Note 9 at Phil. 2:8: It is very significant that Jesus was "found" in fashion as a man. Jesus was the pre-existent God who chose to become a man so he could redeem us by His own blood sacrifice (see ref. c in v. 6, p. 1158). When he became a man, He was still one hundred percent God in His spirit but His physical body was one hundred percent human. His body was sinless, but it was still flesh, and subject to the natural things we all experience. The physical Jesus had to grow in wisdom and in stature (Lk. 2:52).

When Jesus was born, His physical mind did not know all things. He had to be taught how to talk, walk, eat, and so forth. He had to learn that He was God in the flesh and accept that by faith. That's why the word "found" is used in this verse. He found Himself in the form of a man. His physical mind grew in awareness of who He was. He had the witness in His spirit, but His physical mind had to "take it by faith"-the same way that we do when we believe who we are in the spiritual realm.

When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness he began by saying, "If thou be the Son of God" (Mt. 4:3, 6; Lk. 4:3, 9). Satan was not just expressing his own doubts, he was trying to get Jesus to doubt who He was (see note 2 at Mt. 4:3, p. 75). Jesus' mental comprehension of His deity was something He learned and took by faith. Jesus had to become aware of His true identity through revelation knowledge (see note 1 at Lk. 2:26, p. 56).

Note 10 at Phil. 2:8: Remember that Paul is using Jesus as an example of how we should "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others" (vv. 3-4). Jesus is the supreme example of selflessness and putting others ahead of Himself.

We see clearly from Jesus' example that the way to exaltation in God's kingdom comes through humility and servanthood to others. Paul's example of Christ's humiliation is not only a lesson in Christology but also an example to all believers of all times of what greatness in God's kingdom entails. Let this attitude of heart, Paul declares, taken from the example of Jesus Christ, continue to motivate all true believers in Jesus Christ.