A Christmas Hym with Five Notes (Philippians 2:6-11 ESV)
During Christmas we all love to sing Christmas carols, Christ-centred worship songs, Christmas karaoke, or even classic hymns. It’s fun, uplifting, and gives us that nostalgic vibe, especially if we grew up in a Christian home where everyone gets excited about lighting up the Christmas tree, baking donuts and all kinds of cakes, setting up Christmas decorations, picking gifts, visiting family and friends, joining Christmas parades, or even sitting around a bonfire with marshmallows. It’s all so wonderful. But above all the vibes, celebrations, hot chocolates, cakes, candies, gifts, crispy pork, turkey with gravy, Coke cans, Tim Hortons, community carols, snow, and cold winds, it’s Christ Jesus who is above all. Christmas is all about Him. December is about Him. The whole year is about Him. 2026 is about Him. All the years of our lives are about Him.
A Brief Exegesis of the Text: Philippians 2: 6-11 ESV: “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 want to highlight a Christological hymn, a Christmas hymn that speaks of Christ: His Divine Identity, His Servanthood, His Crucifixion, His Resurrection and Ascension, and His Second Visible coming
1. His Divine Identity: “In the form of God v6” Jesus was not just a good man, a good teacher, or a prophet. He is not a competitor among other gods, kings, or lords. He was, is, and will always be above all. We believe in the supremacy of Christ. Through Him all things were made, even you, beautifully and wonderfully made in His image. But sin damaged everything, so He came in the likeness of men.
2. His Servanthood: “form of a servant v7” He left heaven, the most glorious, perfect place. Because of God’s love, we see Christ serving us in human form, cleansing our emotional wounds, broken lifestyles, sickness, sin, and guilt. He cared for us humbly. He served multitudes with divine power and perfect obedience to God the Father.
3. His Crucifixion: “death on a cross v8” Jesus made sure that our brokenness would be restored by His blood. Through His redemptive work on the cross, crucified for our sins and nailed for our guilt, He made it possible for us to have peace with God. The wrath of God was coming against us, but Christ became the propitiation for our sins, and for the sins of the whole world, so that we might become His righteousness.
4. His Resurrection & Ascension: “highly exalted v9” If Jesus had only done good works, feeding the poor, healing the sick, or if He had simply died on a cross, it would not have changed everything. His resurrection is the pivot and centre of the good news. In Christ Jesus, we have life, life abundantly. This gives us a confident promise: Even if we die today, we have eternity when we believe in Christ Jesus. Amen! That is why we celebrate Christmas, Praise God! Not just that, verse 9 tells us something beautiful: Christ is highly exalted, meaning He is watching over you and continually praying for you because He cares for you. Isn’t it amazing? All this Christmas story, He made it about you because He loves you and wants none to perish but all to be saved through the work of the cross.
5. His Coming Again: “Jesus Christ is Lord v11” Jesus will return and take us into the New Heaven and New Earth where there will be no more suffering, pain, or anything evil. It will all be good. But the promise is not only about eternity, Christ cares about your life right now. He loves you. He calls you into this beautiful journey of knowing Him.
As we conclude this Christmas hymn, let us be confident that because of Christ we have peace with God and peace with one another. The message for us is this: God has loved us, now imitate Him. Become like Him. Humble servants, given for the redemptive work of people around us, declaring the name of Christ above all.
