The Extraordinary Humility of Jesus!

Psalm 138:6 says, “Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar.”

Philippians 2:6-11, Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; ⁷ rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! ⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

From his lowly birth in a stable to his criminal’s death on a cross, Jesus’ life on earth is marked by striking humility.

As he makes himself a servant and is laid low into the grave, God’s response is to raise him up out of the grave and over every tribe and nation in heaven and on earth.

In Jesus I see the upside-down, counter-intuitive pathway to flourishing in the Kingdom: that the way up is down, and the pathway to honor is humility.

Luke 18:14, “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

In a world of self-promotion, God, how might I follow in the upside-down footsteps of Jesus and pursue humility rather than applause today?

Isaiah 49:16, See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”

Take a moment to name and worship the exalted Christ Jesus and picture His hands and see tattooed on his palm, your name! The name above every name carries my name in his heart and on his hands.