Jesus our brother

Brothers in ancient Greece and Rome were very loyal to their siblings. Even secular writer like Aristotle said that a brother would think of their brother; they would rejoice in brothers by any downplaying of his advantage and share their resources and any glory that they were given. In the book of Philippians Paul is saying that when Christ came to earth he becomes a brother. Jesus was exalted into a place of great authority because of His actions not as the son of God but as the son of man.  When Jesus took up the form of man he became a brother of mankind.  The cross was a manifestation of brotherhood not Sonship with God and redemption was affected not by Jesus in His unique divinity but by his humanity in becoming our brother or kinsman-redeemer.  When Paul said ”let this mind be in you …”  he was saying it’s the same mind that Jesus had to become a brother to humanity. He became a Redeemer brother to redeem us. He was thinking of us as a brother would.  The mind of Christ toward us as a brother, in seen in His consideration of us and his rescue of us. The mind of Christ is the mind of brotherhood.   Jesus acted the role of a perfect brother. He Rejoiced in his brothers. The mind of Christ and his brotherhood is seen in His downplaying of his advantage to raise mankind to share his joy.  He was not in competition about who could see the father’s face. He shared resources. He shared his divine recourses and relationships.  So whatever he inherited, his brothers would inherit too including the Spirit. He would not see a brother struggle and not step up to the plate to help. He could not see a brother flailing or not succeeding and turn a blind eye. He also shared His glory. The mind of Christ and His brotherhood is seen in His determination to share His glory with us.    The cross was to bring his brothers to see the father’s face. He wanted to bring all brothers to have the same place a privilege. Jesus was the example brother.

Friends,  God is enabling us to see our identity in these days and our identity is not just about Sonship with God but about brotherhood with Christ and your brothers.  Paul says that lack of oneness in brotherly love is inconsistent with our identity as the brother of Christ and of each other.  Disunity is a violation of the mind of Christ as a brother.  Philippians 1. 29.