This week, as we've looked back to our incarnational living series, we've seen that to ministry like Jesus we must consider our location, our time and our compassion as vital aspects of our outreach.
Finally, if we are to do ministry like Jesus did, with his incarnation as our model, we should be humble like Jesus was humble.
Philippians 2 is the clearest teaching on the humility of Jesus in the incarnation:
Philippians 2:1–11 NIV
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This text makes clear that the incarnation was an act of humility on Jesus' part. It also specifically uses the humility seen in the theology of the incarnation as a model for how followers of Jesus should also be humble.
Since this was a Christmas series on the incarnation, we should also note how the gospel authors make clear the humility of Jesus in his birth narrative:
- Jesus was born in Bethlehem - In Micah 5:2 Micah prophecies the birthplace of the Messiah to be in Bethlehem says, "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days."
- Jesus was from Nazareth as his hometown - When told of Jesus Nathanael, one of Jesus disciples says, "can anything good come out of Nazareth". (John 1:46)
- Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger. These are of course no places for a king. (Luke 2:4-7)
- The angels announce his birth to shepherds. Shepherding was an incredibly boring job that required little skill and garnered even less respect in the culture. Yet these are the folks to whom God chose to announce his Son's birth. (Luke 2:8-20)
- When Jesus is presented at the temple for his purification rites the text only makes mention of Mary bringing two doves or two young pigeons. (Luke 2:24) This was the allowance in the Law of Moses for poor families. Those who could afford it were to bring a lamb. (Lev. 12:8)
So this is Jesus, our savior. This is the author and perfecter of our faith, as the author of Hebrews says. This is the central part of the book of Philippians and a core element in the birth narrative of Jesus. Therefore, if we are to act like Jesus, this humility, this willingness to give up our privileges and rights for others is something that should be at the core of the our way of life.
Additional Content
Philippians 2:5–8 The Message
5 Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. 6 He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. 7 Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! 8 Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.
Reflection
Spend a few moments today reflecting on the humility of Jesus in coming to earth and dying on a cross. Thank him for his love and sacrifice.
Then, I think the best thing we can do to remain humble like Jesus is to practice regular repentance. It's hard to be proud when you are aware of the myriad ways in which we fail. Get alone for a bit today and repent of your sin. Remember Jesus work on the cross has removed your sin from you if your faith is in him. But don't move away from your sin too quickly. We don't need to beat ourselves up about it constantly, but there is a healthy humility that comes from a true recognition of our sinfulness and God's corresponding grace.