What did Jesus Christ surrender for me?

Philippians 2:5-11You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus’ surrender was much more than his willingness to come to earth. He came as a human. He was not functioning in the world as a visiting God but as a human being with the same limitations as the rest of us. Though he remained God, he surrendered the right to exercise his divine power and functioned in complete dependence on God the Father, modelling for us how we are called to live.

Mark 14:36“Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

John 4:34Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.”

Romans 5:6-8When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Galatians 1:4Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.

Colossians 1:21-22This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

1 Thessalonians 5:10Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.

1 Peter 3:18Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

Jesus Christ willingly and obediently surrendered his will to God his Father and gave his life on the cross so that we can live eternally with him.