Volume 8 Post/Email 4 – Jesus’ Humility
1. Consider the commencement of His ministry. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus opens with "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3) The very first words of His proclamation about the kingdom reveal that it comes to the poor, who have nothing in themselves.
2. Jesus offers himself as Teacher, stating "Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:29) Humility is our salvation.
3. The disciples had been disputing among themselves who would be the greatest in the kingdom, and had agreed to ask the Master (Luke 9:46-48 ; Matthew 18:2-3). In the first story, he answers, "He who is least among you all - he is the greatest." In the second story, He placed a child in their midst and said, "Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." The question ('Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?') is far-reaching. The answer is surprising. The least is the greatest.
4. The Sons of Zebedee asked Jesus if they could sit on His right hand and on his left, the highest places in the kingdom. Jesus said it was not His to give but the Father's, who would give to those for whom it was prepared. They must not seek it or ask for it. And then He added, "Whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve." (Matthew 20:27-28) The lowliest is the nearest to God.
5. Speaking to the multitudes and the disciples, of the Pharisees and their love of the chief seats, Jesus said once again, "The greatest among you will be your servant." (Matthew 23:11) Humble servanthood is the only ladder to honor in God's kingdom.
6. On another occasion, in the house of a Pharisee, He spoke the parable of the guest who would be invited to move higher, and added, "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 14:11) There is no other way. Self-abasement alone will be exalted.
7. After the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, Jesus spoke again, "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:14) In the temple and the presence and worship of God, everything is worthless that is not pervaded by deep, true humility toward God and mankind.
8. After washing the disciples' feet, Jesus said, "Now that I your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet." (John 13:14) The authority of command and example, every thought, either of obedience or conformity, make humility the first and most essential element of discipleship.
How little this is preached. How seldom it is practiced. How faintly the lack of it is felt or confessed. One cannot say how few attain to some recognizable measure of likeness to Jesus in his humility. How little the world has seen it. How scarcely it is seen in the inner circle of the church.
Here is the path to the higher life. It is the lowest path!
That is God's work. We are to humble ourselves, and take no place before God or man but that of a servant.
Jesus, the meek and lowly One, calls us to learn of Him the path to God, and to His favor and joy in kingdom living!
-Brian
