03.11. Christ Emptied Himself (Part IV)
Chapter 11 - CHRIST EMPTIED HIMSELF (Part IV) A summary of the negative approach to the Kenosis is in order before we consider what it is in the light of the text and context. It cannot be
(1) an emptying of Deity,
(2) an emptying of equality with God,
(3) an emptying of Divine attributes,
(4) equated with Christ surrendering independent exercise of attributes,
(5) equated with concealing essential glory, or
(6) equated with self-limiting.
After considering what the Kenosis is not, let us seek to learn what it is in the light of Scripture. We have considered the testimony of many witnesses; and by the process of elimination for lack of Biblical support, the truth should not be too difficult to see. This does not mean the Kenosis will be clearly seen; but like knowing Christ’s love, there can be some degree of sight. There are degrees of sight just as there are degrees of knowledge. In John 20:5, the disciple who outran Peter to the sepulchre “saw the linen clothes lying.” The Greek word for “saw” is the present tense of blepo, which means to have faculty of sight, or to exercise sight. This means the disciple got a glance of the linen clothes as he stooped down and looked into the sepulchre. In John 20:6, Peter, following the more speedy disciple, went into the sepulchre and “seeth the linen clothes lie.” The word for “seeth” is the present tense of theoreo, which means to be a spectator, to gaze on, contemplate; to behold, review with interest and attention (Matthew 27:55; Matthew 28:1). Peter saw more than John, because he entered the sepulchre and viewed the clothes with great interest. He was not satisfied with a mere glance from the outside. May our interest in the great Christological passage of Php 2:1-30 be viewed with as much interest and attention as Peter had in the proof of Christ’s resurrection out from among the dead. Finally, in John 20:8, John - “that other disciple” - who reached the sepulchre before Peter, went in also, “and he saw, and believed.” The Greek word for “saw” is the aorist tense of horao, which means to see, behold; to attain a true knowledge. John saw exactly what Peter had seen. Having gained true knowledge from the factual evidence before him, John believed the Lord Jesus had risen from the dead. I trust our investigation of the Biblical evidence of the incarnation will result in a true knowledge of the complex Person of Jesus Christ. Let us not be satisfied with a mere glance at the evidence, but enter into an intense investigation of all the Biblical evidence and say, “I believe Jesus Christ is God with us.”
Suggestion has been made that “but emptied himself” derives its meaning from what precedes and follows. Therefore, we are told two things about the self-emptying of the eternal Son:
(1) He took upon Him the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. (2) He became obedient. He, before whom all powers obeyed, learned in a new experience the grace of obedience (Hebrews 5:8). Therefore, the general belief is that the self-emptying of the Son of God includes everything that took place during the humiliation of Jesus Christ. The human nature He assumed was real but minus depravity. It had all the characteristics of fallen nature, except sin.
“Christ emptied Himself” cannot be connected with His Divine essence or equality with God. This should be understood at this point in our studies. It is associated, however, with Christ’s human nature, and it refers to something our Lord did during His humiliation. The aorist tense of kenoo means to empty, to deprive of power, or to make of no effect. It is used five times
(Romans 4:14; 1 Corinthians 1:17; 1 Corinthians 9:15; 2 Corinthians 9:3; Php 2:7).
Paul’s use of spendomai in Php 2:17 and 2 Timothy 4:6 throws light on the subject of the Kenosis. Paul said, “...if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all” (Php 2:17). Again he said, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand” (2 Timothy 4:6). These are the only two places where the verb spendomai is used. It means to pour out a libation or drink offering; to make libation of oneself by expending energy and life in the service of the gospel (Php 2:17); to be in the act of being sacrificed in the cause of the gospel (2 Timothy 4:6). In Php 2:17, the possibility of Paul’s execution for the sake of the gospel was weighing on his mind. This act of sacrifice is the main feature of Paul’s statement. He not only lived a life that was expended-used up or emptied-for the cause of Christ, but he contemplated the time of condemnation to death. That time had come when he said, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand” (2 Timothy 4:6). Here, we have the present passive indicative of spendo, which means “I am already being poured out.” Paul was in the condition of the victim on whose head the wine had been poured. The only thing that remained was the stroke of death.
Paul’s life had been a “living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1); but in death, his martyrdom would be a drink offering which would be the final seal upon his expended life. Paul told the Corinthians, “...I will very gladly spend and be spent for you...” (2 Corinthians 12:15). The Greek word for “spend” is future active indicative of dapanao, which means to expend or to be at expense (Mark 5:26; Acts 21:24; 2 Corinthians 12:15); to spend, waste, consume by extravagance (Luke 15:14; James 4:3). The word for “spent” is future passive indicative of ekdapanao - to exhaust, consume, to spend out or to spend utterly. The prepositional prefix gives the compound verb the meaning “to spend wholly.” To the Corinthians, Paul, who possessed the Spirit of Christ, was saying, “I will most gladly spend and be expended (to spend wholly) for your souls.” The apostle manifested the spirit of Him about whom it is said “...for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame...” (Hebrews 12:2) until he too was completely expended for the cause of Him whose life was spent and expended for him (2 Timothy 4:6). The previous statements should make it easy for us to see the meaning of “But emptied himself.” Christ, during the days of His humiliation, did not consider His future honor of equality with God before men something to be seized. He was willing to spend and to be expended in the ultimate sense for the elect. In His holy life, Christ said, “...the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). This verse relates the character, life, and death of Jesus Christ.
(1) He is called the Son of Man who came. Since man was the offender, the Son must assume the nature of man to suffer the penalty for man. In this union, dignity is united with humility. This made Jesus Christ the unique Person.
“The Son of Man came.” His “coming” is as unique as the Person who came.
He came voluntarily on a unique mission, a mission of mercy. He said, “I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father” (John 16:28).
(2) The life of Jesus Christ on earth was as unique as His Person. He said, “The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.” This should fill us with amazement when we consider who came and the place from which He descended. The Son of God did not exchange Deity for humanity, but He did exchange one state of living for another. His earthly mission necessitated a life of service rather than a life of being served. Hence, His life was one spent ministering to others.
(3) The death of the Son of Man was as unique as His Person and life. He came “to give his life a ransom for many.” The word “for” has a vicarious meaning. It means He gave His life instead of many. Our Lord Jesus Christ expended Himself in His death on the cross. There was nothing else to give. He gave all. Not only did His body die upon the cross, but He poured out His soul unto death
(John 19:30-34; Isaiah 53:12). The Son of Man is the ultimate as to His Person, life, and death. Hence, we have the meaning of “But emptied Himself” in a life spent in humiliation that was expended (emptied) in death. Death does not mean cessation but separation of being.