But He Emptied Himself

by Mary Luti | published on Apr 12, 2025

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. – Philippians 2:5-8 (NRSV, abridged) 

This ancient hymn about Christ is an ode to downward mobility. The Word steps down from the throne, strips off divine privilege, assumes a body with its limitations and frailty, fully enters our human experience, and never once looks back, even when it means he’ll not be dying in bed surrounded by family, or in a sad accident, or even as the victim of ordinary violence. His will be the humiliating and brutal death of people that other people have decided are trash.  

And it’s precisely this downwardness that makes Jesus the most fully human person ever—his capacity to be in the world vulnerably, with no agenda other than to be alongside us, to eat the bread of our tears and drink the wine of our joy, wash all our dirty feet on bended knee (so many feet!), and never ever cop out of all the consequences of bodily life.  

What opens the way to healing is empathy. What makes reconciliation thinkable is humility. What makes life extraordinary is the willingness to remain ordinary in lowly companionship with all life’s stubborn uncertainties. 

If you aren’t sure what Christianity is about, here’s a clue: it’s not a hero story. If you were expecting someone divine to save the world, well, yes. But it turns out that the divine savior is a man like anyone else, less than anyone else, living on his knees, a towel around his waist, a bowl at his side, and feet. Many, many feet. 

Prayer
May the same mind be in me that was in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Mary Luti About the Author
Mary Luti is a long time seminary educator and pastor, author of Teresa of Avila’s Way and numerous articles, and founding member of The Daughters of Abraham, a national network of interfaith women’s book groups.