Undercover Boss
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Transcript of Undercover Boss
Undercover
Boss
Phil 2:5-11
Undercover Boss
Jesus Christ, according to Paul, is the true ―Undercover
Boss.‖
Phil 2:5-11.
He created this world, but he came to earth ―undercover.‖
Verse 8 says that Jesus was ―found in human form‖ (ESV).
In other words, he looked just like any other man.
Jesus went ―undercover‖ to redeem man.
―God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but in order that the world might be saved through him‖ (Jn
3:17, ESV).
―In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God
sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through
him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he
loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins‖ (1
Jn 4:9-10, ESV).
What type of boss was
Jesus as an “Undercover
Boss”?RESIGNED BOSS
RESPECTFUL BOSS
RUINED BOSS
REWARDED BOSS
A RESIGNED BOSSvv 5-8
Undercover Boss
―Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ
Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count
equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself
nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the
likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled
himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even
death on a cross‖ (vv 5-8, ESV).
First scene on Undercover Boss is usually the CEO‘s
―resigning‖ for a week.
In the first scene of our ―Undercover Boss,‖ Jesus resigns his
place in heaven.
Undercover Boss
What was that position in heaven?
He had the form of God.
The Greek word ―form‖ refers to an outward appearance that confirms
to an inward reality.
Thus, Jesus is divine through & through.
He was also equal with God.
Prior to his conception, Jesus was as much a Divine Being as are the
Father and the Spirit.
Jesus testified to his equality with God.
―Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am‖ (Jn 8:58, ESV).
―And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I
had with you before the world existed‖ (Jn 17:5, ESV).
Undercover Boss
The KJV does a much better job with v 6 than the ESV.
KJV: ―Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to
be equal with God.‖
ESV: ―Though he was in the form of God.‖
Greek is present & indicates that Jesus did not leave his deity
behind in heaven.
Undercover Boss
In great humility, Jesus resigned his position in heaven.
He ―did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but made himself nothing.‖
The Greek term for ―a thing to be grasped‖ or ―robbery‖ is very
difficult to translate.
It‘s used quite rarely.
The word apparently refers to a ―prize‖ or ―booty.‖
The idea is that Jesus didn‘t consider his equality with God a position
to be tightly grasped & not let go.
Undercover Boss
In great humility, Jesus resigned his position in heaven.
He ―did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but made himself nothing.‖
The Greek term for ―a thing to be grasped‖ or ―robbery‖ is very
difficult to translate.
Therefore, Jesus ―emptied himself.‖
This Greek word refers to making something void or of no use.
The cross emptied of its power (1 Cor 1:17).
If the adherents of the Law are descendants of Abraham, ―faith is null
and the promise is void‖ (Rom 4:14, ESV).
Can we fathom the
resignation when Jesus
became the “Undercover
Boss”?
A Respectful Bossvv 7-8
Undercover Boss
Jesus ―made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant,
being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human
form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point
of death, even death on a cross‖ (vv 7-8, ESV).
One of the most intriguing parts of Undercover Boss is to
watch the CEO‘s become submissive to their employees.
Undercover Boss
As the ―Undercover Boss,‖ Jesus took the form of a servant
& became obedient to the point of death.
In Greek, there are two words for ―servant.‖
One refers to a hired servant, an employee. That‘s not the word used
here.
The word Paul uses means ―slave,‖ i.e., one bought & owned by a
master.
The needs of the master always came before the needs of the slave.
―Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say
to him when he has come in from the field, ‗Come at once and recline
at table‘? Will he not rather say to him, ‗Prepare supper for me, and
dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you
will eat and drink‘? Does he thank the servant because he did what was
commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were
commanded, say, ‗We are unworthy servants; we have only done what
was our duty‘ ‖ (Luke 17:7-10, ESV).
Undercover Boss
Jesus became obedient event to the point of death on the
cross.
Jesus was supremely obedient to the Father.
―I do as the Father has commanded me‖ (Jn 14:31, ESV).
―Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he
suffered‖ (Heb 5:8, ESV).
