Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:8

Before the incarnation, Jesus existed in the form of God. He came and “was made” in the likeness of men. John describes the event like this:

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

As an aside, we might not need to die for mankind, but the world can really use men and women full of “grace and truth.”

Anyway, these great theological truths are given as an illustration of the practical out-working of Paul’s plea for likemindedness. That we have personal interests is acknowledged (2:4). That we allow room for others is encouraged.

This attitude was embodied in Jesus. Though he existed in the form of God, he spent his time on earth serving his subjects, even to the point of a humiliating and agonizing death on the cross.

All Paul was asking for was a little empathy in the church. It’d go a long way.