Christ’s Humility

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient,
bearing with one another in love.

Ephesians 4:2

How did Christ actively demonstrate humility?  If we are going to imitate Christ, it is important for us to contemplate Him in specific ways.  Thus, we learn from the Master.  Christ understood clearly who He was and who He was not.  Without pride, He could say.  I am the Good Shepherd; I am the door; I am the way, the truth and the life.’  He also clearly understood who He was not. He could justifiably say, ‘Which of you can prove that I have sinned?’  Having said that, Christ refused to stand upon the rights which were His by virtue of His true status.  Therefore, ‘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.’  The very fact of Christ’s incarnation is evidence of His humility.  Philippians points us to the logical conclusion of Christ’s humility by saying, ‘and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.’  The ultimate demonstration of Christ’s humility was His self-sacrifice for the sake of others who were still strangers to grace and to God.  This becomes the overarching pattern for all who follow Christ.  All that we do by way of self-sacrifice, we do in the imitation of Christ.  As we dwell upon Him, and learn to imitate Him we conform to His Image.  In a de facto way, this means that we die by degrees to sin and live unto righteousness.  Thus, the Holy Spirit works within us to become true reflections of Christ in His humility.

Our Good and Wise Savior,
we rejoice that You show us true humility.
We praise You that as we follow in Your steps,
we learn to imitate You.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning