The Joy of Descent

Peter Fitch, St. Croix VineyardSunday, August 28, 2011

George MacDonald

A man’s rank in the Kingdom of Heaven is determined not by how far he can reach but by how low he can stoop to lift another.

(remembered paraphrase—might not be exact wording)

Philippians 2:1-11

1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

Philippians 2:1-11

3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

Philippians 2:1-11

6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Philippians 2:1-11

9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Isaiah 45:21-23

And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me. 22 “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. 23 “I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.

Thoughts . . .

• Phil 2 is the greatest Christological passage but it’s meant in a practical, not a theological way

• We are to follow Christ into ‘descent’• This will make Paul’s joy complete• The connection with Isaiah 45 is a powerful

picture of Christ’s divinity• It also shows that He conquers by weakness

rather than by power

George Herbert (1593-1633)

• Aristocratic British background• Appointed University Orator at Cambridge in

1620• Served briefly in Parliament • Ordained a Deacon in the Church of England

in 1624• Married in 1629

George Herbert (1593-1633)

• Ordained an Anglican Priest at Bemerton (rural area) in 1630

• Died, March 1, 1633

Writings

• The Country Parson• The Temple (collection of poetry)

(published after his death by Nicholas Ferrar, director of Little Gidding)

And from The Temple . . .

“. . . a verse may find him, who a sermon flies.”

The Bag

Away despair! my gracious Lord doth hear. Though winds and waves assault my keel, He doth preserve it: he doth steer, Ev’n when the boat seems most to reel. Storms are the triumph of his art: Well may he close his eyes, but not his heart.

The Bag

Hast thou not heard, that my Lord Jesus di’d? Then let me tell thee a strange story. The God of power, as he did ride In his majestic robes of glory, Resolv’d to light; and so one day He did descend, undressing all the way.

The Bag

The stars his tire of light and rings obtain’d, The cloud his bow, the fire his spear, The sky his azure mantle gain’d. And when they ask’d, what he would wear; He smil’d and said as he did go, He had new clothes a making here below.

The Bag

When he was come, as travelers are wont, He did repair unto an inn. Both then, and after, many a brunt He did endure to cancel sin: And having giv’n the rest before, Here he gave up his life to pay our score.

The Bag

But as he was returning, there came one That ran upon him with a spear. He, who came hither all alone, Bringing nor man, nor arms, nor fear, Receiv’d the blow upon his side, And straight he turn’d, and to his brethren cried,

The Bag

If ye have any thing to send or write, I have no bag, but here is room: Unto my Father’s hands and sight, Believe me, it shall safely come. That I shall mind, what you impart; Look, you may put it very near my heart.

The Bag

Or if hereafter any of my friends Will use me in this kind, the door Shall still be open; what he sends I will present, and somewhat more, Not to his hurt. Sighs will convey Any thing to me. Hark, Despair away.

The Need for Empathy

Empathy is the ability to imaginatively enter the perceptual framework of the other

It is the precondition of all therapeutic effectiveness

Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

Apostles’ Creed

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

Apostles’ Creed

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN.

More thoughts . . .

• Counseling a re-enactment of Apostle’s Creed• ‘Descent’ obviously the heart of the Gospel

message• ‘Upward’ and ‘downward’ spiritual mobility

(Henri Nouwen & Parker Palmer)

Questions

• What would it look like in today’s world?• What would it look like for you today?

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