Our world is shaped by the pursuit of power. From the playground to the world stage, we instinctively seek to elevate ourselves: to grow our reputation, influence, wealth, and control. The powerful wage wars to enlarge their territories, egos, and wealth regardless of the cost: lives lost, people displaced, famine spread.

What a stark difference to the gospel.

This beautiful hymn found in Philippians 2 turns our world’s vision of power on its head.

- 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

- 6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very natureof a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

- 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

In God’s economy, equality is neither something to deny or grasp. It is willingly laid down in love and joyfully restored to glory.

In God’s economy, power is sacrificed in service of others.

In God’s economy, glorious, extravagant love is poured out on the undeserving.

In God’s economy, the cross, an instrument of shame and torture is the place of our redemption.

In a world shaped by the pursuit of power, Jesus empties Himself.

The One who created and sustains all things and for whom all things were created humbles himself to be one among many in his own creation.

A baby who cannot speak.

A teenager beholden to the indignity of puberty.

The King of the Universe paying taxes to Caesar.

And then, as John’s gospel puts it, “He came to his own, and his own did not receive him.”

Beaten, naked, hanged on the cross.

Dead and buried into the dust that he formed.

What appears to be weakness reveals divine strength because the Creator cannot be overcome.

One of my favourite Christmas carols is Sovereign Grace’s “How Low Was Our Redeemer Brought” – which like all good Christmas carols traces through the incarnation from life to death. The last verse sings:

- How low was our Redeemer brought
To raise us from our shame
And now the highest praise of all
Belongs to Jesus' name
The Healer wounded on a tree
To bear our grief and sin
The King gave up His crown, so we
Could ever reign with Him

- Gloria! Gloria in the highest!

How low was our Redeemer brought?

Lower than we can comprehend. Lower than we would ever choose. Lower than any power-hungry leader would dare to go.

But our Lord is not power hungry. He is the Only One to hold true power. In God’s economy, nothing laid down in love is ever lost.

So this Easter, as word leaders pursue power, wealth and control, we look to our humbled and exalted King and with the angels, sing

Gloria! Gloria in the highest!