Paul challenges us to think the way Christ thinks, and in Philippians 2:6 he begins to unfold what that attitude looks like. He writes of Jesus, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.” That is a remarkable statement. Jesus possessed full equality with God, yet He did not cling to it or use it for His own advantage. Instead, He willingly set aside the visible display of His glory and took on human form. The scene of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet captures this perfectly. While others were concerned about position and honor, He quietly took the place of a servant. It is a reversal that feels almost upside down. The One who had every right to be served chose instead to serve, and He did so without making a speech about how impressive His humility was.
When we bring that into everyday life, it becomes both clear and uncomfortable. Robert Raines describes the attitude of James and John in a way that sounds all too familiar: sizing people up by what they can do for us, how they might advance our plans or satisfy our needs. It is a bit like networking, except with a spiritual vocabulary. We smile, shake hands, and quietly calculate. It turns out that self-interest can dress itself in very respectable clothing. If we are honest, many of us find ourselves nodding along with Raines, recognizing that we are more like James and John than we would prefer to admit. We want influence, recognition, and maybe a little extra favor if it is available. Meanwhile, the attitude of Christ moves in the opposite direction. It does not grasp for advantage but releases it. That kind of thinking does not come naturally, especially in a world that rewards self-promotion and keeps score.
The contrast becomes even clearer when we consider Jesus in relation to humanity’s first failure. Scripture teaches that humanity reached for equality with God, while Jesus, who truly possessed that equality, chose not to cling to it. Paul continues, saying that Christ “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). In doing so, He entered into the consequences of human sin, even to the point of death. This is not merely an example of humility; it is the work of salvation. As Paul writes elsewhere, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Jesus did not lose His identity; He revealed it through self-giving love. In Him, true greatness is not found in grasping but in giving, and His attitude reshapes how we understand both God and ourselves.