Jesus Christ-The Prime Example

God's only-begotten Son,Jesus Christ, is the prime example of someone with a self-sacrificing  spirit. In his pre-human existence, his life must have been stimulating and satisfying to the highest degree. He had close, intimate association with his Father and with spirit creatures. Moreover, God's Son used his abilities in challenging  and exciting activities as  "a master worker." (Proverbs 8:30, 31)  He certainly lived amid conditions far superior to anything that even the richest person on earth could ever have enjoyed. Next to Jehovah God, he had an exalted and privileged position in heaven.

Yet, God's Son "emptied himself and took a slave's form and came to be in the likeness of men." (Philippians 2:7)   He willingly relinquished  all his personal advantages  by becoming a human  and offering his life as a ransom in order to undo the harm caused by Satan.  (Genesis 3:1-7; Mark 10:45)  That meant coming to live among sinful mankind in a world lying in the power of Satan the Devil.  (1 John 5:19)  It also meant putting up with personal  discomfort and inconvenience. Whatever it cost him, however, Jesus Christ was determined to do his Father's will.  (Matthew 26:39; John 5:30; 6:38)  This tested Jesus' love and loyalty to the limit. How far was he willing to go?  "He became obedient as far as death, yes, death on a torture stake." -Philippians 2:8.  

Next time:"Keep This Mental Attitude in You" 

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000