The Bridge
Read Philippians 2:1-11
(He)…made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Philippians 2:7
Before there was Lance Armstrong, before there was Greg Le Mond, there was Marshal “Major” Taylor. Marshal Taylor, the son of slave parents, lived in the late 19th century and worked as a bicycle mechanic. Being from the first generation after the Civil War, Marshal knew a freedom his parents could only imagine, yet life was far from easy for a young African-American. He gained the nickname “Major” by performing bicycle stunts in front of the bike shop where he worked, wearing a military uniform. Yet what Marshal wanted to do, above all else, was to race. Around the turn of the 20th century, bike racing was a major sport in the United States and Europe. People of color, however, were unheard of on the competitive racing circuit. Despite this Marshal found himself on the starting line. He would often be threatened by his competitors, who told him that once out of sight they would stop and beat him to death. Marshal had a novel way around this; he would simply take off so strong and so fast, no one could get near him.
It was not long before Marsh “Major” Taylor became a superstar, the “Lance Armstrong” of his day. He competed in the most prestigious races and became the toast of both the US and Europe. He was designated “The World’s Fasted Human,” for he was faster than any train of the time and automobiles were still a concept. There was nothing faster than Marshal on a bicycle. The story has a happy ending.
We all love a great “rags-to-riches” story, such as the story about the “Major.” Yet in Philippians 2: 1-11, Paul reminds us how God’s ways are so often opposite the ways of man. In Philippians we are reminded that Jesus sat in the Majesty of Heaven, and gave it up to become human. In Jesus’ case, it is the greatest of riches, to the worst of rags. Jesus descended from King of Heaven to a lowly human servant. In verse 7, scripture tells us He emptied himself of all privilege and came only to serve. And He did such a thing because God loves us, and it is the only way our sins can be made right. Paul tells his friends in Philippi, and us, that we should reflect such an attitude of humility and service to others. We should not only follow Jesus’ example, but we should indeed think like our Savior. So in a world where it is so often, “what’s in it for me?” Paul tells us to follow Jesus’ example, humble ourselves and think of others first.
And it is because of Jesus’ willingness to see Himself in such a humble role, to die a criminal’s death for the misdeeds of others, that God has elevated Him to His Right Hand. It is because of the greatness in His “loss” that “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord!”
There are no rankings or medals in God’s grace. We are all winners!
Shalom,
Tim
