Philippians 2:5-11 (ESV)
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
“I heard my Saviour died for me.
I heard my Saviour lives in me.
I heard my Saviour washed me clean.
I heard my Saviour set me free!"
Last month I took some time off from most of my music-related activities, and I got in my fair share of tv shows and chick flicks.
One of the shows I enjoyed was season 3 of The Crown. I found it fascinating to learn about historical figures and events. One character that stood out to me was Prince Philip’s mother Princess Alice of Battenberg.
Born in 1885 in Windsor Castle, you’d think her royal life would be one of wealth and ease. Nothing could be further from the truth. She faced deafness, mental illness, exile, war, marital strife, family discord, abuse from medical professionals, and widowhood.
At the end of her life, when she was in better health, she could have been overcome by bitterness. She could have demanded her place in the palace and been reunited with all the riches and comforts she once knew.
Instead, she dedicated the rest of her days to God. She gave all she had to the poor. She risked her life to hide Jews from the Nazis in WWII.
This kind of sacrifice reminds me of Christ’s sacrifice for us.
Jesus was fully God and fully man. While still being God, He took on the physical limitations of time, space, and a human body to reach out to His beloved children. Being a holy God, He knew there needed to be a payment for our unholy ways. He paid the penalty himself and died the death we deserved so that we could live an eternity with Him that we don’t deserve.
He is mightier than any royal figure in history, yet He willingly died the death of a criminal.
Let’s never lose the wonder of what Jesus has done for us. We are free, we are washed clean, and we have an eternal inheritance waiting for us... All because of His sacrifice.