“. . . Christ Jesus, Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:5–7).

A Christmas carol which has ministered to many over the decades is entitled “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne.” It tells the story of Christ’s incarnation, birth, life, and death, ending with hope for the future and assurance of salvation. Its five verses will focus our attention these next five days. We should note the little word, “but,” for each of the first four verses pivots on it, while it is conspicuously absent in the fifth.

Thou didst leave thy throne And thy kingly crown When thou camest to earth for me; But in Bethlehem’s home Was there found no room For thy holy nativity.

Our text sets forth how God the Son set aside His kingly crown and came to earth as a man, to live a sinless life and die a perfect sacrifice. The passage continues “And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (v.8).

The song declares that He did this for “me,” and so He did, for “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief” (I Timothy 1:15). “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

His status was kingly and His mission gracious, but His birth in Bethlehem was very lowly, from a human perspective. “And she [i.e., Mary] brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the Inn” (Luke 2:7). Nevertheless, we can make room for Him. “O come to my heart Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for thee.” JDM