It‘s easy to be obedient in small ways, but it‘s extremely
difficult to obey in ―big‖ ways.
Yet, Jesus greatly obeyed the Father by going to the cross.
Therefore, Jesus became:
A Ruined Bossv 8
Undercover Boss
―Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what
he suffered‖ (Heb 5:8, ESV).
Undercover Boss
Jesus was quite ruined at Golgotha.
Not only did he die, but he died bearing the sins of the world.
―For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him
we might become the righteousness of God‖ (2 Cor 5:21, ESV).
―He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to
sin and live to righteousness‖ (1 Pet 2:24, ESV).
As he died on the cross, the perfect Son of God was anything
but sinless.
He had not a single sin of his own.
But every sin that has been or shall ever be committed were laid on
him!
Jesus‘ body was quite ruined at Golgotha.
Before Jesus arrived at the cross, he was severely beaten.
Nails pierced his hands & feet.
After Jesus was dead, ―one of the soldiers pierced his side with a
spear, and at once there came out blood and water‖ (Jn 19:34, ESV).
Undercover Boss
On Undercover Boss, the CEO‘s aren‘t exactly ruined, but
they do make sacrifices.
Jesus did not make a ―token‖ sacrifice at the cross, but a huge
sacrifice.
Only the worst slaves & foreigners were crucified.
Roman citizens were exempt from crucifixion.
The word ―cross‖ was not even uttered in polite Roman society.
When one was sentenced to die by crucifixion, it was announced
―hang him on the unlucky tree.‖
Jews saw crucifixion as a sign the condemned was cursed by
God.
―If a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to
death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night
on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is
cursed by God‖ (Deut 21:22-23, ESV).
Undercover Boss
On Undercover Boss, the CEO‘s aren‘t exactly ruined, but
they do make sacrifices.
Jesus did not make a ―token‖ sacrifice at the cross, but a huge
sacrifice.
Only the worst slaves & foreigners were crucified.
Roman citizens were exempt from crucifixion.
The word ―cross‖ was not even uttered in polite Roman society.
When one was sentenced to die by crucifixion, it was announced
―hang him on the unlucky tree.‖
Jews saw crucifixion as a sign the condemned was cursed by
God.
Deut 21:22-23.
―Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for
us—for it is written, ‗Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree‘ ‖
(Gal 3:13, ESV).
Oh, the ruin that Jesus
took that we might not be
ruined in eternity!
A Rewarded Bossvv 9-11
Undercover Boss
―Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him
the name that is above every name, so that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and
under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father‖ (vv 9-11, ESV).
The CEO‘s often claim that the benefit greatly from their
experience on Undercover Boss.
They find new ways to implement company policies.
They discover different methods to care for the company‘s
employees.
Undercover Boss
Jesus greatly benefited from his experience as ―Undercover
Boss.‖
God has greatly exalted Jesus & given him the greatest name.
The Lord Jesus has the highest position.
The Father ―raised [Jesus] from the dead and seated him at his right
hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power
and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age
but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and
gave him as head over all things to the church‖ (Eph 1:20-22, ESV).
―After making purification for sins, [Jesus] sat down at the right hand
of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as
the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs‖ (Heb 1:3-4,
ESV).
The Father gave him the greatest name – the name of Christ.
Undercover Boss
At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow.
The Greek indicates that God doesn‘t just want every knee to
bow, but they shall bow at Jesus‘ name.
Paul outlines three classes of beings who will bow before Jesus.
Those in heaven – angelic beings.
Those on the earth – those living when Jesus returns.
Those under the earth – the dead at the return of Jesus.
Every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
There will be no talk about Mohammad & Jesus as ―equals.‖
There will be no more garbage about religious pluralism.
Undercover Boss
At the end of the age, the realization that Jesus is Lord will
move to action.
Every knee will act (i.e., bow) & every tongue will act (i.e.,
confess Jesus as Lord).
There is no reason to wait until the ―Undercover Boss‖ calls us
before him to act.
Why not act about the truth that Jesus is the Christ today?
Why not bow the knee to him (i.e., submit to his will) & confess his
Lordship with your mouth right now?