Triumph of the Cross

Brothers and sisters:
Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus,
Who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. 
Rather, he emptied himself, 
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness; 
and found human in appearance, 
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death, 
even death on a cross. 
Because of this, God greatly exalted him 
and bestowed on him the name 
that is above every name, 
that at the name of Jesus 
every knee should bend, of those 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.

Philippians 2:5-11

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Kenosis of Christ

The Cross of Christ toppled tyrants and Caesars from their thrones. Carrying the Son of God in her womb, Mary sang:

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly. 

Luke 1:52, Magnificat from the Liturgy of the Hours

Jesus spins pyramids of power on their heads by descending in humility and emptying himself of earthly glory. Some leaders in the early church failed to follow the example of Christ, preaching instead from “envy and rivalry” and out of “selfish ambition” (Philippians 1:15, 17). In his letter to the Philippians, Paul exhorts them to have among themselves the same mind as Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5). 

Referencing an early Christian hymn, Paul portrays Christ as the supreme model of kenosis, or self-renunciation, that unifies the cosmos. Though Jesus is by nature God, with unlimited divine power at his disposal, he did not exploit this equality with God. Scripture scholars dispute the meaning of Philippians 2:6, “Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.” In the context of Paul’s pastoral supplication, he likely means Jesus did not seize, plunder, or exploit his power. The Greek noun for “something to be grasped,” harpagmos, comes from the verb harpazó, to snatch or seize by robbery. Several English translations render the word “something to be exploited,” “something to use for his own benefit,” “a prize to be displayed,” and “something to be used to his own advantage.” 

While kings, emperors, and Pharaohs deified themselves with monuments and rituals, the Son of God emptied himself and took the form of a slave. Without ceasing to be God, he “humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” 

Exchange of Love

Jesus’ voluntary humiliation on the Cross offered God the cavity to pour his infinite mercy in a mutual exchange of love. Because of his total surrender to the depths, God exalted him to the heights, crowning him with glory and honor in heaven, earth, and under the earth. All creatures worship Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, whose name is above every name, to the glory of God the Father.

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

Revelation 5:13 (ESV)

Traditional Chinese Translation

《十字架的凱旋》
地上的王利用權力來奴役人。
萬王之王成為奴隸是為了拯救。