I admire Christ’s humility. And the more you see of His greatness and glory, the more astounding it is that He was humble.
Humility seems to be about giving up control, especially if you have a legitimate right to it. Humble people are willing not to be in charge. They are willing to submit.
Humility is about taking a low position when you have a claim on a high one. It’s about the willingness to do a menial task to serve others, when your skills and experience qualify you for a much higher job. Humility is admirable only when the one displaying it comes from a legitimately high position and voluntarily takes a low one.
We don’t think it’s particularly laudable when a death-row prisoner behaves humbly toward his guards. A first-year biology student isn’t applauded if she is humble toward her PhD. professor. A man convicted of embezzling is required to speak to school children about why stealing is wrong. But we don’t think much of his humility in doing so.
And humility is praiseworthy when it actually involves giving up control. A wealthy entrepreneur (picture Donald Trump) might act kindly and generously, maybe even sacrificially, toward others. But he probably maintains complete control of all of it. Humility means submission.
Jesus Christ is King of all Kings. There is no higher position. He has all power, knowledge, wisdom, and authority. And He has all control.
So when He became a Man, we look at His submission and humility, and we worship. For example:
- He submitted to the Father, though they are co-equal and co-eternal.
- He submitted to the word of God, though He is the Word of God.
- He submitted to human authority, including His mother and step-father, though they were sinful people who needed redemption.
- He submitted to becoming a human infant. Think of it: diaper changes, learning to crawl, to walk, to speak.
And another thing: it’s not humility if you’re doing it because you think you’re scum. But Jesus knew He was the king! Listen to John’s description of Christ’s humility. I highlighted some key words:
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him (John 13:3-5).
Washing feet was a slave's job. But stooping before His disciples was a picture of His whole mission on this planet, and He knew full well who He was when He did it. He knew His mission would be accomplished and that He was returning to His throne.
Our Christ models humility from an assurance of the Father’s love and the confidence of His true nature. He served others when He didn’t need to. He submitted, gave up control, to the ultimate degree. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:5)
Admiring Christ’s humility means we serve one another, not because we think we’re scum, but because we belong to Him. And He’s the greatest. And the humblest.
