God demonstrates true humility on the Cross
Today we will reflect upon the death of Jesus Christ as an example of humility. Yesterday we had reflected on the incarnational journey of Jesus from Godhood to the lowest point of human existence.
As if it was not enough, Jesus further humbled himself and submitted to death. Mr. Alexander MacLaren says that, “The cross is the center of the world’s history; the incarnation of Christ and the crucifixion of our Lord are the pivot, round which all the events of the ages revolve. The testimony of Christ was the spirit of prophecy, and the growing power of Jesus is the spirit of history”.
Bible says in Romans 5: 7-8, “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. The extent of His humility can be seen from the fact that He chose the worst and horrifying form of death, death on a Cross. He could have obviously chosen a noble form of death. However, His choosing death on the Cross speaks volumes of His humility. If the Creator of this World lowered Himself so much that He bore the brunt of such a death, how much we the created beings should humble ourselves. Therefore, whenever a semblance of pride enters our mind, we should remember the humility of Jesus through His journey upon the Cross.
Paul says in Galatians 6:14, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world”. It is necessary for us to lower ourselves and lift up others as demonstrated by Jesus taking the role of servant. Mr. Isaac Watts, the song writer of the famous hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” writes –
“Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all”
As it is written in Hebrews 12:2, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”. Whoever humbles himself/herself, God lifts them up.
Today we will reflect upon the death of Jesus Christ as an example of humility. Yesterday we had reflected on the incarnational journey of Jesus from Godhood to the lowest point of human existence.
As if it was not enough, Jesus further humbled himself and submitted to death. Mr. Alexander MacLaren says that, “The cross is the center of the world’s history; the incarnation of Christ and the crucifixion of our Lord are the pivot, round which all the events of the ages revolve. The testimony of Christ was the spirit of prophecy, and the growing power of Jesus is the spirit of history”.
Bible says in Romans 5: 7-8, “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. The extent of His humility can be seen from the fact that He chose the worst and horrifying form of death, death on a Cross. He could have obviously chosen a noble form of death. However, His choosing death on the Cross speaks volumes of His humility. If the Creator of this World lowered Himself so much that He bore the brunt of such a death, how much we the created beings should humble ourselves. Therefore, whenever a semblance of pride enters our mind, we should remember the humility of Jesus through His journey upon the Cross.
Paul says in Galatians 6:14, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world”. It is necessary for us to lower ourselves and lift up others as demonstrated by Jesus taking the role of servant. Mr. Isaac Watts, the song writer of the famous hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” writes –
“Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all”
As it is written in Hebrews 12:2, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”. Whoever humbles himself/herself, God lifts them up.
Dr Sanjay Patra
Sanjay is a Bible teacher and a mentor to Crossway leadership. He has a Ph.D in commerce and is a qualified Chartered Accountant. He works as the director of FMSF and is an advisor to the German embassy on secondary matters.
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