Posted by Debbie Schwab

Jesus Humbles Himself on Your Behalf

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2.5-8

There are a million little promises that you make with yourself. Promises that control your actions and determine your steps. One of the common ones is: I will not allow myself to be humiliated. When you make this promise, it means that everything you do will be driven by your desire not to look like a fool. Your decisions become a defense against anybody or anything that will cause you shame.

Jesus did the exact opposite. Rather than fighting against and hiding from humiliation, He embraced it. Knowing that He would be marginalized, ignored, and poor, He came to earth in the form of a human being, and one with no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him (Isaiah 53.2). He then went further and humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. He could have stayed in heaven. That is what He rightfully deserved. But He chose not to hold on to what He was entitles to. He chose instead to empty Himself and be humiliated. He chose to die.

As you fight for your rights, Jesus gave up everything that was rightfully His. As you worry about your reputation, Jesus allowed Himself to be humiliated (you could even say humiliated Himself). As you care about yourself above all, God so loved the world that He gave His only Son (John 3.16).