The Humility of God through Christ

The Humility of God through Christ

How could God the Father show humility without a positive effort to have us understand what this meant?  He sent his Son through a woman, born in a stable, in the presence of shepherds, in a town of little consequence, and without the acceptance of many he was sent to rescue.

Did you ever experience doing something for a friend or even your family without a thank you or a return of gratitude?  It takes an effort to do for those who take us for granted without realizing how much good we’ve accomplished.  This is what humility is made of.  

Let’s look at how Jesus showed what it was to be humble in the face of rejection and the insidious manner those who should’ve known better were preparing for his demise.  The plan of God resulted in these attributes; “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard; the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.  And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”  (Lk 7: 22 - 23).  

Humility comes in a way that places love and service for those in need by doing first and teaching through a hands-on approach.  We know through the actions of many missionaries who have reached out to the needy gained acceptance through answering the physical needs of the poor before preaching about God.  Jesus did exactly that, performing signs then relating the need to accept the love his Father sent him to bring.

Perhaps if we are willing to handle rejection from those who need our willingness to care by way of giving love without counting the cost, then the meaning of humility can become a by-word for our ministry.  Without the humbleness of Jesus, first through the Incarnation, followed by his reaching the poor through signs and sacrifice, we may never have had the promise our Father granted us.

Humility, shown by God through his Son Jesus, is the first step we should be willing to follow if our desire to be in concert with his teaching and find God’s blessings to which we embrace!

Ralph B. Hathaway, May 2022