John 12:1-15, Philippians 2:6-8
March 29, 2026
preached by Ed O’Leary
Download

Time of Reflection Quotations

“Look at Christ. He rides not upon a horse which is a steed of war. He comes not with appalling pomp and power but sits upon an donkey, which is a gentle beast to bear burdens and work for men. From this we see that Christ comes not to terrify, to drive, and oppress, but to help and take for himself our load.”

~ Martin Luther (1483-1546), German reformer and author

“Being God, and God by nature, and having equality with God, he thought this no great thing, as is the way of those who have received some honor beyond their merits, but, hiding his merit, he elected the utmost humility and took the shape of a human being.”

~ Theodoret, Epistle to the Philippians

“Read the record of his compassion. It pleased him, being the Word of God, to ‘take the form of a slave.’ So he willed to be joined to our common human condition. He took to himself the toils of the members who suffer. He made our human maladies his own. He suffered and toiled on our behalf. This is in accord with his great love of humankind.”

~ Eusebius of Caesarea

“He ‘humbled himself,’ according to the Scriptures, ‘taking on himself the form of a slave.’ He became like us that we might become like him. The work of the Spirit seeks to transform us by grace into a perfect copy of his humbling.”

~ Cyril of Alexandria

Sermon Passage

John 12:1-15 (ESV), Philippians 2:6-8 (NIV)

John 12 (ESV)

¹ Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ² So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. ³ Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. ⁴ But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, ⁵ “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” ⁶ He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. ⁷ Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. ⁸ For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

⁹ When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. ¹⁰ So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, ¹¹ because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

¹² The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. ¹³ So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” ¹⁴ And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,

¹⁵ “Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

Philippians 2 (NIV)

⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!