VIP Grasshopper

Philippians 2:6–7 (NLT) — 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,

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Why is Jesus dying for our sins such a big sacrifice? Didn't he get to go to heaven for it anyway? Besides, wouldn't any rational person choose the same thing if faced with that situation? "By the way, your death will save all of mankind, and you'll get to go to heaven." Anybody would have chosen the "right" thing! I don't see the big deal!

Let's think about it....

One of the things that's easy to forget about God is that he is holy. He is completely "other-worldy." In Hebrew to emphasize something you repeat it. When Joseph's brothers threw him into a pit, the Hebrew is "they threw him into a pit pit." The only word that is ever repeated three times in the Bible is the word "holy" when it's used to describe God.

Think about what it's like to be around another human who is superior to you in some aspect. For instance, growing up I played the saxophone and I was the best. I was able to join jazz competitions for high school students while I was still in middle school and rank well. Then in high school somebody came to my school that was WAY better than I was at the saxophone. I hated being around him, he had stolen my identity, I felt like my talent was nothing around him.

Or think about if you love basketball, how humbling it is when you meet an NBA player. Even on a human level we shrink around someone that is superior to us in some aspect. But what about if that person was a being that possessed unimaginable power. A being that is himself uncaused, beginningless. A being that existed beyond time and space, and brought those elements into existence by the power of his word. 

How do others treat such a being?

Isaiah 6:1–3 (NLT) — 1 It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. 2 Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!”

Angels are worshipping this "being."

Revelation 4:1–11 (NLT) — 1 Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” 2 And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. 3 The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. 4 Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God. 6 In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal. In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. 7 The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. 8 Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” 9 Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), 10 the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, 11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

Here again, this "being" is worshipped day after day and night after night.

Daniel 7:9–10 (ESV) — 9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.

This "being" is treated like a king.

Ezekiel 1:26–28a (NLT) — 26 Above this surface was something that looked like a throne made of blue lapis lazuli. And on this throne high above was a figure whose appearance resembled a man. 27 From what appeared to be his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire. And from his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splendor. 28a All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. 

So how do people respond to this "being"?

Ezekiel 1:28b (NLT) — 28b This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone’s voice speaking to me.

When Isaiah saw the Lord ( the first quote)...

Isaiah 6:5 (NLT) — 5 Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”

After seeing visions of God Daniel says this...

Daniel 10:7–9 (NLT) — 7 Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. 8 So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. 9 Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground.

When coming face to face with this "being" people are terrified! Some fall down in terror. It is so mind blowing, so humbling...that they are overwhelmed with their inadequacies. 

Jesus best friend John sees Jesus again after he's been resurrected. This is what is was like...

Revelation 1:17–18 (NLT) — 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.

Why is it a big deal that Jesus died? Because of who Jesus is...

John 1:1–4 (NLT) — 1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.

Colossians 1:15–17 (NLT) — 15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

And he didn't just die, he was unjustly betrayed by his own follower, falsely convicted, beaten and whipped by professional soldiers, had his beard torn out of his face, had his skin ripped off of his back, made to wear a crown of thorns shoved over his head, had the his own people choose to release a murderer instead of him, was forced to carry the wood that he would die on, had nails driven through his hand and feet, was mocked and spit upon and all the while he was praying for the forgiveness of those that were doing this to him.

Luke 23:34 (NLT) — 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.

It's a big deal because the Almighty who created this universe, humbled himself into our form, endured pain, humiliation, shame, all that....willingly.

What was he doing before that? Being awesome...

Isaiah 40:21–23 (NLT) — 21 Haven’t you heard? Don’t you understand? Are you deaf to the words of God— the words he gave before the world began? Are you so ignorant? 22 God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to him! He spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them. 23 He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing.

This "being" became a grasshopper and redeemed those who were his enemies so that they could spend eternity with him.

Romans 5:10–11 (ESV) — 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Luke 1:68 (NLT) — 68 “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.

Philippians 2:6–11 (NLT) — 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 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.