He humbled Himself
Psalm 128:1 “Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in His ways.”
1 Peter 2:21 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.”
Jesus was the greatest teacher of how to humble ourselves.
(God calls us to “Humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God”
Isaiah 57:15 “For thus saith the High and Holy One that inhabiteth eternity, Whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”)
Philippians 2:5-8 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
When He came to earth….He humbled Himself….it was not a change of identity, but of fashion or form……..His deity was covered, for He was a “root out of a dry ground…He had no form nor comeliness….that we should desire Him.” (Isaiah 53:2)
He took on humanity. Christ emptied Christ…for God would exalt Him.
He came to earth as a babe….not a full grown man….but a babe who was humanly helpless….and always at risk.
And so it went on….by His permitting the world to first question His Person,….then become angry at His Person,….then reject His Person,….then spit upon His Person,….and finally crucify Him.
He submitted to the Father’s Will in everything….calling all “who will hear, to hear and believe Him”…..
The One who fed five thousand with two loves and five fishes……sat by a well, hungry, and waiting for His disciples to bring Him food.
The One who could walk on water….yet, who walked (not rode in grand style) all around Galilee and Judea, saying, “the kingdom of God is at hand”.
The One who spoke in the beginning, and their was light….who shone HIs light into the darkness of the sin of this world…..
……yet gave Israel the choice of receiving or rejection His light.
He humbled Himself….at His Father’s Will…
We see Him weary, and sad…..at the unmerciful actions of the people He had given His laws to….even when some needed to be healed. (Luke 13:15-17)
We see Him stripped of clothes and put naked upon a cross…..because the people wanted Him gone….dead….buried.
And even on the cross….He did not stop the degradation and shame…..
…..for He took every sin, every iniquity, every blasphemous thought and action onto Himself….
…He let all think the worst…..pouring out His blood and life…
…that we might be saved.
(I also want to mention here, He did not just humble Himself in outward circumstances…..but in attitude and word…
He spoke the truth….rebuking gently those that should have known and wanted to know….
…..and rebuking those sharply who should have known…..yet did not want to really know.
Yet He never defended Himself….only His actions, as they were the Will of His Father.
He never hid Who He was….but let each treat Him as they would….
….going through their midst….as the Son of God/the Son of Man….
….just doing the Will of Him Who sent Him. And we are called to do the same.)
It was not just a choice He made in eternity past….to come and save us.
But it was a willed choice everyday He spent in this wicked world……among such ingratitude and plotting….
….that we might be saved from it.
Yet God exalted Him: He arose from the grave…..was given “all authority and power” over the church, the world, the devil, and death for us.
(He had all this before….without us. Now He has all this….with us. And He thought we were worth humbling Himself to acquire us! Hebrews 12:2)
He humbled Himself…..letting every dignity be stripped away…till He was naked on that cross….
…that we might be clothed with His righteousness….
…..and given the true honor of humbling ourselves for His Will.
Luke 14:11 “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be ashamed, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
This is a rule of God…..for His own.
To exalt yourself…..is to end up ashamed before HIs throne.
To humble yourself….will allow God to exalt you, here and there.
James 4:6, 10 “But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.”
1 Peter 5:5-6 “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time:”
Twice it is mentioned that grace is given those that humble themselves.
Grace is the unmerited favor of power. It is given from God through His Holy Spirit to us everyday.
But how are we to humble ourselves…..
…..just as He did….allowing Him and circumstances to strip away all that does not serve God’s Purpose for us.
He might strip away the garment we put on, “to look good”.
He might strip away by circumstances, the garment of pride in ability.
He might strip away the way we are different….to different people.
One way to our friends…another to our family…another to our acquaintances…..
….being different persons….instead of just His obedient servants…..everywhere.
We are to yield….letting the process show us….us. And then we are to give ourselves to the Lord.
(Humble yourself…..
….it is opposite of what the world teaches….but God requires it.
The world would have you get all you can for yourself…..but that disregards and disobeys God’s two great commandments:
Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul…..and your neighbor as yourself.)
Christ Jesus humbled Himself…..
Philippians 2:8 “And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
He calls us to humble ourselves….and let Him exalt us!
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 