He Was in the Form of God

Philippians 2:6-8

ὃς ἐν μορφῇ θεοῦ ὑπάρχων
Who in the form (morphe- external appearance [children are said to reflect the form of their parents]) of God is presently existing.
οὐχ ἁρπαγμὸν ἡγήσατο
not esteeming a thing seized or to be seized or held on to
τὸ εἶναι ἴσα θεῷ
his being or having the nature, rank, authority, of God

This is talking about how Jesus had the nature of his Father not the nature of Adam. This nature gave him authority as a man as he had previously in heaven. And even though he had this he did not esteem it as something he had to violently keep.

ἀλλὰ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν
But emptied himself of reputation or made vain his own force
μορφὴν δούλου λαβών,
the form (morphe-external appearance) of slave he took
ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος·
in the likeness or resemblance of man (Adam-humanity) he came into a state of being
καὶ σχήματι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος
and his outward appearance was found as man

This is talking about the how he was perceived verses what his nature as God’s son was. He was viewed as just as empty as every other man yet that was not the case. He looked like a slave to death on the cross, just a man of Adam. He had to empty himself of reputation and his ability to overcome death in order to die.

ἐταπείνωσεν ἑαυτὸν
he humbled or lowered himself
γενόμενος ὑπήκοος μέχρι θανάτου,
becoming obedient unto death
θανάτου δὲ σταυροῦ.
death even of a cross.

He was not a slave to death, so in order to atone for the slaves he had to humble himself contrary to his nature of life and obey the dominion and limits of death in order for his body to die. He lowered himself to receive what the slaves were under. Though he clearly obeyed God I don’t think that is what this verse means. I believe he was obeying death, the “slaves” master.

In context these verses are talking about how Christians humble themselves and have the mind of Christ as he was humbling himself. It’s talking about regardless of your authority or rights or how you are perceived you must keep the focus of the kingdom leading your mind and not your flesh.
In his flesh Jesus could have said death has no power over me and he would not have died. He had authority over death. But for the sake of others he emptied himself on the cross and was perceived as a slave to death.

God then exalted him in verse 9. Did Jesus then exalt himself or did someone else?