Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.
    Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
    Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.
   - Philippians 2:5, 8-10

In Christ we see set forth the lovely traits of One Who in perfection had the lowly mind, manifested in His setting aside every thought of self, taking the path of a servant, and becoming obedient unto death. In tracing this path, the apostle [Paul] shows us not only each downward step, but the mind in which Christ took this path---the lowly mind.

It is not possible to follow all His steps, for we were never in the height from which He came, nor are we asked to travel into the depths that He went; but we are exhorted to have His mind in taking these steps.

Our gaze is first directed to Christ in the very highest place, "in the form of God" (Philippians 2:6). Then it was that in His mind He "made Himself of no reputation" (verse 7). He did not consider Himself. To carry out the will of the Father and secure the blessing of His people, He was prepared to take the lowly place.

Coming into the world, He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." Passing through it, He said, "I always do those things that please Him." Going out of the world, He said, "Not My will, but Yours, be done." (See Hebrews 10:7; John 8:29; Luke 22:42.)

With this lowly mind, the Lord not only became obedient, but He became obedient unto death. With this lowly mind, the Lord not only faced death, but submitted to the most ignominious death that a man can die: "even the death of the cross."

As we trace this wonderful path, down and down, from the highest glory to a cross of shame, let us not be content with merely being admirers of that which is morally beautiful, for this is possible even for a natural man. We need grace, not only to admire, but that there may be a practical effect produced in our lives, according to the apostle's exhortation, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."

In light of the lowly mind seen in Jesus, we may well challenge our hearts as to how far we have judged the vainglory that is so natural to us, and with the lowly mind have sought to forget ourselves in order to serve others in love, and manifest something of the lowly grace of Christ.

If with the lowly mind He went down below all, God has given Him "the name which is above every name" and a place of exaltation above all. There have been others famous in the history of the world and amongst the saints of God, but the fame of Christ, as a Man, exceeds them all.

The name of Jesus expresses the fame of this lowly Man. It means "Savior," and as such it is a name that is above every name. May we not say it is the one name that the Lord had to come down from the glory to a cross of shame to secure? Over the cross it was written, "This is Jesus." Men in their scorn said, "Let Him now come down from the cross." Had He done so, He would have left the name of Jesus behind Him. He would still have been the Creator, the mighty God, but never more would He have been Jesus---the Savior.

Blessed be His name, His lowly mind led Him to be obedient to the death of the cross, and in result every knee will bow to the name of Jesus and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Hamilton Smith