http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa%2053&version=NIV
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2010:17-18&version=NIV
The last couple days we have been looking at the humility of Jesus. Quite a subject. On a practical level one would never have associated the Son of God with humility. I mean, what does God have to be humble about? But ever since Jesus came to earth He has been forever linked to humility. As difficult as it was to comprehend the humility of Jesus in consenting to become a human, and to stoop so low so as to wash His disciples’ feet, His last display of humility is even more amazing. His suffering and death.
How can we comprehend God suffering? Isn’t this unheard of in the annals of human history? But that is exactly what happened on Jesus’ way to the cross. He suffered. Greatly. Unjustly. Centuries earlier, Isaiah, in Chapters 52 & 53, predicted the suffering and death of Jesus. And the words he used to describe it are none too pretty. Beaten. Bruised. Pain. Disfigurement. To the point of being unrecognizable. Bruising. Blood. Suffering. Slaughter. Not a good word among them. Blow after blow Jesus humbled Himself by being willing to take the punishment that was rightly ours. And how did He respond? Without murmur or complaint.
Then there was His slow, agonizing, painful death. Flesh torn into a thousand pieces. Raw and bleeding. Nails in His hands and feet. Struggling to breath. Intense pain wracking His whole body. Minute by minute life slowly draining away from the Creator of Life. Yet not a word of complaint. Instead He prayed for His enemies. Only a divine being could do this.
The fact is that no one likes to die. And this included Jesus. One of the negatives regarding death is that it is humbling. Big time. This is why so many people down through the ages have despised it. One moment a person is an all-powerful king whose word is law. The next moment he is being placed into the ground just like any poor person or slave. Sure, he may have a splendid funeral. And even a monument to house his remains. But, in the end, he’s just as dead as the next guy.
The humility of Jesus is seen in the fact that He was willing to die a horrible, painful death. He was willing to die like any other person. I say ‘willing’ because Jesus had the power to stop His torture and suffering anytime He wanted to. When He was about to be arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus said the following to Peter. “Do you think I cannot call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” The point that Jesus was making was that He was still in control. He had the power to avoid pain and suffering. And death. But He didn’t. Instead, Jesus humbled Himself. Which included the humiliation of dying. Dying the death of a condemned criminal.
What more can be said about the humility of Jesus? Is there anything or anyone to compare Him to? I don’t think so. The all-powerful, glorious Son of God being willing to experience life as a creature. Being willing to serve in ways that others would not. Being willing to suffer and die an ignoble death. Why? Because of His love for us. If that doesn’t demonstrate the depths of His great love for us, then nothing will. And if that doesn’t cause our hearts to burst with thankfulness and gratitude, then nothing will. No wonder the Father has exalted Him to the highest place. He, and He alone, deserves it.
Lord, if I ever want to know what humility looks like all I have to do is look at Jesus. He is the very embodiment of humility. In fact, His humility humbles me. And well it should. Especially when I understand that He humbled Himself for me. How can I not appreciate this? How can I not live for Him in return? How can I not humble myself and follow His example? Help me that my life will be an example of humility to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
How can we comprehend God suffering? Isn’t this unheard of in the annals of human history? But that is exactly what happened on Jesus’ way to the cross. He suffered. Greatly. Unjustly. Centuries earlier, Isaiah, in Chapters 52 & 53, predicted the suffering and death of Jesus. And the words he used to describe it are none too pretty. Beaten. Bruised. Pain. Disfigurement. To the point of being unrecognizable. Bruising. Blood. Suffering. Slaughter. Not a good word among them. Blow after blow Jesus humbled Himself by being willing to take the punishment that was rightly ours. And how did He respond? Without murmur or complaint.
Then there was His slow, agonizing, painful death. Flesh torn into a thousand pieces. Raw and bleeding. Nails in His hands and feet. Struggling to breath. Intense pain wracking His whole body. Minute by minute life slowly draining away from the Creator of Life. Yet not a word of complaint. Instead He prayed for His enemies. Only a divine being could do this.
The fact is that no one likes to die. And this included Jesus. One of the negatives regarding death is that it is humbling. Big time. This is why so many people down through the ages have despised it. One moment a person is an all-powerful king whose word is law. The next moment he is being placed into the ground just like any poor person or slave. Sure, he may have a splendid funeral. And even a monument to house his remains. But, in the end, he’s just as dead as the next guy.
The humility of Jesus is seen in the fact that He was willing to die a horrible, painful death. He was willing to die like any other person. I say ‘willing’ because Jesus had the power to stop His torture and suffering anytime He wanted to. When He was about to be arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus said the following to Peter. “Do you think I cannot call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” The point that Jesus was making was that He was still in control. He had the power to avoid pain and suffering. And death. But He didn’t. Instead, Jesus humbled Himself. Which included the humiliation of dying. Dying the death of a condemned criminal.
What more can be said about the humility of Jesus? Is there anything or anyone to compare Him to? I don’t think so. The all-powerful, glorious Son of God being willing to experience life as a creature. Being willing to serve in ways that others would not. Being willing to suffer and die an ignoble death. Why? Because of His love for us. If that doesn’t demonstrate the depths of His great love for us, then nothing will. And if that doesn’t cause our hearts to burst with thankfulness and gratitude, then nothing will. No wonder the Father has exalted Him to the highest place. He, and He alone, deserves it.
Lord, if I ever want to know what humility looks like all I have to do is look at Jesus. He is the very embodiment of humility. In fact, His humility humbles me. And well it should. Especially when I understand that He humbled Himself for me. How can I not appreciate this? How can I not live for Him in return? How can I not humble myself and follow His example? Help me that my life will be an example of humility to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment