpose of being equal with God was not to use all that power to glorify himself. The purpose of being equal with God was not to showboat in order to demand respect and seize praise. The purpose of being equal with God was to use all that power to be the best servant he could be. The purpose was to use his authority to model for others the path of humility and sacrifice we all should walk.

    Most of us humans, we want all the respect we can grasp and more. But Jesus, who is God, is content to take the form of a slave (Philippians 2:7), and to be disrespected over and over in humility. Philippians 2:10-11 predicts that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord... but that day could be today if God really wanted. God could act out right now in unmistakable power. God could write us letters in the clouds. God could thunder his voice from heaven for all to see. If God wanted to demand respect, if he wanted to seize glory, he could, instantly. In the snap of his fingers, we would all be bowing in obeisance to him in awe of his great power and might.

    Why did Jesus come to this earth in humility instead of glory? Why did he come as a vulnerable baby instead of as a conquering king? Perhaps to model that it is the path of humility that leads to exaltation. Perhaps to model that it is in losing our life, giving up our life for others, that we truly gain life. But maybe also because Jesus would rather draw us into relationship with him like a lover pursuing us than like a king demanding our fealty. Perhaps Jesus is more interested in winning our hearts than forcing our service. If he came in all his power and glory we would serve him out of fear and necessity. But if Jesus comes humbly, if he reveals himself in slightly more subtle ways, he can reveal himself to us in a way that, if we so choose, we can follow him because we love and respect him, and yet such that we can reject him, if we so choose, too. 

    Yes, Jesus came not demanding the glory due to God's great name, but Jesus came living a life of such sacrificial love that it's hard for us not to offer up willingly to him the glory he deserves. He did not seize our respect, but he sure earned it: "How many kings step down from their thrones? How many lords have abandoned their homes? How many greats have become the least for me? And how many gods have poured out their hearts to romance a world that is torn all apart? How many fathers gave up their sons for me? Only one did that for me." (How Many Kings by Downhere)    

    But interestingly, we are told in the Bible that though at Jesus' first coming he came in humility, that at Jesus' second coming he will come in glory such that every knee will bow. For he cannot withhold his glory forever, for our sake more than his. He must one day set this world right, restore it to its heavenly state, and the only way to do that is for all of creation to live under the authority of the kingdom of God, the kingdom of justice, peace, and love. On that day, we will either bow in glad adoration and praise, or bow in fear and trembling and resentment, wanting still to rather be lords of our own lives than to live with Christ as Lord. And, if we so choose, God will let us be lords in hell rather than servants in heaven.