The Kenosis of Jesus

Since creating this blog I have gotten asked several times to explain what kenosis is and why I chose to use it in my title. Since last time I did a linguistics lesson I thought that I would continue the theme and talk here about a Greek word.

The term kenosis comes from the Greek word κενόω (ken-o'-o).This term is most often referred to in reference to one specific verse: Philippians 2:7. It is in this Passage that Paul talks about the sacrifice that Jesus made. Often we consider that sacrifice the Cross. Which indeed Paul talks about. But here Paul also mentions another kind of humility.

Viking Raids

Paul starts of this section (Phil 2:5-11) by describing that Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be "grasped." This is perhaps a misleading translation. The Greek word used here was often seen in court cases where someone broke in and violently robbed another person. The image is more like Vikings plundering a town then someone holding on to something.

So in this context it would seem that Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be hoarded; like a dragon hoards gold. This is what makes kenosis so astounding. Jesus was God. John 1 tells us that Jesus was preexistent with the Father. Yet in the incarnation (Jesus becoming human) Jesus κενόω. He gave up the privileges of being God. Why? Because He did not consider it something to be lorded over humanity. Because it was the only way for humanity to be put back in right standing with God.

The End of Failures

If you look at the Old Testament you will find it full of stories about God trying to use Israel as the means to bring salvation to the world. Yet each and every time Israel, or their representative, fails. It would seem that no human could truly repay the debt that was owed.

The early church father Athanasius described the work of God as worthy offering. His emphasis was that only Jesus could save humanity. It is the unique nature of Jesus that makes this possible. Jesus was at once fully human and fully God. God required that all humanity live perfect lives.

Yet this was impossible for any human. So when we sin we not only fall short of that perfection, but we also now need to make up for it. Even if we live a perfect life after that we still have not made up for the misstep we took before. No human could save the whole world. Jesus was not just a human, he was God. As God, Jesus is able to restore the relationship for all humanity. He put it like this:

"For His it was once more both to bring the corruptible to incorruption, and to maintain intact the just claim of the Father upon all. For being Word of the Father, and above all, He alone of natural fitness was both able to recreate everything, and worthy to suffer on behalf of all and to be ambassador for all with the Father."

The Miracle of the Incarnation

This is the miracle of the incarnation. Jesus does not consider being God something to hoard. He is not like the gods of Greece who use humans as puppets and would never think to dirty themselves in humanity. Rather Jesus kenosis and becomes human. He humbles himself to save us.

Jesus' humility is not just to become human and deal with all the messiness of humanity. No Jesus goes even further. He dies the worst possible death imaginable. He dies a death reserved for the worst enemies of Rome. He dies a death that would make him a mockery among his people the Jews. He dies a painful agonizing death like the world has not seen. But that is not the end!

After three days he is raised from the dead. Sin is defeated. Death has no sting. Satan no longer has power. The veil that separated us from the full presence of our creator is torn. Humanity is now able to come to God and worship. We are put back in right standing with God. That is the miracle of the kenosis. It means salvation to the world.

So why title my blog Contemplating Kenosis?

Well take a look at Phil 2:5. Paul is telling the church at Philippi to have that same mind. He is encouraging them to have the same humility as Jesus. The same sacrifice. The same love for fellow humans. This is no simple request. It means giving up oneself for the other. It means considering others better than ourselves. It means looking to Christ as our example.

"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves"

The question I have for you is this. Do you live out the kenosis? Is your life lived in such a way that you have the same mind as Christ? Could someone look at your life and say that you had the same humility of Jesus? My hope is that the church will start to look to Jesus as our example. We will realize that it takes humility like Him to live out our purpose here on this earth. If we truly want to combat the image made for us by hate groups and televangelists then we need to have the same mind as Christ.

May the God who created you, give you the strength to live His will daily. May you never forget the sacrifice of your Lord and Savior. May you have the same humility. And may you always think of others before yourself.

Amen!