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Jesus was Humble (1 of 5)

An image of Christ without the hands and feet of humility is simply incomplete and incorrect. If there is one essential trait in the image of Christ – one that simply cannot be overlooked – that trait is humility. The scriptures present Christ as the epitome of humility; it is that trait which makes Him so attractive to those who know Him and serve Him from the heart. No passage introduces that concept better than one from Philippians 2 and it is to it we turn as we begin this look at humility as an indispensable part of the image of Christ.

Paul writes, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2.2-8).

Christ humbled Himself! This is a clear affirmation of the passage cited. However, notice where Paul admonishes humility to begin with his readers; it begins in the heart and mind! We may be called upon to do many "humble tasks" but unless these tasks begin with a humble heart, they are of no spiritual value. The humility of Christ began in His heart of love and manifested itself in His hands and feet of service. In humbling Himself, He took on "the form of a bondservant." Humility, by definition, cannot declare itself with a view toward being noticed, but it cannot help but scream out to others in service. Humility has no voice, but it literally shouts its existence through service!

Paul stated that Christ came in the form of a bondservant. It is interesting that Paul invoked that same figure as he referred to himself and his relationship with the Lord (see Romans 1.1, Philippians 1.1, and Titus 1.1). Paul knew this figure of speech in as much as the Roman culture in which he lived was literally filled with servants of one type or another. Paul knew that service was at the heart of the servant. But, the service of which Paul speaks, the service into which the bondservant sells himself, is voluntary in nature; no one can force one to be a servant of the most high God; that desire either comes from within or it doesn't come at all. Paul's use of the figure of a servant in referring to his own service came from His understanding of what Jesus did in coming to this earth as the humble servant of Galilee. It is that heart and mind of service that he commends to his readers in Philippi.

Jesus said, "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11.29). Notice that Jesus described Himself as "lowly in heart." Literally, this phrase describes that which does not rise very far from the ground. His heart, at least in this figure, did not rise very far from the earth; Jesus was, as we might say, "down to earth." Humility is down to earth – and that describes Jesus – He came down to earth to serve us, the ones whom He loved!

"Word from Scotland" from Sandy Shaw

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