|He humbled Himself| (Phil. ii.8).

One of the hardest things for a lofty and superior nature is to be under authority, to renounce his own will, and to take a place of subjection. But Christ took upon Him the form of a servant, gave up His independence, His right to please Himself, His liberty of choice, and after having from eternal ages known only to command, gave Himself up only to obey. I have seen occasionally the man who was once a wealthy employer a clerk in the same store. It was not an easy or graceful position, I assure you. But Jesus was such a perfect servant that His Father said: |Behold, My Servant in whom My soul delighteth.| All His life His watchword was, |The Son of Man came to minister.| |I am among you as He that doth serve.| |I can do nothing of Myself.| |Not My will, but Thine, be done.| Have you, beloved, learned the servant's place?

And once more, |He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.| His life was all a dying, and at last He gave all up to death, and also shame, the death of crucifixion. This last was the consummation of His love.