Philippians 2:7

"...but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of man."

In John 13:1-17, Jesus puts himself below the dirt on someone else's feet. "Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,.." Jesus knew He was God in the form of man, and still cleaned His disciples feet. He had put His twelve disciples before Himself. He made Himself no reputation that He was better than others, but made Himself a reputation that He is as equal to others. He knew He was God but chose to go to the cross for us. He never made Himself higher than others. He gave Himself a reputation that we could follow. Coming in the image of man, and serving man just as man should. Jesus took on the form of a man, and instead of descending from heaven and coming down to earth He went through the birth of a woman. He put himself in mans shoes so that we have someone to look upon. He put himself as man so that He can prove that man can serve just as He did. Not raising from the dead, but being persecuted, serving one another, not making the blind see or the lame walk, but loving one another before yourself. Putting yourself after others. He tells us we will be persecuted, John 15:20, "Remember the word that I said to you, "a servant is not greater than His master." If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you." It's hard to come before those words and know that we will be persecuted. But that's what the devil wants, is you to fear that you will be persecuted. If you are to chose to follow Jesus, then you must bear what He did. He was crucified at the cross, and whipped almost to death. A crown of thorns on His head. Just a brutal death, and He beared it all for you and I. It's time for us to pick up our cross and follow in His footsteps. Picking up that cross as Jesus did, and going into persecution is what we are withheld to do. Having that fear strike us is what the devil wants, but "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13. "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2. Through Christ we can do all things He commands us to do, and looking unto Him for faith. I will memorize Philippians 4:13 to remind myself that He is my strength.